Into the Blue

“This is a modern cautionary tale with a great message about the importance of being honest, and how owning up to your mistakes will be better in the long run. A perfect story for readers aged 7 to 10 years.” – Lamont Standing Orders

“Blair has made a mistake, and is struggling with feelings of guilt. Will he find a way to accept responsibility and own up to what he has done? Blair’s moral dilemma will have young readers wanting to keep turning the pages, to see if he can resolve the problem. We love the authentic characters, the lovely intergenerational relationship between Blair and his Nan, and the accompanying black and white illustrations, which so warmly depict the reality of family life. Important themes of accepting responsibility for mistakes and finding the courage to own up to them are handled with a light touch. A fabulous book for your 6+ reader.” – Aussie Kids Books

“Lots of young readers are going to relate to Blair’s raging emotions as he tries to work out how he is going to handle this disaster … He wants to confess, because the guilt is irrepressible. But how do to own up to a mistake this large? Into the Blue is a short chapter book ideal for strong readers in Grade 2-4, and struggling or reluctant readers in older year levels.” – Cherie Bell, CBCA

“I read it to Year 2. They absolutely loved it. They really understood this concept of wanting something that your older sibling has, knowing you shouldn’t take it, and then taking it. We had this great conversation about the emotional minefield of a mistake and its consequences. Do you fess up? It’s about family and relationships and secrets and responsibility. I really enjoyed this one. I think it’s going to have a lot of good uses in primary schools.” – Megan Daley, Your Kids Next Read

‘An exciting new adventure from Cristy Burne which is sure to delight fans of her previous books and garner many new ones. Cristy really gets inside the heads and hearts of young people and the reader empathises with Blair as he is tormented with guilt when he loses his brother’s cherished GoPro. Into the Blue is a real page turner which I devoured in one short gulp eager to know how the conflict would be resolved. It’s about snorkelling and secrets and how lies can come back to bite you. We all make mistakes but it’s how you handle them that’s important. Valuable lessons about responsibility, integrity and the importance of communication are woven realistically into the story without being didactic. Teaching notes are available online from Fremantle Press. Highly recommended.’ – Jan Nicholls

‘This latest adventure from award- winning author-scientist Cristy Burne is ideal for Years 3-6. At just 99 pages long, it’s an appealingly quick read for many students, yet does not compromise on language, complexity or maturity. Highly recommended.’ – Caroline Gordon-Johnson, Magpies

‘A gorgeous tale for young readers or as a read aloud. Blair and his cousin goes snorkelling but Blair accidently looses his brothers GoPro. This is a tale of guilt, lies and honesty, where the truth is always better than the guilt of weaving a web of lies. It will prompt some great conversations about owning up to one’s actions/accidents and values. Some really beautiful language is used which can be utilized for teaching purposes – such as ‘Blair’s soul crushes like a tissue’. Highly Recommended.’ – Claire Cheeseman, Teacher, Laingholm Primary, Read NZ

‘Into the Blue is a delightful story. We feel Blair’s excitement and anticipation of going snorkelling, the chill of the water as he first enters the ocean then the panic and devastation as he realises he has lost his brother’s precious camera. The reader feels Blair’s anguish as he goes through days of knowing what he has done but can’t face up to the consequences. The guilt gnaws away at him as his brother is punished for losing the GoPro. I loved that Into the Blue is educational as well as fun. I learnt that the Omeo wreck is a real shipwreck off Perth’s coastline near Coogee Beach and it is a big snorkelling attraction. Cristy Burne combines a moral message with themes of adventure and this is a fun way to open discussions on honesty and respecting others belongings. Blair’s great-grandmother is introduced as a safe adult for Blair to open up to and I found this a heartwarming inclusion to show that the older generation is full of experience and sound advice.’- Veronica, Little Squirrel’s Bookshelf