Review: The Color of Sound

Written by Emily Barth Isler

Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. 2024. 326 pages.

Rosie is a 12-year-old musical prodigy who has a remarkable brain that allows her to remember every piece of music she has ever heard or played. She also has the unique ability to hear sounds and her brain turns all of these sounds into colors that she can see, feel, and taste. This full sensory ability is called synesthesia and sometimes Rosie loves what her brain can do and sometimes she is overwhelmed because she can never get away from all the sounds and colors that surround her constantly.

Since she was little Rosie has loved the violin, but lately she feels like she has lost her identity and is only known as "the girl with the violin," so she goes on a music strike. She tells her teachers and her mother that she is not playing the violin anymore. Her mother is very upset with her decision, and so she decides to take Rosie with her to spend the summer at her grandparents house. For the first time Rosie finds herself with plenty of time to begin figuring out who she is without her music, and what she really wants to do with her talents.

I loved this story and the beautiful way it was written. I loved watching Rosie discover more about herself , her family history, and her religion, along with learning what it means to be a good friend. This was a well written story that will appeal to middle grade readers.

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