Learning to love Blue
Saradha Koirala
Record Press
Pub. 2021

October 06, 2021

Learning to love Blue by Saradha Koirala is a well-written book about friendships, adventure, music and following your dreams. The main character is a major inspiration as she never gives up on her dream, not once. She is always working towards it.

Paige, the main character, is an 18-year-old girl who has recently moved from Wellington, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia. She moved out there to follow her dreams of becoming a well-known bassist playing in a band that she has yet to join. She leaves her home with her bass guitar, a copy of Bob Dylan’s book Chronicles, a Joni Mitchell album called “Blue” and a suitcase with her clothes.

She arrives in Melbourne and immediately reconnects with an old friend by the name of Spike. Spike was someone that Paige was in a band with, The Vox Pop. They always had a strong connection, and everyone knew they were sweet on each other. They reconnected like there was no time missing. They don’t miss a beat – the two of them are laughing and joking around just like they used to. Then something happens that will change all of that; there is a new girl in Spike’s life.  Lou walks in the room of Spike’s house and immediately Paige feels like this girl is something special to him. But for Spike’s sake she is nice enough to this new girl, Lou forcefully tries to become Paige’s friend and reluctantly Paige complies.

Paige joins a band called Agent Smith, then another band with Lou and Spike, and things are going well until they go south and Paige and Spike’s friendship crumbles. Paige wants to give up – she doesn’t know what she is supposed to do. She throws herself into her songwriting, her other band Agent Smith and her job at Vinyl, a small cafe. Paige even eventually picks up the courage to do a solo act.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is after a little adventure, or to someone who needs to be encouraged to not give up on their dreams. Learning to love Blue has helped to motivate me to continue on with things in my life. I think if Paige can help me to want to continue doing things that I wanted to give up on, then she can definitely help other people in the same situation. This book would be perfect for younger teenagers as that is the time when we all need the most encouragement to continue on doing what we love.

Learning to love Blue by Saradha Koirala is inspiring and in general a really good book to read. I could not put it down; I read it during my lunch breaks and any free time I had in class. I just wanted to keep reading about Paige’s journey. The ending to this book is extremely satisfying.

• Caitlin Fuldseth is 16, and lives in Palmerston North