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katielawton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
spiffysarahruby's review
4.0
This was a great book! The last one I'm going to (knowingly) tackle from last year's, 2020 Sequoyah Masterlist. Lots of emotions, good humor. I just take so long to read-read books. I wish I could have gotten a hold of this one as an audiobook.
jesseking10's review against another edition
3.0
A boy named Auden who cannot see in colour, a condition known as Achromatopsia, is in a future-world where water is scarce and wars are rife. After Auden’s uncle dies, he moves to Cambridge with his mother and settles in his uncle’s ramshackle cottage.
He makes friends with Vivi, a bright fellow student, and together they slowly discover traces of Uncle Jonah’s legacy, leading them to befriending a robot and eventually saving the world through Vivi’s intelligence and Auden’s determination.
I thought the book was fairly funny and okay, but the plot was predictable. Some endearing moments though, and would recommend for anyone wanting to enjoy a casual, lighthearted novel set in the future.
He makes friends with Vivi, a bright fellow student, and together they slowly discover traces of Uncle Jonah’s legacy, leading them to befriending a robot and eventually saving the world through Vivi’s intelligence and Auden’s determination.
I thought the book was fairly funny and okay, but the plot was predictable. Some endearing moments though, and would recommend for anyone wanting to enjoy a casual, lighthearted novel set in the future.
tonyfrobisher's review against another edition
5.0
Hope is the thing with colours
A beautifully written book, a story that is both a fable of friendship, loyalty and trust and a portent of a world that is plunged into conflict, an apocalyptic world devoid of the most essential requirement, water.
Set in a future where a bus ticket costs £8,000, it is a dystopian, yet hopeful children's tale that is thought-provoking and satisfying. 11 year old Auden Dare, hopes to discover the secrets his recently deceased scientist uncle left in a 'rainbow machine'. A machine he hopes will help him see colours - living with achromatic vision, only seeing in black and white. Aided by his friend Vivi and a humanoid poetry quoting robot called Paragon, the three attempt to discover the truth of Paragon's real purpose. At the same time the Orwellian 'WAB' Water Allocation Board (think Thought Police for water rationing and supply) try to find and use Paragon for their own manipulative reasons.
As with Zillah Bethell's A Whisper of Horses, there is much to uncover and enjoy in a book with many layers and twists. The innocence and bravery of children in a chaotic, harsh world created by the power lust of adults gives a clear and powerful message. We as custodians of the planet need to protect and conserve it to pass on to future generations.
But we should never underestimate the tenacity and determination of children to not accept injustice and to fight to change things for the better.
An excellent book and highly recommended for all. Children and adults alike.
A beautifully written book, a story that is both a fable of friendship, loyalty and trust and a portent of a world that is plunged into conflict, an apocalyptic world devoid of the most essential requirement, water.
Set in a future where a bus ticket costs £8,000, it is a dystopian, yet hopeful children's tale that is thought-provoking and satisfying. 11 year old Auden Dare, hopes to discover the secrets his recently deceased scientist uncle left in a 'rainbow machine'. A machine he hopes will help him see colours - living with achromatic vision, only seeing in black and white. Aided by his friend Vivi and a humanoid poetry quoting robot called Paragon, the three attempt to discover the truth of Paragon's real purpose. At the same time the Orwellian 'WAB' Water Allocation Board (think Thought Police for water rationing and supply) try to find and use Paragon for their own manipulative reasons.
As with Zillah Bethell's A Whisper of Horses, there is much to uncover and enjoy in a book with many layers and twists. The innocence and bravery of children in a chaotic, harsh world created by the power lust of adults gives a clear and powerful message. We as custodians of the planet need to protect and conserve it to pass on to future generations.
But we should never underestimate the tenacity and determination of children to not accept injustice and to fight to change things for the better.
An excellent book and highly recommended for all. Children and adults alike.
stacikristine's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic middle grade novel! I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much when I started this. It was on a list of children's novels that were being considered for the 2020 Sequoyah award. I decided to read all of them. This is definitely one of my favorites from the list. I'll introduce my kids to it when they get a bit older.
t2p's review
4.0
Another fabulous find from the new JUV fic shelves. (And, coincidentally, by another Welsh author and from the Feiwel & Friends imprint as was The Train to Impossible Places.)
My kids LOVED this book, and they were deeply affected by the ending. It makes me want to pick up Bethell's first book and try it, too. Clark loves just about any story, but Lily's a bit pickier and this fit the bill for her.
My kids LOVED this book, and they were deeply affected by the ending. It makes me want to pick up Bethell's first book and try it, too. Clark loves just about any story, but Lily's a bit pickier and this fit the bill for her.
booknerdknits's review against another edition
4.0
Not what I was expecting at all from the cover of the book. A wonderful, uplifting story set in the not-too-distant future.
lizthelibrarian's review
1.0
1.5 stars. Auden has achromatopsia; he can't see any color and lives his world in black and white. His uncle is a scientist that died out of the blue and Auden thinks he may have created a machine that will let him see color. Eventually, Auden and his friend Vivi find a robot named Paragon, but will this robot help Auden see color and why does the Water Board Allocation want him? I loved that the author presented a character with achromatopsia because I didn't even know the condition existed. However, I felt like the rest of it was a jumbled mess. Throughout the book, Auden keeps mentioning a war that is not explained until about eighty pages into the book and even then the water crisis is maybe mentioned twenty percent of the book in totality. Paragon is a sweet character and acts as an interim father figure to Auden as most of the book goes on, but what bugged me was the fact that for about seventy-five percent of the book all Auden, Vivi, and Paragon are doing is trampling around, scaring bullies, and not finding out answers to what Paragon is. I also felt like Vivi was two dimensional and could have easily been taken out of the storyline. I believe Paragon was the best character in this book, he was patient and a wonderful character that I would like to see more of in other books.
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