Roxie in Color - by Diane Debrovner & Stacy Cervenka (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Roxie wants to blend in at a new school, which is hard to do when your parents are blind, in this remarkable novel about friendship, misperceptions, and family--plus a dog's view of the world.

Roxie loves her parents, but other people can't seem to see past the fact that they're blind--and they don't really see Roxie, either. To them, she's just "the girl with the blind parents." So when her family moves to a new town and Roxie starts seventh grade at a new school, she's determined to be known for the other parts of who she is: an artist, an animal lover, and the kind of person who bakes cookies for people she cares about for no special reason. But that means keeping her parents' blindness a secret from the kids at school and definitely not telling anyone that she might inherit the eye condition that caused her mother's vision loss--at least until they get to know her.

For a while, Roxie is happier than she's ever been. But when her lies and omissions lead to a visit from Child Protective Services, will Roxie find the courage to be fully honest with her friends, her parents, and herself? This heartfelt depiction of a girl establishing her own identity, with some chapters told from the perspective of her mother's loyal guide dog, is an authentic portrayal of the joys, challenges, and everyday ordinariness of being raised by parents who have a disability.

Note: The novel is typeset in Atkinson Hyperlegible, a font developed by Braille Institute specifically for low-vision readers.

Review Quotes

I rate this book orange yellow--something that will make sense to you once you enter Roxie's unique and relatable world. I loved Roxie and her family and friends and Nash the dog so much and bet you will, too.
--Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of Not Nothing and Frankie & Bug

This beautiful story of intimate family life with blind parents shows us that while disability may be a challenge, a far bigger challenge is how the world treats you because of it. Roxie's keen awareness of this, her yearning for friendship and understanding, touched me deeply. I was rooting for Roxie from page one. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
--Sally J. Pla, Schneider Family Book Award-winning author of The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn

A moving, resonant story about family and friendship, Roxie in Color will inspire readers with its sensitive, nuanced depiction of the challenges--and triumphs--of living with blindness.
--Barbara Dee, author of Nothing to See Here

As a psychologist who specializes in caring for young people, I'm blown away by how skillfully Roxie in Color illuminates the emotional tensions of being in middle school. This brilliant, engaging book will--without question--resonate with readers everywhere.
--Lisa Damour, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Untangled

About the Author

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.

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.