Blueback: A Boy, a Groper, and a Threatened Paradise Abel Jackson’s boyhood unfolds in a world on the brink of disappearance. On a pristine coast abundant with marine life, he leads a straightforward, resilient life. He shares his home at Longboat Bay solely with his mother, but Abel finds companionship in the sea, especially with the majestic old groper he encounters while diving. As time progresses, changes occur, yet one element persists: human avarice. When the modern world encroaches upon his marine sanctuary, Abel questions what can impede its progress. Blueback is a seemingly simple allegory about a boy who matures through experiences with nature and loss.