Introduction by Heavy Medal Award Committee Member Quade Kelley
In THE COLOR OF SOUND by Emily Barth Isler, readers meet twelve-year-old Rosie, an extraordinarily talented violinist with a secret. Rosie has a gifted neurological condition called synesthesia, the ability to experience and connect sound in a multi-sensory way that is hard to explain and few can understand.
In her journey of self discovery she goes on a “violin strike” which means no summer music camp, and the only alternative is to join her mother (and encased violin,) on a trip to her grandparents’ home in Connecticut. Rosie’s perspective changes when time-shifting, mystical encounters provide an unexpected friend, the 12-year-old version of her mother, Shanna. Learning that her mother is not the “one-note melody” she had imagined, Rosie begins to unravel the secrets of her generational neurodiversity and its profound impact on her family. Alongside a fun cast of supporting characters, Rosie embarks on a journey of self-discovery that changes her perception of the past and the power of music to create her future.
THE COLOR OF SOUND is a middle-grade novel with magical realism that prepares young readers for the experience of finding their own path through exploration, while achieving excellence in defined Newbery rubrics.
Emily Bath Isler skillfully captures a gifted experience of neurodivergence through her characterization of Rosie and vivid depiction of synesthesia. This 2024 book resonated deeply with me as an authentic coming-of-age story that touches on themes of inter-generational identity, cultural and Jewish history, and music through the lens of an extraordinary mind with original perspectives.
Well-crafted language is artfully conducted with precision, arguably crossing into the category of literature. The universal experience of identity exploration provides the book’s timing and unique perspective of the character, who possesses the cognitive ability to experience the world in a sensory diverse way, becomes the melody. The generational voices complete the symphony, providing tension and depth that enrich the story and leave a lasting imprint on the narrative and reader.
From page one, Isler’s consistent use of vivid, descriptive language succeeds in describing the condition of synesthesia. This is the foundation that provides clarity and organization of the plot and setting, which drives unique character development.
“It’s not just dreaming in music for me. It’s dreaming in textures and colors, feelings and temperatures, tastes and scents. When I wake up and try to capture it, I find myself scribbling down fragments: lilies and velvet, sycamore trees, salt and butter, bold lines and wispy clouds, the scent of summer’s first day.” (p.1)
The language choices felt like a magical blending of perspective, where time and experiences are interconnected with the characters’ experiences in a new way, preparing the reader for a unique journey of self-discovery.
“I can’t avoid music any more than I can avoid breathing. Music exists in all of my senses. It’s in the smell of bread baking in the kitchen, in the colors of the budding tree outside my bedroom window. It’s in the rhythm of how people speak, the sound of cars driving past my house, the feeling of fabric on my skin as I get dressed. Music and I are inseparable. Just because I am choosing not to share it with the world doesn’t mean that music isn’t still going on in me.”
pg. 2
Rosie’s world evokes a sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty of her unique viewpoint. This is balanced with the very typical experience of a middle-grader questioning identity and adult control.
The multi-generational communication between Rosie and her mother (at the same age) was original. It is an invitation to critical thinking and reminder that our parents were kids too. Through these encounters, readers learn that Grandma Florence was born in a WWII displaced persons’ camp and that her Hungarian ancestor, Dahlia Klein, was a gifted viola player killed in Auschwitz. Through the years, musical and neurodivergence gifts were inherited but hidden (masked) to fit in and prevent prosecution. However, there is hope in The Song from Hungary, a family melody that survived WWII and Grandma’s dementia. Carrying on the cultural tradition of women with a song in their heart, Rosie is able to relate to the complexity of choices and discovers a deeply personal relationship with music on her terms.
Books can create emotional reactions and provide powerful insights in readers. The Color of Sound, paints a symphony of language, communicating the complexities of neurodivergence, and generational identity while highlighting the joy of healing harmonies that develop through the journey of self-discovery. It is a 2024 book of excellence with lasting merit.
Heavy Medal Award Committee members and others are now invited to discuss this book further in the Comments section below. Let the Mock Newbery discussion begin!