Colors in Me – Strength, Love, Resiliency by C. M. Dilcher

Colors in Me – Strength, Love, Resiliency by C. M. Dilcher is an emotional novel that will tug at your heart from beginning to end. The content is heavy and I was in a constant battle of wanting to keep reading and not being sure how much more I could read in one sitting.

The story is told by a first grader named Austin who lives with his mom and her boyfriend Don, who is a drunk and is abusive to both of them. As much as Austin wants to be strong and protect his mom, he also desires for her to love and protect him.

When Austin starts a new school, his troubles only grow as he tries to navigate his way through a new environment and not reveal to the teachers who he truly is. He has no support from his mom and his dad is dead. The only real friend he has is an elderly neighbor Dorothy but he doesn’t even want to tell her about Don. He’s afraid of what Don might do if anyone were to find out the truth. He feels completely worthless and hopeless.

I appreciate Dilcher telling this story from the perspective of a child. The sentences were mostly short and simple to read, just as a child might speak, but it didn't feel childish. Allowing Austin to speak paints a powerful picture for the reader of how harsh reality is for many children.

Dilcher told a difficult story in an honest, engaging way that was unique. I haven’t read a lot of books, especially with topics of abuse, that are told from a child’s vantage point.