Bluish is the name other kids give to Natalie Winburn. Her skin is so pale and she is so sick that the veins show through, causing her to be bluish. She arrives at her NYC public school in a wheelchair and a knit toboggan, holding the puppy she is allowed to bring to school (this is like no school I've ever worked in).

Bluish's mother isn't thrilled by the nickname her friends Dreenie and Tuli give her. She interprets it as a combination of Black and Jewish, and regards it as derogatory. Only when Dreenie explains the name does she understand, but she still wants her daughter to be called by her true name.

When Bluish knits toboggans for the entire class, the students are more accepting of her and she becomes something of a mascot, to be taken care of and coddled.

Bluish was hard to read. I got stuck on it for over a week because it was uninteresting. I did not think the Bluish character was well written. She came off as bland and unsympathetic. Tuli seemed self-absorbed and uninteresting as well. I was disappointed because Virginia Hamilton is usually a fine writer.

This book was discuss in Sept.2005. I really like this book, because I learn alot about her sickness and how she wanted to have friends. I will tell all my friends to read this book.

HATS OFF TO YOU VIRGINIA HAMILTON!!!

Deon from SOUTHWOOD BOOK CLUB!!!!

Dreenie is exposed to new things. She's in an alternative school where kids refer to teachers by first names. Her friend, Tuli, pretends she's Newyo-rican and relies on Dreenie to care for her, which is sometimes annoying since Dreenie already has to look after Willie, her own little sister. However, the newest intriguing person in Dreenie's life, the person that seems most like Dreenie, is Bluish. Kids at school call her Bluish because her skin is pale with bluish veins. Bluish's mother says the nickname "Blewish" is derogatory and refers to her daughter's bi-racial ethnicity, Black and Jewish. To Dreenie, Bluish is the color of the "Pale moonlight." Bluish is sadness. Bluish is the girl in the wheelchair, gets chemotherapy and only comes to school sometimes. Bluish is alone. Bluish is her shadow. Bluish is always on her mind. Bluish is a part of her. Hamilton's story addresses issues upper elementary school children begin to face. Being different and finding acceptance is a challenge at this age. In Hamilton's novel we see how kids, given unusual circumstances, accommodate and adapt to the unique. Differences are overcome when people take time to share, communicate, understand, adapt to, and encompass one another. In other words, "Bluish is, because we are; we are, because Bluish---is---us!" Parts of Hamilton's novel are formatted to depict diary entries. Her writing style is compliments the story's action. Sometimes thoughts are simply stated. Sometimes the essence of the writing is poetic. Ideas are not always complete with a beginning, middle, or end. Sometimes an idea just passes through and then we're on to the next that, in turn, may become more solid, grounded, sure. It feels as though the writing is that of a child writing diary entries. Children reading this novel should be able to jump right in and enjoy for this very reason.

"Bluish" is a novel by Virginia Hamilton, a prolific and multiple award-winning author of books for young readers. "Bluish" tells the story of Dreenie, a young girl who attends a magnet school in New York City with her brainy (but annoying) younger sister, Willie, and their eccentric friend Tuli. When a pale-skinned, apparently ill girl in a wheelchair joins her class, Dreenie is fascinated by her. The girl is nicknamed "Bluish" due to her bluish complexion. Dreenie begins a diary documenting her evolving relationship with Bluish.

"Bluish" is a gentle, moving novel about overcoming fear of someone who is different. The book is a hopeful celebration of childhood friendship. A nice touch is the fact that entries from Dreenie's journal are interspersed between the chapters of the novel. The book also offers an interesting perspective on the multicultural, multifaith world of NYC schoolkids; there's even a little primer on the celebration of Kwanzaa. Overall, an impressive effort from Hamilton.

Sometimes children can be unknowingly mean and brutal. Virginia Hamilton's characters seem real and natural. And how real and natural for children to tease and fear what they do not know. Hamilton's characters move smoothly from at first being fearful of Bluish to knowing her, understanding her illness, and becoming protective. Although not too many unexpected twists and turns, Bluish quickly draws you into a group of very likeable characters. "Girlfren'" Tuli is a hoot. Excellent reading for 5th or 6th grade.