Blue to the Sky

Ella, 12, is dealing with many challenges as she returns to school after a six-year hiatus. When Ella was in kindergarten, her mother decided to homeschool her after a severe allergic reaction put Ella in serious danger. Ella has severe allergic reactions to nuts, seeds, and dairy, among other things. There are so many trace amounts of dangerous-to-Ella food items that Mom is nervous to send her to school. They also eat out at restaurants very seldom because Mom worries about Ella’s having another anaphylactic reaction. Now in grade six, Ella is back in school, and it is difficult. Ella doesn’t feel comfortable in the classroom – it seems loud and chaotic. Some of the kids at school call her ‘Allergy Girl’ and ‘Allergic-to-Everything Girl’ and laugh at her. Ella has two big challenges facing her as the story begins. She must make a speech in front of her classmates or risk getting a terrible grade, and she desperately wants to pass the dairy part of her allergy test so that she can be free to eat pizza. On top of that, Ella would love to have a dog, but, of course, she is allergic.

Ella has one good friend, Zenia, who is loyal and kind. When Zenia suggests that she and Ella train for and climb 1,776 steps to the top of the CN Tower in Toronto, Ella decides to do it. Ella knows that, if she can reach the top, she can recite her speech up there and conquer her fear of public speaking. Once she accomplishes public speaking, Ella is sure the allergy test and getting a dog will fall into place.

Sylvia McNicoll is the author of such gems as Dog on Trial (www.cmreviews.ca/cm/vol20/no22/dogontrial.html) and Body Swap (www.cmreviews.ca/node/292). Now, she has written a wonderful book about a relatively invisible condition – that of dealing with severe allergies that can easily lead to death. McNicoll shares with readers how kids and families live with dangerous allergens every day of their lives. She has pulled back the blinds and given readers a firsthand look at what living with serious allergies means as Ella navigates the social norms of kid birthday parties, foods prepared by caring but sometimes uninformed family friends, and eating out. Readers empathize as Ella ponders being ‘that kid’ – the one who makes it impossible for others to eat nuts and bring certain treats to school. Readers feel for Ella as she makes sure to carry two EpiPens and antihistamine in her fanny pack every time she leaves the house. At 12, Ella is now old enough to shoulder more of the responsibility for herself and her allergies, but readers feel for Mom as she nervously tries to step back and let Ella take more responsibility for herself and make her own decisions. Mom knows that one little bite of something could seriously harm Ella – like the one little bite of brownie that is supposed to be nut-free…

Blue to the Sky is a fabulous book that fills a niche of families and children living with severe allergies. It gives readers a glimpse of living life with severe allergies. As McNicoll mentions in the “Acknowledgments”, the book is a work of love. She has watched her own children and grandchildren navigate the world of living with allergies, and she shares this beautiful story with readers.