Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea is a middle grade fiction novel authored by Ashley Herring Blake, released on May 25, 2021, through Little, Brown. The narrative follows Hazel Bly and her family as they relocate to Rose Harbor, Maine, after several previous moves. In this seaside community, Hazel faces the challenge of coping with the loss of one of her mothers.
Major theme
At its core, the book explores grief, particularly the experience of losing a parent during childhood. Hazel grapples with feelings of guilt connected to her mother's fatal kayaking accident, which also instills in her a fear of water.
Reception
The novel received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which commended Blake’s nuanced character portrayal and the emotional resonance in depicting "grief, memory, and familial relationships." Likewise, School Library Journal praised the author’s narrative style and character development for cultivating empathy toward Hazel.
Shoshana Flax of The Horn Book lauded Blake’s ability to handle weighty themes without overpowering the story, emphasizing the focus on character evolution. According to The Booklist, the novel is "a poignant tale of grief and guilt," recognized for its mixture of somber and hopeful moments and its straightforward approach to discussing loss without being patronizing.