Colours in Her Hands

by Alice Zorn

A witty, layered and compelling novel about a woman with Down Syndrome, exploring textile art, sibling relationships, friendships, and good intentions gone awry.

What is intellectual disability? Ask Bruno, who is at his wits’ end trying to predict what his sister, Mina, will do next. Ask Iris, who is entranced by the wildly inventive embroidery Mina creates. Ask Gabriela, who loves Mina and disagrees when Bruno uses Mina’s constant demands as an excuse not to have a child.

Meet Mina in her overstuffed Montreal apartment, surrounded by her treasures. She knows she is the best paper sorter at the recycling plant where she works. She is proud to be diabetic but equally happy to cheat on her diet. The colours she stitches hum with life.

Colours in Her Hands is a nuanced and thought-provoking novel about family, about art, about questioning the way the world treats those who are different. With an unforgettable voice, Mina navigates the labyrinth that society sets for her with dignity, inventiveness, and aplomb.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Literary Fiction

350 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Alice Zorn lives in Montreal, Canada. Her new novel, Colours in Her Hands, welcomes the reader into Mina's curious, sometimes puzzling, sometimes frustrating world.

Her novel, Five Roses, was nominated for the Ontario Library Association's 2017 Evergreen Award and has been translated into French.

She has also published a novel, Arrhythmia, and a book of short fiction, Ruins & Relics, which was a finalist for the 2009 Quebec Writers' Federation First Book Prize.

She will have a new book of short fiction forthcoming in 2026.

Reviews

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story about the Corneaus was so unlike any I'd ever come across before; and I loved everything about it, even the bits that broke my heart. 35-yr old Bruno and 27-yr old Mina are brother and sister, their mother was Austrian, they live in Montreal, they are both single, she has Down Syndrome and though she lives independently, he is her appointed guarantor. Bruno creates props for a modern dance troupe, and Mina "knits" incessantly (it's actually embroidery, but that's what she calls it). She "knits" while watching tV on the couch all day, she "knits" the name of each of her exes and ritually mounts them on her wall, she "knits" and "knits" a wealth of work, "years and yeras of textile art, a body of work - an oeuvre" that Bruno's new girlfriend Iris manages to comandeer in secret, and this is the crux of the plot. That two people can be so good together on so many levels and yet not be transparent or forthcoming where it matters. That siblings can know each other so well and yet not know monumental things about one another... that duty and obligation can obscure love and admiration... that heartbreak can heal and that love can surprise... there were so many meaningful themes in this book, I hope it reaches the critical acclaim it deserves!

I always loved visiting my cousin Mayumi who had Down Syndrome, I could never get enough of her ever-childlike ways and enthusiasms. When it comes out in September I'm buying a copy of Colours in Her Hands for my friend Amanda, I hope she sees sparkly glimpses of her own lovely Emmeline (and their wonderfully talented celebrity artist friend Charlie French), in Philomena.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Freehand Books for the ARC

This one is tough to review, mostly because I think the style of writing just didn't meld with me as a reader. My biggest gripe is that the transitions felt choppy and the language at times felt wooden or too obtuse. There are also some B plots that were written beautifully but didn't contribute to what I would consider to be the theme of the story.

However, how Ms. Zorn displayed an individual living with Down's Syndrome as a character was wonderful and true to real life. Mina is not a perfect character. She is not what some might stereotype her to be. She is complex; she has motivations to do things that others don't understand but that make sense to her. She isn't an angel, but she isn't a behavioral nightmare either. She's a fully fleshed out person, and the fact that Ms. Zorn didn't present us with a romanticized version of a person living with disabilities earns my respect. Mina lies, steals, has sex, hits people, loves with her whole heart, is naive at time to the world, and isn't afraid to share her thoughts and opinions with others.

And there are a whole host of characters whose motivation we get to judge against what we get to see from Mina. First is her brother, Bruno, who loves his sister and is charged with advocating for her and looking out for her best interests. Sometimes what he perceives as the best for Mina she doesn't agree with, however. Who gets to decide what's best for Mina? Clearly Bruno loves her and is wanting her to live a full life, but sometimes what he decides chafes against what Mina wants...but sometimes what Mina wants could put her in harm's way.

We have Iris, who I detested and who didn't get a redemption arc for me (not sure if the author wanted her to, but I think the author did leave us some space to redeem her if we choose). She sees Mina stitching on a park bench and strikes up a conversation. She ends up befriending Mina, but early she obsesses over how Mina is an artist and should have her art displayed somewhere. She makes some questionable choices to facilitate the end goal of getting her work displayed. If someone can see value in what Mina does, does that give them a right to share that without Mina's permission, even if it could lead to a boon for Mina in the end?

Gabriela is Mina's favorite person, and seems to love Mina for Mina with absolutely no ulterior motives. She serves as an advocate with Bruno for Mina, but sometimes she facilitates things that Bruno disagrees with (like rewarding her with treats or gifts when Bruno thinks she should buy them with her own money).

Then Madame Bingham...she works at a care facility and her relationship with Mina is...disturbing. But the author allows us to make our own decisions about that.

Overall, I liked that Mina's voice was true to the disability without romanticizing her. Some of the writing and transitions between characters were clunky, and the story could have used some fiercer editing to really whittle to the point. But the value of seeing diverse stories and voices represented outweighed some of the execution for me.

Some quotes I liked:
"Mina was a force destined to sunder parts from their whole."

"The world doesn't make much effort to understand people like Mina."

[❀ Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I appreciated the highlights of Mina’s strengths and abilities, I struggled with this story and wanted a better ending for Mina.

[Adrienne Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A multi-perspective story about living with Down Syndrome, guardianship and artistic expression. Mina is a woman with Down Syndrome who lives and works independently with the help of her brother and guardian, Bruno. The pushes and pulls between the siblings show their struggle to move from co-dependence to independence. Issues of ethics arise when Mina’s friend “discovers” her artistic talents.

Alice Zorn avoids flat stereotypes by giving each character their own motivations and unique flaws. I believe own-voices representations are nearly always best, but Zorn’s perspective on Down Syndrome is informed by her relationship with her sister-in-law.

I took my time reading this because it was easy to dip in and out as the perspective changed. The vivid descriptions of the Montréal setting and the artists living there made this a cozy read at times despite the deep tensions among the characters.

I received this digital advance reader copy from NetGalley and Freehand Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars . This book was interesting. It mostly held my interest, but at times it dragged a bit. For most the book I didn’t like how bruno thought of and cared for his sister. Iris really annoyed me. She was someone that took advantage of Mina, and as someone with multiple disabilities , people that take advantage of people with disabilities are horrible people. Mina was a fascinating character. It is good that this book does bring awareness of Down syndrome, particularly in adults. I read an advanced readers copy (book is released September 3rd) from netgalley and freehand books but my review is unbiased.

[Kaytee Pergentile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colours in her Hands is a beautiful novel about the complexities of being different and how those, with a will so strong to live, navigate a world where others struggle to understand them and rarely take the time to learn. However, you will always find a unique few, family, friends and even strangers, who will take the time to appreciate who you are as a person and help you shine with who you're truly meant to be. 

Without giving too much away, I will say that this book felt like a friend. I liked Bruno's point of view and how he felt in his own world as well as being Mina's brother but Mina was in a world of her own. She was a magnificent character who shone in every light and being a fly on the wall in her apartment, her dollar store or even her favorite frites place, was a special treat with every turn of a page. 

This is a story about human connection from every possible sense of the term and I think it will touch everyone that reads it in one way or another. 

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sensitive yet frank novel revolving around the existence of a Down Syndrome adult. Alice Zorn develops her characters over a long story arc. Nobody is simply portrayed. Complications and turmoil are dealt with. Zorn has a strong handle on the delicacies of human interactions. Her people are not without their foibles. Her Montréal is vividly integrated into the plot and lives of the characters. This novel requires your full attention. You will be rewarded.

[Emily Poche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Freehand Books for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Colours in Her Hands is the story of a woman with Down Syndrome during a transition period of her life. The story follows her, her brother, and other people in her orbit in alternating perspectives.

The real triumph of this book is the character or Mina. She is a fully-fleshed, lively character that doesn’t fall into common media stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities. The author clearly has spent a lot of time around people with Down Syndrome, and the tenderness and frankness in equal measure is obvious in the way she crafts Mina into really dynamic, layered character. Mina is particular and bound to a logical system that is very much all her own. She loves hats, Elvis, and shoplifting. She has diabetes and appears from her dialogue to be bilingual. She is a talented artist, but keeps her creations tightly guarded in her treasure trove.

It was so refreshing to read a portrayal of someone with Down Syndrome that isn’t a completely innocent, inspirational, angel. Mina is flawed and written without a moment of condescension.

I think that Zorn really does a wonderful job with creating distinct, layered characters. Even the minor characters are given to detail.

One of the other things I loved was the plot that showed how abled people often make choices without asking them, assuming that they know best. Throughout the story, while many of the decisions that are made are for Mina’s safety, many are not. They are small decisions, maybe, but for Mina they take control even further from her. Often they make choices that don’t match what she would choose for herself. This is best reflected in the central plot with Iris, the woman who takes interest in her art. This really reflects the idea, when only one person can make a decision, is it naturally exploitative?

My main criticism with the book is that it can sometimes be a little flabby. The plot can lag at times and there can often be large gaps between more relevant plot points. While the book didn’t exactly make tangents or side stories, it did often take some time to get where it was going.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to people who have enjoyed stories that are character driven in the past.

[Dieuwke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book held me captive for a few days - I both could not put it down AND yet had to every now and then because I was feeling and thinking so much.

Mina is a 38 y/o woman with Down's syndrome. She lives independently and with her parents dead, her elder brother Bruno is her legal guardian - and conveniently only one phone call away to help her with whatever it is she's bothered with. Be it neighbours who're none too pleased with her residing in their apartment building, or the clock on the wall whose hands are unsettling her.

Mina doesn't do well with changes but her world is to be upended in many ways. Bruno and his girlfriend break up: Gabriela wants a child, and Bruno still does not -he has Mina to care for. Mina's job ceases to exist. Mina ends affairs with her latest boyfriend, but this one disagrees quite...disagreeably.
What does stay, is that Mina embroiders. Beautifully. Free style, autodidact. The colours talk to her and in turn Mina tells and retells her colours fairytales, the way Mina remembers them.
Insert Iris, a fashion designer, who has a chance encounter with Mina in a park, sees her work and appreciates it for the stunning art it is. She sees a bright future for Mina - for them both.

Alice Zorn writes with such clarity about such complex emotions, it is at times baffling, and unnerving. Bruno appears to be a restricting ass - but that's seen from Mina's eyes. Iris says she has the best intentions for Mina, but who knows (her situation) best? And then there's Mina - how much slack is one willing to give her? She bends the truth, is an experienced shoplifter...

Gosh, and I haven't even mentioned how clever Alice Zorn uses fairytales and modern dance.
Truly a beautiful and memorable book, I can't wait for it to hit the shelves so I can buy my friends copies for their birthdays.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest opinion. I LOVED it.

[Lise Melhorn-Boe · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an artist myself, I was excited to read a novel that illuminates the creative process of several of the characters in this layered story about a brother and sister relationship, the brother’s relationships with two different female partners, and his sister's quite different relationships with the two women. Mina, the sister, has Down's Syndrome. She lives alone, and her passion is embroidery, which she calls knitting. I have never read a novel with a main character with Down's Syndrome. I found it very interesting to get a glimpse into how she sees what is happening in her life versus the disconnect from the way others interpret what is going on.

The main characters are well-nuanced—I felt that I really got to know them and understand their motivations. Bruno, Mina's brother, has some difficult decisions to make. Iris, Bruno's second partner, does something that even her best friend thinks is wrong. I'll admit that I kept waiting for her to come clean, but could see that in her mind, she was doing the right thing. There are also several interesting minor characters, one of whom is nasty and another who is kind of creepy, adding intrigue and conflict to the story.

I loved this novel. I started it one day, woke up in the middle of the night and read some more, then finished it the next day. The story was compelling and a bit unsettling. It is the first one of Alice Zorn's books which I have read, although her most recent. I will certainly search out her other novels.

[Castille · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully written, though far too long story that depicts a slice of life in a family of two, Mina, who has Down's Syndrome, and her older brother and sworn protector Bruno. I loved how authentic and complex Zorn made their relationship; it's not glossed over or romanticized, and while they both love each other fiercely, they often struggle to communicate effectively and grow frustrated with each other. Each of them keeps secrets from the other, sometimes with the best intentions, and sometimes not so much. Mina is not a naive innocent, as so many differently-abled people are portrayed in fiction. Nor is she occasionally naughty for comedic effect. Instead, she has layers and deep-seated feelings; she is loving, sure, but she's also duplicitous, cunning, and vengeful. Bruno, on the other hand, is not just a selfless caretaker. He's just as nuanced as Mina, with both of them trying their best. And that generally holds true with all of the supporting characters: they all exist in a morally grey area, which is what makes this book readable. Despite having little-to-no plot, molasses-slow pacing, and an extra 75 pages it doesn't need, the characters really do come alive off the page and keep you interested all the way through the (disappointingly anticlimactic, although admittedly realistic) ending.

[Beatrice Tibaldini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I like this book? Yes. Did I still find it a bit too sentimental and objectively too long? Definitely true.

The thing is, "Colours in Her Hands" is a novel without a traditional plot; it simply tells the life story of a girl with Down syndrome and her brother. I love the idea that this condition is finally finding a more stable place in the narratives of books that aren't necessarily aimed at a teenage or adult audience. In this case, I found a good rhythm (although, in my opinion, there are about a hundred pages here and there that could have been cut without detracting from the enjoyment of the story—in fact, it would have increased its value and flow) and characters rich in nuance who made me love and hate them. I could appreciate and disapprove of their choices, while always feeling connected to them. I also loved that the protagonists are adults—a rare choice that gives the novel a unique quality and enhances its realism. Finally, a special mention goes to the relationship between the two siblings: loving yet distant, as if, despite the years and opportunities to learn as much as possible about each other, they end up being almost strangers. A book I certainly recommend.

Really thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nora Robb · Rating 1 out of 5]

The themes from this book are a complete mystery to me. I don’t know what the author intended to say with this book, or if she even knew it herself. Bruno doesn’t change much as a character, the author’s voice on Gabriella leaving Bruno was confused at best.
My biggest gripe is how horrible Iris was written. I thought we were slowly meant to realize Iris is a bad person!!! She seems to be motivated by greed and pride, and has convinced herself that she’s doing this for Mina’s sake. I thought it was clear that she is superficial and obsessed with appearance. She’s a nuanced character and not evil, but I thought the author was clearly leading us to understand that Iris is taking advantage of Mina. But no!!! Apparently we were supposed to agree with everything Iris did, and BRUNO was the unreasonable one. Iris saw Mina as an artist when no one else did, but there is something so patronizing in how Iris views Mina. She feels like she is OWED something just because she bought fancy thread for Mina. I am so shocked the book ended with Iris and Bruno making up, with absolutely no commentary on how Iris clearly views Mina as an obstacle between herself and fame by proxy. For the author to create such a superficial, entitled character and not even realize it, pppis crazy to me. Like girl, I’m worried about you.
By the end of the book, Mina has lost her passion/ability to embroider, she has a sexual(?) maternal relationship with her caretaker, and her boyfriend’s new girlfriend stole her art from her and doesn’t see her as her own person. What does that say? What was the author trying to accomplish here?? That people with Down syndrome will continue to be taken advantage of until they die an early death????

[Veena Gokhale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Zorn has taken a courageous step as a writer. She has crafted a thoughtful novel with a main character, Mina, who has Down's Syndrome. She paints a compelling portrait of the self-willed Mina, her everyday life and the people around her that may surprise some readers. As a society, we tend to see people with Down's Syndrome as childlike, pliable and somehow diminished. Another thread running through the book is the relationship between art and craft. Does society cast these equally valid activities into a more rigid classification than they deserve? Is this detrimental? Zorn obliquely poses such questions. She is adept at showing people "at work" -- Mina sewing away, driven by colours that call out to her, as well as describing the work of her brother Bruno, who constructs stage sets, his wife, a costume designer, etc. Given such attention to detail, the novel moves at a slower pace than what we have become accustomed to in the frenetic, overstimulating, 21st century.
This is a rich, nuanced, humane read, which pokes at our presumptions and invites us to slow down and pay attention.

[Enid Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to be circumspect in my comments because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. I especially don’t want to prejudice anyone’s own understandings/interpretations of anyone character’s behaviour/motivation.

I will start by saying that the cover does this book a great dis-service. It completely lacks the vibrancy of the palettes that Mina works with. And that the pattern is so uniform - boring - is also completely at odds with the way that Mina’s work is described.

What works - and works well - here is the character development and the representation of Mina, as someone who has Down Syndrome.

I found the ending troubling… but I also appreciate that the author did leave things rather open ended.

I do also think that it needed to have had a good hard final edit. I did find that it dragged a bit at times. This would have been an even better book if it had been 50 - 75 - 100 pages shorter than it is. I was ready for it to be over by then.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital copy. Apologies for the delay in getting this post up.

3.5 rounded up to 4

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one comes out Tuesday and is such a thought provoking story with characters you are going to really, really love. This story follows Mina, a young woman with down syndrome, and her brother Bruno, Mina’s caretaker. Mina knits pretty much around the clock and as an art therapist, I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

Zorn’s depiction of family dynamics surrounding obligation really resonated with me. Bruno’s character made me mad at times but I also stood him well and that had a lot to do with Zorn’s thoughtful and realistic depiction of down syndrome.

This is another quiet character driven story that will really stick to your heart.

Thank you so much @freehandbooks for the early copy

[Mike Broderick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is why individual opinions exist. I see three stars and wonder how we could see this book so differently. Oh well......each opinion is their own.

This is such a meaningful story, with a well developed set of character traits for the main people. The ability for the author to help me picture the life of someone with Down's Syndrome was exceptional. I looked forward to reading this book every time I picked it up....for the three days I spent reading it.

[Neele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this in Montréal just to have something local to read, and I loved it! A few too many "sidetracks" for the plot to really flow, but very interesting characters with interesting professions!

[Karen Ocana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colours in Her Hands evolves amongst mostly Montreal artisans & artists, at whose heart beats the life of Mina. Passionate, energetic and, in her grand way, intelligent, it will take you a while to guess she has Down Syndrome. Her sole sibling, Bruno, helps her out.

As you follow Mina around on her daily activities - her work, her TV watching, knitting, shopping, snacking, dreaming, remembering, thinking of what to do next, you'll be reconfiguring what you think you know about Down Syndrome. If, like me, you've only known one person closely -- and not even that closely -- who lived with an extra #21 chromosome, you'll learn much and think deeply, while also frequently bursting into laughter.

As Mina stitches, something she does almost every day, she's often recreating a fairy tale she heard from her brother Bruno as a child, something from Grimm, to do with wolves, witches, battles, long journeys, castles, dungeons, mountains or magical fish. She'll likely also comment on her late Mama, the person she's most attached to. The colours she is stitching speak to her, her brain is wired to respond to chromatic frequencies!

A character named Iris is impressed by Mina's talent for colourful abstract needlework. She's coming to it from her background as a couturiere, i.e. as a kindred craftswoman. Their relationship, as it develops, leads the plot to bubble with questions about artistic creativity, about who or what art is, who or what it belongs to, what it's purpose might be, if any, other than fulfilling and filling the one who practices it with joy, or maybe money. To Bruno, himself involved with a dance troupe, aka a bunch of serious artists, Mina simply stitches. He's never seen what she does with her coloured threads, as more than mere patterns. To him, a serious craftsman, Mina poses all kinds of other challenges, none of them to do with artistic ability, rather to do with simply living independently, something Mina clings to with the ferocity of a barnacle stuck to the hull of an ocean liner.

Zorn's Mina is a loveable, irascible, picaresque whirlwind of a character, whose busy life ebbs and flows from celebration to celebration and from small disaster to small disaster. It brims with serious fun. And with oodles of tender teaching moments, many that challenge a reader's bland assumptions about people living with intellectual disability, as much as it upends pat preconceptions about artistic creation.