Color Me In

4.25/5

Neveah is a biracial 16-year-old who has never felt very comfortable in her own skin. When her Black mother and Jewish father separate, Neveah’s world is shaken up and she is suddenly forced to confront parts of her identity she never has before. While her father decides she should have a belated Bat Mitzvah to help set her on the right path, Neveah experiences a brand new journey of self discovery through first loves, friendship, racism, and family.

Color Me In was a fantastic read that really highlighted the nuances and complexities that arise when being in a multiracial/multicultural family. I related a lot to Nevaeh’s journey to being more confident in her identity. Her story involved a lot of how the world sees her and how that influences her self-identity. As a white-passing young woman, she never felt Jewish enough to be Jewish or Black enough to be Black. She lived as others defined her. Seeing her triumphs and struggles in figuring herself out was relatable and empowering.  

Surprisingly, I was also able to relate to Rabbi Sarah and gained a new perspective. While Rabbi Sarah was not adopted, she was relinquished at birth and did not have a birth certificate or knowledge of her accurate birth date. As a result, she chose not to have a bat mitzvah because she didn’t want to pick a date for herself. As an adoptee, I resonated with this and was pleasantly surprised that Diaz wrote a character that accurately portrayed a common struggle within the adoptee/foster care community. 

The pacing felt a bit slow for me. The topics could be heavy and they forced me to examine my own ideas of identity and being a person of color. As a result, I could not fly through it as quickly as I do with lighter books. A lot happened in Color Me In, but it didn’t really pick up until very late into the story. Despite its pacing, I was able to stay engaged and interested. 

Overall, Color Me In is a great coming-of-age novel that many can relate to. While not all readers may have the experience of being from a multicultural and multiracial family, they can relate to the desire to fit in and figure out oneself.