The Color of Sound Reviews

*Publishers Weekly Starred Review: “Color-centric imagery rendered in immersive prose translates Rosie’s synesthesia in this salient celebration of family, music, and neurodiversity.”

*School Library Journal Starred Review: “A top pick for any middle school collection; a perfect book club pick and a reminder to all that patience and understanding can change lives.”

Booklist Review: “Tweens should pair this moving and pensive read with a viewing of Disney’s Turning Red for similar themes of intergenerational trauma and overbearing yet sympathetic mothers.”

Horn Book Review: “An emotionally moving story about the ways that generational trauma can affect parent-child relationships and how the past persists into the present.”

Kirkus Reviews: “… [P]oignant and subtle ... A quiet exploration of synesthesia, music, and family history. “

The Color of Sound Press

ETrain’s World of Books and Wonders (VIDEO): “Once in a while a story comes around that changes what books mean to you. This is what happened to me after reading THE COLOR OF SOUND by Emily Barth Isler. THE COLOR OF SOUND is one of the most complex and layered stories I think I’ve ever read in middle-grade. Emily Barth Isler has crafted a book that will keep you on the edge of your reading seat.”

Four Questions with Emily Barth Isler, Publishers Weekly, February 29, 2024. “As in her debut, Aftermath, Isler explores how neurodivergence shapes her characters’ perspectives in unique ways.”

LitHub: Spiders, Climate Change, and Wind: Ten Great New Children’s Books Out in March; Caroline Carlson Recommends Books for Kids of All Ages

Book Friends Forever Podcast with Grace Lin and Alvina Ling: Episode #225: Writing about mental health and neurodivergence with Emily Barth Isler

Baltimore Banner Feature: Her dad is a Baltimore TV legend. She’s returning to Maryland on her own merits.

A Novel Mind Blog: Five things I want readers to know about synesthesia

Teen Librarian Toolbox (a School Library Journal Blog): Using Time Travel to Explore Parent-Child Relationships, a guest post by Emily Barth Isler

Legit Kid Lit (VIDEO): Legit KidLit is excited to welcome Emily Barth Isler for Season 4, Ep 13. Our episode includes an interview with Emily about her new middle grade novel: The Color of Sound

Middle Grade Matters Podcast (PODCAST): Emily Barth Isler on Music and Neurodiversity in Middle Grade

Jewish Book Council review: “Read­ers will iden­ti­fy with Rosie and her extend­ed fam­i­ly as they march into the years ahead — years that are sud­den­ly filled with the promise of joy and accomplishment.”

Lerner Books Blog: Author Emily Barth Isler joins us to talk about her inspiration for this middle grade novel, her experience with synesthesia, and more!

Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb: Q&A with Emily Barth Isler Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Teen Librarian Toolbox Review: “A really nice look at how independence is often hard-fought and can come through unexpected paths.”




Emily on AfterMath Related Issues

Pocket How to Talk to Kids About Hard Things: A Reading Guide. Author Emily Barth Isler shares her go-to links for taking on the uncomfortable conversations you’ve been meaning to bring up.

Publishers Weekly Middle Grade at Point Blank by Emily Barth Isler “They told me I couldn’t write this book. I said, ‘I can’t not write this book.’”

Today.com Parenting Team Holding Two Things at Once | The inherent contradictions of returning to school during a pandemic

Essay about AfterMath on Moms Don’t Have Time to Grieve: Am I Allowed to Grieve the Loss of Someone I Never Knew?

CrimeReads “Middle Grade Fiction for Processing Serious Issues” by Emily Barth Isler, 10/11/2021

Kveller Ending Gun Violence is an Inherently Jewish Responsibility, by Emily Barth Isler

Interviews with Emily

New Books Network Interview with Professor Mel Rosenberg about The Color of Sound

Voyage LA Feature on Emily Barth Isler

Jewish Women’s Archive How to Mark a New Year | Author Emily Barth Isler discusses what it means to have her debut novel launch on Rosh Hashanah

Emily Interview about AfterMath on ANovelMind.com

Watch Emily’s book launch talk with Host Paige Davis at Chevalier’s Books on September 7.

Mathical Book Prize 2022 Winners Announcement Event February 10, 2022

Jewish Women’s Archive Book Club Talk with Middle Grade Authors Emily Barth Isler and Amiee Lucido, February 17, 2022

Moms Don’t Have Time To Grieve Interview October 11, 2021

Children’s Book Spotlight, PR From the Heart, 1/19/23

The Silver Unicorn Bookstore Author Talk with Nora Zelevansky, September 22, 2021.

TV interview: WMAR-TV Channel 2 Baltimore “From Reading Scripts to Writing a Novel”

TV interview: WBFF-TV Fox 45 Baltimore “Author Talks about Children’s Book Dealing with Grief and Trauma”

YouTube/Podcast interview with E Train Talks, May 2022

IG Live Author Chat with writer Sasha Martin: On Loss and Healing

Lerner Books Fall Preview

Fall 2021 New Title Preview

Read With Val Review

Middle Grade Ninja Interview on YouTube

Lilith Magazine Blog: Interview with Yona Zeldis McDonough, “Violence, Loss, and Healing— Emily Barth Isler’s AfterMath” “… Emily Barth Isler’s brave and important debut novel Aftermath … aims to makes the unfathomable understandable to a young and tender audience. Isler talks to Fiction Editor Yona Zeldis McDonough about how she came to write the book, the discussions she hopes it will spark, and the way in which it fits into the larger framework of Jewish thought and teaching.”

Blogs

Child’s Play In Action interview 9/2/21 “AfterMath is also a powerful tribute to the catharsis that theater arts can provide young people. It speaks to a generation of kids who are all too intimate with pathos. While it feels like a taboo topic, Emily confronts gun violence head-on. Instead of shying away from discomfort, this book asks us all to lean in, to listen, and to connect.”

Author Q&A with Emily on the Lerner Blog Debut author Emily Barth Isler shares her writing journey and the books that inspired her. Read on to find a book trailer, free discussion guide, and so much more!

Reading Style Guide review 8/17/21 “While this is a story of grief and loss, AfterMath is a hopeful story. Through an extracurricular mime group Lucy learns new ways to express herself, make friends, and solidify her relationship with Avery. Her family begins to heal. A touching story that avoids becoming maudlin. The author’s narration is well suited to the voice of a tender twelve-year-old. Occasionally a title is precisely the perfect fit. AfterMath is a brilliant title choice.”

Nonstop Reader review 8/11/21 “This is such a warm and thoughtful book for middle grades and older. Despite the heavy themes of sudden violent loss, death, trauma, grief, painful family and friendship relations, and the general upheaval of adolescence, there are moments of humor and fun woven throughout. The author has a real gift with writing that engages and informs without ever being maudlin or preachy. Although it has been decades since I was Lucy's age, I think the honesty of the writing will touch most readers whatever their age. The author's positive and supportive matter-of-fact discussion of mental health issues and support for grief and healing are vitally important. She touches on the upside-down roles of parents and the "problem free" kid in families with a seriously ill or dying sibling; and she does so in a genuine and realistic way.”

Anne of Balancing Books review 7/14/21 “Despite the tough topics, I believe that this book would be great for anyone to read: middle schoolers, teachers, and families.”

Kristen Dutkiewicz review 7/29/21 “While fictional, I found the emotions and character development very realistic. Well written and moving.”

The Bookish Lawyer review 6/13/21 “Every chapter was beautifully written and I was lost in the book till the last word. In the book, Lucy’s character is one which I’ll cherish knowing for the rest of my life. And it’s not only Lucy, Avery”s character was another aspect of the story which wouldn’t ever let me go. After reading this book, I’ve simply fallen in love with the author!”

Susan The Librarian review 9/1/2021 “I believe AFTER/MATH is developmentally appropriate and relevant for readers in grades 5-8–children who, like the book’s protagonist, have been getting glimpses of school shootings and gun violence in the news or through overhearing adult conversations. … I would recommend this novel to mature middle grade readers, especially those in middle school.”

Lit Lessons Book Review “AfterMath’s poignant approach to grief’s many shapes and forms will help readers recognize that grief is always impactful even if individuals grieve in unique ways. It’s an important distinction that will help readers build empathy and compassion towards those fighting battles outwardly, inwardly, and silently.”

AfterMath on TeachingBooks.net: Resources, Activities, Book Guides, and lessons

Lai Living August 2021 Reading Wrap-up “One word to describe this book : BRILLIANT. … this story can be a good read for young adults and adults to understand trauma better and for a reference in a discussion about mental health and family matter.”

Podcasts

Book Friends Forever Podcast with Grace Lin and Alvina Ling: Episode #225: Writing about mental health and neurodivergence with Emily Barth Isler

E Train Talks Podcast on YouTube: My Interview with Award-Winning Writer of Heartfelt Middle-Grade Books, Author Emily Barth Isler!

We Should Talk About That Podcast: Author Emily Barth Isler on Synesthesia and The Color of Sound