Out of the Blue

Shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year Award

An unforgettable story of first love in World War II

‘I'm not going to be able to see you for a while, Kitty. I have a couple of days' leave and then I'll be gone.'
     Kitty felt her stomach turn. A few minutes ago, waiting to meet Sammy, she had felt giddy with happiness. Now, she felt sick with fear that she might never see him again.

One beautiful spring morning, Kitty Danby meets Sammy Ray Bailey, a handsome young American pilot stationed nearby. Sixteen-year-old Kitty and Sammy fall quickly in love and, for a few precious weeks, the future holds a promise of happiness that Kitty hardly dares hope for. But it is 1944 and a tragic incident changes everything, leading to a web of secrets and misunderstandings which will only be understood years later . . .

'Out of the Blue is a poignant, gripping read. Val Rutt portrays beautifully how passion, pain and betrayal are evoked by an unexpected letter.'
Jamila Gavin, author of Coram Boy

'I'm in awe of the way Val has evoked such a strong sense of period in Out of the Blue. The second world war setting really emphasises the closeness between Kitty and Sammy. It's heartening that young judges should have recognised this and shortlisted the book from over eighty others.'
Jake Hope, Lancashire Book of the Year 2010