• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

Key Selling Points

• A young artist is thrilled to be accepted at a prestigious art school but then learns that some feel she hasn’t earned her place.
• This book explores the themes of racism, prejudice and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
• There is a demand for stories that offer an Indigenous perspective on teenage struggles.
• Melanie Florence's book, Missing Nimâmâ, was the winner of the 2016 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and most recently, Stolen Words won the 2018 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Award and is short-listed for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award.
• Dreaming in Color is a companion novel to the bestselling He Who Dreams (the main character is John’s sister).
• New, enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.

MELANIE FLORENCE est une autrice primée d’origine crie et écossaise qui vit à Toronto, en Ontario. Elle a écrit Sans Nimâmâ, qui lui a valu le prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse en 2016 ainsi que le prix Golden Oak de la Forêt de la lecture en 2017, et une nomination à titre de finaliste aux prix First Nations Communities READ, la même année. Son album Les mots volés a remporté le prix Ruth et Sylvia Schwartz de littérature jeunesse en 2018, en plus d’être finaliste au prix Marilyn Baillie. Parmi ses autres livres, on compte Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Residential Schools et les romans pour adolescents Just Lucky, He Who Dreams, The Missing, One Night et Rez Runaway. Elle a également coécrit Autumn Bird and the Runaway avec Richard Scrimger.

MELANIE FLORENCE is an award-winning writer of Cree and Scottish heritage based in Toronto, Ontario. She is the author of Missing Nimâmâ, which won the 2016 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, the 2017 Forest of Reading Golden Oak Award and was a finalist for the 2017 First Nation Communities READ award. Her most recent picture book, Stolen Words, won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award and was a finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. Her other books include Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Residential Schools and the teen novels Just Lucky, He Who Dreams, The Missing, One Night, and Rez Runaway. Visit her at https://www.melanieflorence.com/.

Melanie Florence's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection
• Long-listed, First Nation Communities READ YA/Adult Award
• Long-listed, First Nation Communities Read Awards (FNCR) - Young Adult / Adult
• Long-listed, Ontario Library service (OLS) First Nation Communities Read Awards - Young Adult / Adult

“Offers a mirror to the sometimes painful emotions and everyday experiences of Indigenous teens of mixed heritage. A rare and welcome reluctant reader title featuring an Indigenous protagonist.”

Kirkus Reviews

“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. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials