Blue Skin of the Sea Reviewed by: Devin Boxey(Posted to Good Reads)tI have to admit, Graham Salsbury is one of my favorite authors, but I was pretty disappointed when Blue Skin of the Sea turned out to be a downer. Honestly, the only point I got from the book was to tell the story about a young boy’s life that lived in Hawaii. The funny thing is, is that this boy is a fictional character, so no one really cares how he lived because he never did live! Compared to Graham’s other books that were based on a true event and people, this one was definitely my least favorite.tBlue Skin of the Sea takes place in a small fishing village in Hawaii where almost everyone there has a boat and is involved with the fishing industry. Another reason I didn’t like the book; I don’t like fishing! Sonny Mendoza and his cousin, Keo, are the two main characters that, and I quote, “grow up in a world of dazzling beauty, family ties, and vivid characters.” Yah right! I didn’t see any of that anywhere in the book! This book follows Sonny and Keo through 11 stories that all together tell the stories of their lives living in Hawaii. tAlthough this book sounds all bad, I guess there were a few redeeming moments. Sonny’s Uncle Raz and Uncle Harley make a bet on who weighs more; Aunty Pearl or Uncle Harley’s obese pig! One of the other stories talks about people who were shooting a movie, but Sonny and Keo think that the sharks they were using looked too fake. So, they tell the director to go to the fishing yard and use one of the real sharks instead of the “imposter” sharks! But, just because there were a few humorous moments in this book, it was still not entertaining enough for me to give it a higher rating.tI can’t even tell you what kind of personality Sonny has or how he looks. The only characters Salsbury described at all were Aunty Pearl, and Keo. Aunty Pearl is supposed to be a HUGE lady (which I am even surprised she was still living) who can barely walk, but had a soft and caring heart. Keo is a small, but a tough person who is envied by Sonny. Apparently, the ocean surrounding the island is supposed to be the most “memorable character” out of everyone. Maybe I just don’t understand it as well as some people, but, as far as I can understand, the sea had NOTHING to do with the story except for being a “house” for the fish!tIf you are like me and don’t care for books like this one, don’t bother reading it. However if you are retired and have a lot of time on your hands, than maybe, just MAYBE, you can read this book. I gave Blue Skin of the Sea two out of five stars for a reason. This book contains typical characters, living in a typical village in Hawaii, that experiences absolutely NO excitement what so ever! Sorry Graham Salsbury, but this is NOT one of your best books by far!
Author: Graham SalisburyTitle: Blue Skin of the SeaGenre: coming of age novelPublication Info: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, 1992.Recommended Age: 12 and older. There are a few spots where language is inappropriate and subject matter is deep, so I would not recommend the book to anyone still in grade school.Plot Summary: Sonny Mendoza, a white boy living in a Hawaiian fishing village, goes through different experiences which lead him to understand and overcome his fears. He is a very sensitive boy, perhaps as a result of his mother’s death. He learns more about his distant father and tries to strengthen their relationship. Sonny struggles with issues of race, and then realizes he belongs in Hawaii just as much as anyone else. He stands up to bullies and rises above his suspicion of the sea. He begins to have feelings for girls. Sonny becomes strong through learning how to swim long distances, helping catch and kill a shark, viewing death and destruction, and learning a great deal about humanity and life in general. He grows apart from his best friend and cousin, Keo, because their interests, beliefs, and maturity levels differ.Personal Notes: I would definitely read this book again. It is captivating and motivating. Sonny is a good role model for any young boys and girls. He demonstrates how to successfully work through problems with family and friends. Salisbury does a phenomenal job making the characters likeable and the plot believable. I would most likely recommend the book to individuals, especially if a particular student did not like reading. If we were doing a unit on family or racial differences, I would have the class read it together.Evaluation: There is a recurring phrase which says, “Don’t ever do that again, boy.” Sonny hears this in his head and in his dreams, but does not know where he got it from. The phrase draws readers in and requires that they finish the whole novel simply to find out what that quote is really referring to. What makes this book unique is that each chapter moves on to a new experience. Sonny’s life appears to readers like a sequence of film strips. It is a series of stories which could truly stand on their own. Together, they form a wonderful description of what it is like for a boy to come to maturity. The novel reminds me of other coming of age stories. It was refreshing, however, to read one about a boy. It seems that most novels like this are written for and about girls. This one is good for both genders to read.Other Comments: This would be a good book for anyone who comes from a broken home, feels like they do not fit in, is afraid of being alone, is having difficulty maturing, or does not have good self-esteem.
What do You think about Blue Skin Of The Sea (1994)?
Eleven short stories follow Sonny’s life from age six to about 19. In the first, he is just learning to swim (after being called a pantie by his cousin Keo for not yet being able to swim). Through each story there runs a common thread—Sonny’s strange fear of the ocean. He does not understand it, and it bothers him immensely (as his family’s livelihood depends on the water). As he grows, he learns many things about himself, but he learns little about his father, and even less about his mother, who died when he was a baby. Sonny encounters bullies, dating, the outside world, and fear of loss, among other things; eventually he realizes the source of his fear and comes to grips with it. Though I cannot define why, I thought these stories were beautiful. Sonny’s family is close, and they love each other deeply—despite occasional annoyances and tiffs (and a scary mother-in-law). He lives life and enjoys it.
—Jeanna
chapter 1:sonny dont know how to swim then when dad took him to the ocean and dad thought him how to swim and at the middle keo was teasing sonny because sonny don't know how to swim.chapter 2:is all about the bet auntie pearl and the pig and uncle harley and uncle raz was betting who is weighs more the pig or auntie pearl.and at last they take the weight of auntie pearl and auntie pearl weighs 316 then pig weighs 364.chapter 3:is all about the old man want to make a movie and they using a fake
—Aldrin Cedrick
Hey, a book about Hawai'i that's a celebration of the land, not the sea. This isn't the greatest book ever, the most touching, or the most beautifully written, but it is a gentle and honest portrait of childhood - cruelties, contradictions, loyalties, adaptations. Sonny is a normal kid - he's not a prodigy or abuse victim, he doesn't have fourteen siblings or magic powers - and that's nice. His mother's dead and his father is somewhat removed, he's afraid of the water and struggles with racial identity - but he has a lot of love and some good sense. The stories are smooth, quiet, readable, but not dry or antiseptic.
—Jenna
