after a famous jazz singer. Harmon James: An African American boy is Janie's foster brother who is adopted out and moves to Tuscaloosa. Before leaving, he introduces Janie to jazz and blues. Janie sneaks into his bed and later claims that he is the father of her daughter Etta. Mama Linda: Janie's mother, who is a heroin addict, trades Janie for drugs and eventually succumbs to AIDS. Mama Shelly: Janie's foster mother, who becomes close to Janie. Daddy Mitch: A drug dealer, foster father of Janie, and husband of Mama Shelly. He takes in Janie in a trade for heroin to Linda. Jaz: Janie's love interest who almost gets arrested due to Janie being underage. Paul: A guitar player who briefly gives Janie shelter, food, and lessons in music theory, before expelling her for violating his "no-drug" rule. Reception Kirkus Reviews found Born Blue "Absolutely riveting and incredibly painful" and "Unforgettable." while Publishers Weekly stated that "... young adults mature enough to bear the story's intensity will also likely recognize the characteristics of this deeply troubled girl from their own communities." See also References 2001 American novels American young adult novels Fiction set in 2001