Violets are Blue: a middle grade story of family secrets

Violets are Blue by Barbara Dee is a poignant look at how one middle schooler, Wren, tries to deal with her family drama by escaping into her passion for special effects makeup.  This is a book that brings up important issues that young people deal with or may see in their friends' lives.  It offers a chance for readers to discuss issues such as divorce, being the new kid in school, addiction and having half-siblings in a safe way.  Dee realistically writes the characters and situations so the reader roots for them to make better decisions in order to bring relief to their ailing hearts.

Wren experiences a traumatic family event when her father leaves her mother for another woman, moves away to New York City and has twins with her.  Stuck in the middle of her parents, Wren just wants everyone to be happy so she avoids telling them about the other one's lives.  Her escape from this tension is into the CatFX YouTube channel where Cat teaches her viewers how to transform faces with makeup. 

 Wren is pushed out of her comfort zone when her mom decides to move them to a new town where Wren is to start 7th grade.  Her mother's actions keep getting more alarming and when Wren tries to handle it on her own, it becomes so big that it's out of her hands.  Wren reaches a breaking point, will she be able to come out of it unscathed?

I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers and adults who want the perspective of a tween who is doing her best in a tough situation.  Dee is a seasoned writer whose other books also touch on young people who are challenged by life.  Check out more of Dee's books below: