Blue Sisters

The Blue sisters are devastated by the loss of their fourth sibling, Nicky. The grief is particularly acute because Nicky dies suddenly and at a young age. While each of the sisters wrestles with grief in her own way, none of them will ever “get over” the loss of their sister; the novel depicts grief as an emotion that changes over time but never entirely disappears. It can be destructive and isolating, but it can also be a catalyst for self-transformation and growth. At the beginning of the novel, the grief experienced by each sister is toxic and static, leading to isolation and destructive coping tendencies. They don’t confide their grief to one another, or to other people who might support them; for example, Avery’s grief alienates her from her wife rather than bringing them closer. Likewise, Bonnie’s grief leads her to abandon her passion for boxing. She stops striving to meet her personal goals, even as she realizes that Nicky always supported her dreams and would have wanted to see her pursuing success as an athlete. Grief also leads to risky behavior for some of the sisters: Lucky drinks excessively and uses recreational drugs, while