The Blue Shoe: A Tale of Thievery,
Villainy, Sorcery, and Shoes
by Roderick Townley

    THE BLUE SHOE by Roderick Townley
    Illustrated by:  Mary GrandPre
    Category:  Fantasy
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  10/13/09
    Publisher:  Knopf
    Reviewed by:  Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen
    Rating:  4 Stars


    One evening in a small town called Aplanap, a mysterious stranger approaches the shoemaker, Grel, to make a
    blue shoe entirely out of strange blue gems.  The shoe must never be sold or damaged.  

    When Hap, the shoemaker’s apprentice, steals a gem from the blue shoe to save a poor beggar girl, he is
    sentenced to the mountain Xexnax.  There he finds a race of people called Auki’s working in the mines.  
    Aplanap’s mayor and his wife are after the biggest blue gem of all.  But a rebellion is underway and it’s up to Hap
    to lead the fight and save his friends and the town.  

    With a title that includes “Thievery, Villainy, Sorcery, and Shoes,” you know you can’t go wrong!  THE BLUE
    SHOE is a magical story that reads like a fairy tale.  There’s lots of adventure, a bit of romance, and magic.

    Hap is a likable hero and his friend, Sophia, is full of spunk, and they were a delight to read about.  They are
    surrounded by a fun cast of characters that won’t soon be forgotten.    

    The book is printed in blue ink and filled with illustrations from Mary GrandPre, which I thought added to the
    magic of the tale.  This is one I could see being read aloud to all ages - it has the feel of an old-fashioned tale that
    has been passed down and re-told and needs to be shared.

    THE BLUE SHOE will appeal to both readers of fantasy and those who enjoy action-packed adventures.