Twelve-year-old Roxie is at a new school for 7th grade. She is a gifted artist and lives with her blind parents, guide dog, Nash, and a younger brother. She wants to keep her parents’ blindness a secret. Revealing it at her old school caused embarrassment.

The story is a realistic look at middle school that many readers will see in themselves. Trying to make friends or finding that available spot to sit at lunch time can be a huge challenge.

But what sets this apart is the understanding readers get about dealing with a disability. It’s possible Roxie inherited her own future vision problems from her mother’s eye condition- retinitis pigmentosa. The wonderful end result is that the problem will shape the person you become.

Along the way Roxie makes many mistakes including numerous lies, endangering her little brother, and using a credit card without permission. Her actions even cause Child Protective Services to visit the home.

There are also a few chapters narrated by Nash the dog. This loyal little friend gives a positive look at a loving family with an emotional viewpoint that resonates with kindness and understanding. Nash could even branch out and have his own book some day!

ROXIE IN COLOR is a bit long for a middle grade contemporary at 336 pages, but is also one that you will be glad to have spent time with Roxie and her challenges of growing up. A rare look at a sighted child with blind parents. A book that should be in every school and home library.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: June 2, 2026

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: ROXIE IN COLOR by Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka

1. Memorable character arcs aren’t easy to develop, but Roxie’s growth throughout were a highlight. I loved how she saw her future in a much different way with the help of expressing herself artistically.
2. The honest look at middle school friendships.
3. The book goes for even more authenticity with the use of low vision font for the text that should actually help all readers whether vision impaired or not.
4. The amount of learning readers get about the technologies and adaptation for those who are blind.
5. Heartwarming is an often overused term, but by book’s end this story sure earns that label.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Stacy Cervenka is the director of the Iowa Department for the Blind and previously led the Blind Parents Group of the National Federation of the Blind. She divides her time between Des Moines and Lincoln, Nebraska, where she lives with her husband and two children. Just like Roxie’s family, Stacy and her husband, Greg, are blind, while their children, Leo and Josephine, are sighted.

“The blind community is a huge part of my life, and it was important to me that the book reflects that. In many ways, I think of my blindness a lot less in terms of the physicality or the logistics of it, and much more in terms of the community I’m a part of. I wanted readers to see that Roxie and Theo are not the only two kids in the world who have blind parents, that there is a whole close-knit blind community that their family belongs to. When blind friends have read early drafts, this is almost always the aspect they respond to most strongly. They appreciate that readers will see that not every child of blind parents thinks about it the same way that Roxie does and that Roxie’s seemingly unusual experience is more widely shared than the reader might have thought.” (https://stacycervenka.com/)

Diane Debrovner is the former deputy editor of Parents magazine and author of the article “What Blind Parents Want You to See,” which provided the spark for this novel. She now helps nonprofits share their stories to raise the funding they need. Diane lives in New York City with her family and a dog who loves watermelon.

“I started writing the book on my own and then realized I couldn’t tell the story by myself. I was thrilled when Stacy agreed to be my co-author. Roxie’s family wasn’t based on her family, but she brought their experience to life with more authentic details than I ever could. However, Roxie’s emotions and the challenges of middle school were all very familiar to me.” (https://www.dianedebrovner.com/)

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Orion loves to sing. Unfortunately, 7th grade and being 13 brings more challenges. The worst are a mean group of girls at school who always try to make her look bad, She still has a passion for singing, but for now it is best to keep quiet.

That all changes when Orion gets encouraging messages from someone named J. Could it be her secret crush whose name is Jesse? It sure seems that way since the messages highlight the positives about her and then Jessie invites her to sing with him. It’s exact;y what she needs to get her voice back.

The middle school drama and heartfelt feelings of the memorable main characters are true to life. Best friend Izzy is there for her the whole way. She’s exactly what you’d want in a bestie. Jesse’s own story with a sad past but a promising future also help Orion deal with her own feelings.

The page count (144) is a welcome plus for young readers. The back pages include many extras. Teachers will appreciate the 10 Discussion Question. There is also a QR code that will take you to a YouTube channel where songs from the series are available for readers to enjoy. Lastly, the lyrics to the song Best Friends that is a part of the plot reminds one of how friendships evolve.

Best Friends is the first in the series. The next two books, STOLEN and VIRAL will also be released this year. Realistic middle school drama, endearing friendships, and the emerging talents of Orion will have a lot of fans and a new best friend in THE ORION SESSIONS.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl DaVeiga grew up as a girl who loved singing, writing, and dreaming in music—but somewhere along the way, she learned to quiet that part of herself. Like so many girls, she chose the path that felt safe, building a career in accounting and eventually becoming a partner at a national firm. It was something to be proud of… but it wasn’t the dream her younger self once carried so brightly.

Years later, she found her way back to the music she had set aside. She became an award-winning songwriter recognized by ASCAP, then discovered the joy of writing books for children. Her seven picture books—combining stories with music and filled with humor, heart, and sing-along joy—have received numerous awards.

But even as she wrote those playful stories, she knew there was another one waiting—one rooted in the girl she used to be and the voice she had tucked away. That’s the story that became The Orion Sessions.

The Orion Sessions is the series Cheryl wishes she’d had when she was twelve: full of music, friendship, mistakes, courage, and the journey of reclaiming the voice you’ve hidden to fit in.

Cheryl lives in Tucson with her partner, Doug, and they spend summers in New Jersey. She still sings… like all the time. (for more about Cheryl and her books visit her website)

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your post can be found in the right margin.

Jennifer Bohnhoff has written many historical novels for middle grade and YA. Time periods range from the Civil War to World War II along with a more recent story about a devastating wildlife fire in the American West. I chose to review PERSPECTIVE today based on the unique setting: a remote island in Lake Superior during the Great Depression.

Twelve-year-old Genevieve William’s emotional story is revealed through her own first person narration. Her mother has died of lung cancer and Genevieve has only one choice and that is to go live with the father she never met where he resides on Isle Royale. She soon realizes this place is nothing like her original home. It’s a location living in the past with few amenities of a big city. Isolation is now her biggest challenge.

Genevieve does have her art work that she hopes will propel her to a future career doing what she loves to do. But that is a long way off. For now she wants to figure out why her parents marriage failed along with trying to stop her father from drinking alcohol.

The world building puts readers right into this remote place. The detailed and descriptive writing have you solidly rooting for this young girl. I thought this plot could even transform into a movie. Best for older MG readers who like a gently paced historical story.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: 10/7/2025 PAGES: 247

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: PERSPECTIVE by Jennifer Bohnhoff

1. The time period of the Depression is not one you see in Middle Grade Fiction. I learned many new things about the setting and this tough time in our history.
2. Genevieve is a mature 12-year-old who lives a far different life than present day kids that age. I felt like I was there with this girl as she tries to make sense of this vastly different world.
3. A new place requires adaption. Perspectives can change as Genevieve discovers the positive of new relationships and a place she initially didn’t appreciate. Great parallels.
4. The author’s background as a former social studies teacher shows her passion for the historical time period and the details brought forth on each page. Jennifer’s travels often inspire her books, as this one did when she and her family visited Isle Royale National Park.
5. The 27 chapters aren’t action packed but this novel still captures your attention. You will have a longing to learn more about the island and the Great Depression.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A lifelong New Mexican, Jennifer Bohnhoff loves travel and history, so it should come as no surprise that many of her books are historical novels set in beautiful and interesting places. She taught Middle School Language Arts and New Mexico History for years, but is now a full time author. (For more about Jennifer, visit her Author Website)

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