This one was a DNF for me. I could not get into the writing or connect with the characters. I was disappointed in this one.

I loved this book. I loved the descriptions and the joys of the senses. It was creative and inspiring. Great addition to the library.

This was a very unique story. I liked how the different worlds that the characters in the Commons come from are all posticums of the past (like final projects for the school that the creators then go into and populate). The houses in the commons study different things that I find hard to think of as separate. Color (Hue), sound, scent, motion, etc. It's hard to imagine knowing only of one of these and not being able to perceive the others. Each student is trained in his/her element and doesn't necessarily work with the other houses.
I appreciate that Ishmael may be able to perceive more than just color and gets more of the houses to work together. I am left hoping that he pursues other knowledge than just Hue.


The pieces of the "Pied Beauty" sonnet at the beginning of each part confused me more than anything else, and I'm certain that my students won't understand it, but since it doesn't actually affect the story it's not a problem.

What if your whole world was gray-just gray- no color whatsoever. What would you think if you were in your barn and all of the sudden you see a rainbow of something bright and colorful and you don't know what it is? This is exactly what happens to Ishmael. He doesn't understand what he is seeing, but he doesn't understand a lot in his life. His father is killed in a freak accident that Ishmael thinks is his fault. His older brother has gone missing and at eleven-years-old he has to be the man on the farm. Ishmael is very frustrated because his mother won't answer any questions about where his brother has gone so he decides one day to go looking for him. He wants him home to help his widowed mother. When he finds his brother he is blown away by what he finds. He learns that his brother is a color keeper and has no plans to ever go home. Ishmael can not believe, until he stays for a few nights, and then Ishmael has doubts that he will ever be able to go home. Will Ishmael go back home to help his mother, or will he stay where he knows he belongs? Read this incredible story of family, friendship, and finding your place in life.


This is a great story about finding yourself and where you belong in the world. It also is a fantastic story to show kids that sometimes when you work together you can accomplish more than being alone. Don't miss this book that has called "reminiscent of The Giver".

The goodreads synopsis for this book fooled me into thinking I would enjoy it. Maybe I should stop reading middle grade.

The cover is what pulled me in immediately. The spectrum of color ensconced in the grayscale of the rest of the picture was super fascinating. I needed to know what this story was about. The answer: It’s about a load of nothing. From the very beginning, I didn’t understand the purpose of this story. Was he trying to help his mother? Well yes, but no because he pretty much forgets about her. Was he trying to reconnect with his brother? Well yes, but no because his brother turns out to be a whining pile of crap. It wasn’t a romance. It wasn’t adventurous. What was it then? If I can’t tell what your book is from the first 35%, then you need to reevaluate some things.

As every other review says, this book is similar to The Giver. I don't want to get into the plot much because spoilers will ruin this book for you.

Ishmael can see colors while others cannot, and he follows his calling to The Commons to be a Color Keeper. The plot gets plenty twisty from this point on so go ahead and slog through the beginning, and let the story unfold. 

It was the creative plot twists that won me over. Every time I thought I knew where things were headed I was wrong. That's unusual in the MG category. This isn't just a fantasy book as it tackles complicated family relationships and all the hard parts of growing up and embracing your destiny which may be different than that of your family.

It's everything a book should be. It's funny, smart, thought-provoking and more than a little sad as growing up often is.  

Please note that I received a free advance E ARC of this book from NetGalley without a review requirement or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that, I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

The Splintered Light was a delight to read, full of beauty and mystery. In Ginger Johnson’s debut novel, we’re introduced to main character Ishmael who goes in search of his older brother, Luc, who disappeared months ago. Things have deteriorated at home since Luc left. Their father died tragically, their mother is overworked with too many mouths to feed, and Ismael is suddenly seeing – and creating – color, something shocking and suspect in the grey world in which he lives. This new development is even more mysterious because no one else in Ishmael’s family can see the colors he creates.

When he discovers his brother is at the Commons, a forbidden place in the heart of the city, he goes to find him, bringing with him the news of their father’s death, his newfound ability to color his world, and a longing for reconnection with his absent sibling.

What he finds, however, is an entire world full of colors and sounds and tastes and shapes he’s never experienced before, and which don’t exist at his house, in his town, or in his world. Should he stay and contribute to the crucial work being done in the Commons, or should he return home to his family and the colorless world he left behind?

Only Ishmael can answer that, and the readers grapple right along with him in making this difficult decision. Johnson also introduces us to a whole host of supporting characters – each with their own unique gifts and abilities – who help Ishmael discover his potential.

The book felt to me like a combination of The Giver and Harry Potter, which was an interesting mix and a fun read. And maybe I’m reading too much into it, but the book also felt like a biblical allegory (or perhaps extra-biblical), with the tension between Ishmael and Luc (short for Lucifer???) at the forefront of the story, and with all, or almost all, of the other characters biblically-named as well.

I think middle-grade readers will enjoy this story of Ishmael, and the tough decisions he faces, as he discovers and hones his gifts to create a wondrous new world that he’d never dreamed possible.

I love the idea of a colorless world, and then the moment where light pierces through. Many kids and parents come to my library and tell me that they loved the Giver, and want books similar. I will be sure to recommend this book to them, and to any readers interested in a gentle read that has elements which feel like science fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy.

Beautiful middle grade fantasy that was so stunning creative, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a story that you can’t stop thinking about once you turn the last page and will stay with you long after it ends. The plot twists are unexpected and I hope the author continues to write more about this fantastical world.