Plot Summary

A Patch of Blue

Elizabeth Kata
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A Patch of Blue

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1961

Book Brief

Elizabeth Kata

A Patch of Blue

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1961
Book Details
Pages

144

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Urban America • 1960s

Publication Year

1961

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

500L

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Super Short Summary

In Elizabeth Kata's A Patch of Blue, a blind girl named Selina D’Arcey, confined to a harsh life with her abusive mother and alcoholic grandfather, finds solace in a park where she meets and befriends Gordon Ralfe, who introduces her to a world of kindness and possibility. The novel includes themes of sexual violence, discrimination, and domestic abuse.

Heartwarming

Romantic

Contemplative

Inspirational

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.1

1,309 ratings

71%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Elizabeth Kata’s A Patch of Blue is lauded for its poignant exploration of racism and disability through rich, emotional prose. Readers appreciate the depth of the characters, particularly the strong bond between the protagonists. However, some critics find certain plot elements dated and predictably melodramatic, affecting overall realism.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Patch of Blue?

A reader who would enjoy A Patch of Blue by Elizabeth Kata likely appreciates emotionally compelling narratives about overcoming adversity and social prejudice. Fans of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Alice Walker's The Color Purple will find the novel's themes of race, disability, and resilience compelling.

4.1

1,309 ratings

71%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

144

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Urban America • 1960s

Publication Year

1961

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

500L

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