For children navigating complex family relationships or feeling like an outsider, this story offers a poignant journey of self-discovery and understanding.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling misunderstood or struggling to adjust to a new family dynamic, such as a parent's new partner. Blue Like Friday tells the story of Hal, a sensitive boy who experiences the world uniquely, seeing days of the week as colors. He and his friend Olivia concoct a plan to get rid of his mother's new boyfriend, a plan which leads to unexpected discoveries about family, friendship, and himself. This gentle, character-driven story is perfect for introspective readers aged 9 to 12. It validates the feeling of being different and provides a safe, hopeful space to explore complex family changes and the journey to self-acceptance.
The book deals directly with family transitions, specifically a single parent dating and forming a new blended family. The topic of an absent father is a central, though gentle, emotional undercurrent. The resolution is hopeful and realistic, focusing on increased understanding rather than a perfect solution. Hal's synesthesia is presented not as a disorder but as a unique, personal trait, approaching neurodiversity from a secular and affirming perspective.
Ideal Reader
This book is perfect for a sensitive, introspective 9 to 11 year old who sometimes feels different from their peers. It will resonate with a child navigating a parent's new relationship or grappling with feelings of not quite fitting in. They likely prefer character-driven stories over high-action plots.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold as it handles all topics gently. However, parents should be ready for potential conversations about synesthesia, why some families look different, and why Hal's biological father is not in his life. No specific pages require previewing. A parent has noticed their child seems withdrawn or is acting out in response to a change in the family, like a new partner. The child might have said, "You just don't get it," or, "I wish things could go back to how they were."
Age Experience
A 9 year old will likely focus on the friendship between Hal and Olivia and the fun of their secret plan. An 11 or 12 year old will connect more deeply with the subtext: Hal's internal journey of self-acceptance, the emotional complexity of his family situation, and the poetic nature of his synesthesia.
What Makes It Special
The use of synesthesia as a core element of the protagonist's character is the book's most unique feature. It functions as a beautiful and effective metaphor for feeling different, elevating a familiar story about family change into a poignant exploration of perception, identity, and empathy.
Read plot summary
Hal is a quiet, observant boy who experiences synesthesia, associating days and other concepts with specific colors and tastes. Feeling unsettled by his single mother's new boyfriend, Alec, Hal enlists his more practical friend, Olivia, in a plan to drive Alec away. Their scheme involves a bit of detective work and minor deception. As the plan unfolds, it backfires in unexpected ways, forcing Hal to confront his assumptions about Alec, his feelings about his absent father, and the true nature of his own unique perspective on the world.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Hal sees Friday as blue and tastes it like lemon sherbert. If you could assign a color and a taste to each day of the week, what would they be? Why do you think it was hard for Olivia to understand Hal's way of seeing things?
2
Was Hal's plan to get rid of Alec a fair thing to do? Why did he feel it was so important? What did he learn about Alec that surprised him?
3
Hal and Olivia have a big argument about the plan and about their friendship. What do you think makes someone a good friend? Is it more important to agree with a friend or to be honest with them?
4
By the end of the story, Hal's feelings about his family have changed. How does his relationship with his mom and with Alec grow? In what ways does he seem more comfortable with himself?
