Books Like Bluefish
Families who loved Bluefish by Pat Schmatz often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Bluefish by Pat Schmatz often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is masking a struggle, whether it is an academic challenge like dyslexia or an emotional burden they feel they must carry alone. It is a lifeline for the middle schooler who feels like an outsider or who is paralyzed by the fear of being found out. Bluefish follows thirteen year old Travis as he navigates a new school while hiding a profound secret: he cannot read. Living with an alcoholic grandfather and grieving his old life, Travis finds unlikely allies in a persistent teacher and a spirited classmate named Veda. This is a quiet but powerful story about the vulnerability required to learn and the transformative power of being seen. It is developmentally perfect for ages 10 to 14, offering a realistic but hopeful look at overcoming shame and finding one's voice through literacy and connection.
