#MMGM: Three Blue Hearts, by Lynne Kelly

After a long absence (on my part), I'm posting this morning with the Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays blog hop, and a review of an enjoyable book I won in a giveaway. The hop is sponsored by  Greg Pattridge of Always in the Middle. Check out Greg's blog for a list of additional middle grade reviews.  

The beautiful cover of Three Blue Hearts

Title: 
Three Blue Hearts
Author: Lynne Kelly

Publication Info: Delacorte Press 2025. 279 pages

Source: 

Won in a giveaway
Publisher’s Blurb (from Goodreads): 

Max can’t seem to escape the big, looming shadow of his politician dad. But for the next few months, Max and his mom are going away to a quiet Texas beach town where Max can be someone else. Someone who doesn’t make dumb mistakes that embarrass his father—someone who knows how to be strong.

He stumbles on his fresh start right away, when he finds an injured octopus washed up onshore after a storm. With the help of a local wildlife center and a couple of new friends, Max rescues the octopus—who they name Ursula—and vows to take care of her until she’s ready to return to the sea.

But as their bond deepens and Max makes unexpected discoveries that turn his summer upside down, Max’s true strength will be put to the test. Can he keep his promise after all?

My Review: 


I often have trouble "getting into" books these days. Not sure why, but it's nice to run into one that catches my interest from the start. The funny thing is, I'm not sure why this book does that. There's no dramatic hook, just an unhappy boy with his ambitious politician father who doesn't seem to care much about who his kid really is. But I liked Max, and read on, to see how he gets to the beach and the octopus.

Here, again, there are no great conflicts. Max finds the octopus, and immediately runs into the people who can help him, and her (the octopus, a.k.a. Ursula). He picks up an easy summer friendship with apparently the only two kids close to his age on Lafitte Island, and all is good. There's no looming trouble except the reality that Max has to return home and Ursula has to go back to the ocean.

In other words, there's no reason for this to be a page-turner, but for me, it was. When we start to see hints that all is not quite so carefree among the junior set on Lafitte, the story deepens. Even children can have complex feelings. In this case, we see a range of issues around family and what makes a family. 

To me, this also showed up the biggest weakness in the story: the author apparently wants to show that Max loves his father, and his father loves him. But while we are told that, nothing about the story suggests to me that they have any real connection whatsoever. When "Little Max" finally defies "Big Max," he tags on an "I love you" that I found unconvincing. I suspect Max does, too, since he's learned a lot about family and love over the summer. That was the only false note, for me, in this quiet, sweet, and ultimately comforting story.

My Recommendation: 

 
A great story for kids (or adults) who like animals, and want to know more about octopuses (you will learn a fair bit along with Max). It's not a bad look at what makes a family, either. And there's a bit to be learned about chimps along the way. Perfect for the 9-12 set, and fine for younger kids.



FTC Disclosure: I won Three Blue Hearts in a giveaway, and received nothing further from the writer or publisher for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

 

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 ©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2026 

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