Blue Period – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Blue Period

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2017

93%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A high school delinquent discovers that painting is harder than math but way more satisfying.

Blue Period

book

2017

93%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A high school delinquent discovers that painting is harder than math but way more satisfying.

4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Blue Period is the antidote to brain rot. It’s a story about a kid who has everything figured out—grades, friends, social status—and realizes he’s bored out of his mind until he picks up a paintbrush. It’s not a soft, 'everyone is an artist' fluff piece. It’s a grind. It shows the technical frustration, the 4 AM existential crises, and the absolute guts it takes to be vulnerable.

For any teenager feeling like they’re just checking boxes, this is a wake-up call in the best way possible. It’s visually stunning and intellectually demanding. Just be prepared for them to suddenly want expensive oil paints and a lot more space for canvases.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 13+ crowd who are starting to wonder what the point of high school actually is. Adults will find it just as gut-wrenching and inspiring.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It centers on personal growth and finding a sense of purpose. While the protagonist starts as a 'delinquent' who smokes and drinks, the narrative is an emotionally healthy look at finding one's voice and working hard.

Imaginative

This is a masterclass in creative perspective. It doesn't just show art; it explains the technical and emotional process of seeing the world differently and translating that to a canvas.

Safe

Generally safe for teens. Includes some underage smoking and drinking, and artistic nudity (museum/life drawing context). The emotional weight is the biggest thing to manage, as it deals with intense academic pressure and identity crises.

Enriching

Incredibly educational regarding art history and technique, but even better as a study of grit and the 'growth mindset.' It’s one of the most meaningful coming-of-age stories in recent years.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It treats art as a technical skill you can learn through grit, not some magical talent you're born with.
Features a genuinely nuanced look at gender identity and social pressure through the character of Ryuji.
The stakes feel incredibly high—it’s about the soul-crushing pressure of elite college entrance exams and finding a reason to care.

⚠

What to Watch For

The main characters are 'delinquents' early on, so expect some underage smoking and hanging out in clubs.
It gets heavy. We're talking 'crying on the floor because your painting sucks' levels of academic and creative stress.

Conversation Starters

"Yatora feels like he's 'faking it' even when he's succeeding. Do you ever feel like you're just performing for people?"
"What’s something you’re willing to work at even if you’re not 'naturally' good at it?"
"The book talks about how art is a language. If you had to describe today without words, what would it look like?"

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