4.5 stars! Barbara Dee has a knack for tackling topics that aren’t often talked about, but probably should be. This time, in Violets Are Blue, Wren’s newly-divorced mother is addicted to painkillers and, although Wren is unaware of her mom’s addiction, the effects her mom’s changing behavior have on Wren are profound.

This MG is one that kids will want to read to understand that their friends might sometimes be carrying some heavy weight. Wren finds a way to avoid the chaos through creativity, new friends, and getting involved at school. However, the weight of her mom’s behavior was always on her small shoulders. Kids who carry that similar weight of a parent struggling will feel less alone through Wren’s story, and maybe ask for help, something Wren felt she could not do.

The creativity Wren develops throughout the story is so unique: movie character makeup (think Marvel characters like Nebula or Thanos.) I really enjoyed the deep dive & detail of Wren’s passion: the colors, the techniques, and the words of wisdom that come from her YouTube mentor, Cat FX. So many kids learn by watching YouTube, making Violets Are Blue relatable to today’s MG audience!

One thing I wished was a made a bit clearer earlier on in the plot - because this is for middle grade readers who might be confused - was the specificity of Wren’s mom’s addiction. It felt vague for a while and - as a reader - I might have felt more empathy for Wren sooner had her mom’s addiction been revealed earlier.

Besides that, this is another topic that Dee handles with such care that I firmly believe it belongs in the hands of upper MG readers who will develop empathy for others, or for those who need to feel less alone. Out in September, Violets Are Blue is a must-add to your library! Many thanks to Simon Kids for an ARC to share with my reading group!