A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voigt
"A Solitary Blue" by Cynthia Voigt is a coming-of-age novel that delves into the psychological impact of inadequate parenting on an only child. The story follows Jeff Greene, who faces emotional turmoil after his mother, Melody, abandons him to pursue her social work, leaving him feeling isolated and fearful of losing his remaining parent, his father, the Professor. Over several years, Jeff navigates a life marked by routine and emotional detachment, punctuated by brief interactions with his mother and the supportive presence of Brother Thomas.
The narrative explores themes of abandonment, loneliness, and the quest for self-identity. Jeff's experiences during a magical yet ultimately disappointing summer with his mother in Charleston lead to further withdrawal upon his return home. The latter half of the novel focuses on Jeff's recovery as he thrives in a supportive environment fostered by his father and develops friendships that rekindle his spirit. Ultimately, Jeff grows to understand his mother's flaws and learns to find strength and independence within himself. Voigt’s work, part of her Tillerman series, is noted for its realistic portrayal of family dynamics and the resilience of youth in the face of adversity.
Subject Terms
A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voigt
First published: 1983
Subjects: Coming-of-age, family, and friendship
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Domestic realism
Time of work: The 1970’s
Recommended Ages: 13-15
Locale: Baltimore and the Eastern Shore, Maryland, and Charleston, South Carolina
Principal Characters:
Jeff Greene , an only child who is deserted by his mother at the age of sevenThe Professor , Jeff’s father, an introverted academicMelody , Jeff’s charming and beautiful mother, whose avowed concern for social problems conceals a selfish natureBrother Thomas , the monk who befriends the father and sonDicey Tillerman , Jeff’s honest and outspoken school friend who shares his pain of abandonment
Form and Content
A Solitary Blue explores the psychological damage inflicted upon an only child by deficient parents. Spanning approximately ten years, the novel begins when seven-year-old Jeff Greene comes home from school one day to find a note from his mother, Melody, explaining that she has left him to continue her serious social work. Abandoned by the mother that he adores and fearful of losing his remaining parent, Jeff withdraws. Over a period of four years, Jeff and his father, the Professor, assume an orderly and mirthless routine, broken only by the occasional visits of the Professor’s colleague, Brother Thomas. An invitation to spend the summer in Charleston with his mother promises to change everything.
The summer is a magical one for Jeff. He is captivated by his mother’s warm, spontaneous charm and by the music that she plays on the guitar. After a few days, however, Melody is again busy with her “causes.” Jeff is largely left to fend for himself until the end of the summer, when Melody exchanges his airline ticket for a bus ticket and sends him back to Baltimore without any traveling money. Nevertheless, Jeff adores his mother so much that he overlooks her self-centered behavior.
In Baltimore for another school year, Jeff writes Melody numerous letters, to which he receives no reply. Her rejection is softened somewhat by the friendship of Brother Thomas, who provides guidance and good humor to both Jeff and the Professor. In his own awkward way, the Professor attempts to reach out to Jeff by taking an interest in his music and by contacting Jeff’s great-grandmother to arrange a second summer in Charleston.
Jeff finds a different Charleston when he returns. Melody is preoccupied with Max, a journalist whom she accompanies as a photographer. Great-grandmother Gambo, who has suffered a stroke, seems annoyed by Jeff’s presence; only Opal, the aging African American housekeeper, seems not to notice Jeff at all. Jeff survives the summer by exploring a remote island, where he identifies with the aloneness of a great blue heron. As a result of Melody’s second betrayal, Jeff withdraws to the point of near madness upon his return to Baltimore.
The second half of the book details Jeff’s recovery over the next five years. The Professor uses the extra money that he receives from the publication of his book to buy them a proper home on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. Under his father’s caring concern, Jeff responds to the beauty and solitude of his surroundings. As he gains confidence at home, he begins to thrive in school, realizing that he is intelligent and strong. Ultimately, it is his friendship with a young girl named Dicey Tillerman and her family that awakens his spirit. When his mother tries to reenter his life, Jeff sees her shallowness and selfishness, and he realizes that he is no longer dependent on her approval.
Critical Context
Continuing a trend that began with the 1970’s new realism, A Solitary Blue is a coming-of-age novel that profiles a dysfunctional family. When adults are absent, preoccupied, or flawed in some way, a child’s inner conflict develops naturally. This motif of self-sufficient and resilient orphans is found in fairy tales such as “Hansel and Gretel” and biblical stories such as Joseph and his coat of many colors; it has guided several of Cynthia Voigt’s young adult novels, such as Homecoming (1981); Dicey’s Song (1982), the winner of the Newbery Medal; The Runner (1985); Sons from Afar (1988); and Seventeen Against the Dealer (1989). Constituting what might be called the Tillerman series, these books share common characters—specifically, the Tillerman family of Dicey, James, Sammy, Maybeth, and Grandma Tillerman. Homecoming, which was inspired by a car full of kids left to wait in a supermarket parking lot, became the springboard for the other five novels. A Solitary Blue, although self-contained, is considered a companion book, not a sequel, to Dicey’s Song.
Praised for their realism, Voigt’s novels stress the need for understanding and harmony between generations. She provides compelling characters who change and grow as they communicate openly with one another. Voigt has an ear for the dialogue of adolescents and an optimistic eye for the innate resilience of her protagonists. They may not all live happily ever after, but her characters teach young people that understanding themselves and others is possible if they make the effort.