Dreaming in Color

Melanie Florence’s Dreaming in Color follows the story of Jen McCaffrey, a teen artist who has been working towards being accepted into a prestigious art school. Dreaming in Color is the companion novel to Florence’s He Who Dreams which follows Jen’s brother, John, and his commitment to learning traditional Indigenous dancing. In Dreaming in Color, John is a positive and supportive presence in Jen’s artistic journey. Jen and John are Irish on their father’s side and Cree on their mother’s side of the family. Jen incorporates her cultural identity into the intricate artwork she carefully creates for school. Her art gains her acceptance into the School of the Arts where her work is admired but also criticized by a group of prejudiced students.

Florence’s own Cree and Scottish background is authentically reflected in Jen’s voice as she experiences the struggles of being from both an Indigenous and Anglo background. Jen’s insecurities are highlighted at school when the person checking her into her art school audition assumes she is adopted because she doesn’t look like her father. Not looking like her father is an insecurity Jen feels she should be accustomed to. In the story, Jen explains that she looks like her mother and her brother looks more like their father. This affects their sense of self in the activities they pursue. Jen makes friends in art school, and they admire her art, but she also deals with hearing racist remarks whispered by a group of students in her class. Jen perseveres with help and support from her family and friends. She knows her hard work and talent are the reason she gained acceptance into art school, and she does not let the racism she experiences keep her from taking part in the art show at school.

Dreaming in Color is part of “Orca Soundings”, a series of high interest and low reading level books. Orca notes that the font, spacing, and cream-colored paper used in the series are accessible and dyslexia-friendly. Through the novel’s accessible language and short chapters, readers of all levels and backgrounds will be able to relate to and learn from Jen’s overcoming racial prejudice and intolerance. Readers will also gain a sense of empathy as they come to understand the struggles faced by Indigenous youth in contemporary society.