Brainbow

by Maya Henderson

Genres: Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

248 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 22, 2026

About the author

Maya Henderson is an author–illustrator from rural New York who loves creating stories that are funny, heartfelt, and relatable. She received her BFA in illustration with a sequential arts minor from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Her work has previously been featured online in the New Yorker and she is excited to bring her unique sense of humor into children’s publishing. While she primarily works digitally, Maya also enjoys using analog media such as pens, pencils, and highlighters to draw diary comics based on funny, everyday experiences. When she isn’t creating, Maya spends her free time hanging out with her two naughty cats– Doobie and Dori, cooking Pinterest recipes, and overanalyzing her favorite graphic novels.

Reviews

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the start of 6th grade for Rosie and her best friend Harper.  Disappointed that their class schedules don’t line up, the pals take an entrance exam to be on the school math team, largely in order to be able to spend more time together.  Rosie would have preferred joining the art club, but Harper seems to always get her way. When Rosie doesn’t make the team because she didn’t show her work on the test, the team’s adviser asks her to help him out as an assistant manager; he sees her organizational skills and creative approach as an asset.  A dispute over the team’s t-shirt design leads to an awkward confrontation between Rosie and the rest of the team: Rosie associates words and numbers with specific colors, and she is surprised to learn that this perception is unique to her.  She has always assumed everyone saw things that way.  The other kids on the team, including Harper, make fun of her and her “imaginary colors.”  

Meanwhile, Rosie has met a new girl at school named Yara, who loves to draw and play guitar, and they become fast friends.  Yara spends lunchtime in the music room to avoid the loud cafeteria, flinches when people get hurt in gym class, and explains to Rosie that she has several types of synesthesia.  Yara describes synesthesia as “a special trait that causes your brain to make more connections than most people.  It’s kind of like having more than five senses...  There are a bajillion different types…”  Rosie quickly realizes that she also has synesthesia, and is excited to learn more about it from Yara (who has done extensive research in her young life!) and put a name and an explanation to her color associations.  Unfortunately, Harper is a little less enthusiastic about this revelation.  She even tries to use the trait against Rosie in an effort to become more popular, first by pretending she has synesthesia too, and then by framing Rosie for a crime she didn’t commit.  The social struggle between the two besties intensifies leading up to the first math meet, where Rosie has a chance to prove that her synesthesia is actually an asset and not an invented quirk.  If the other kids on the team accept her, she hopes to be able to mend fences with Harper and maintain her new friendship with Yara.  

In many ways, Brainbow is standard fare for middle school realistic fiction: lifelong best friends drift apart and discover separate interests and new friends, while still hoping to maintain their childhood bond.  But it stands out for introducing readers to synesthesia, and presenting it in ways that are easily understood (in words and pictures).  The graphic novel format lends itself perfectly to the story, as it is quite dialogue-heavy.  The digitally created illustrations are in a typical style for the genre, with bright colors and easy-to-follow panel layout.  Rosie’s synesthesia is reflected in the artwork:  anytime she reads something, whether a sign on the wall or words in her science textbook, the letters are highlighted in different colors.  Kids with synesthesia or other forms of neurodivergence will probably connect with Rosie’s relief when she learns about it, as well as her frustration when she tries to explain it to her peers.  Rosie and Yara and their families present as Black, and there is diversity among the school community.  Terrific back matter about synesthesia includes the answers to questions like “is it annoying or painful?” and “can I develop synesthesia?” as well as suggested websites and articles to learn more (including a link to an online assessment similar to the one Yara shares with Rosie. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for the synesthesia rep and that is the best part of this graphic novel. I appreciated how well it explained synesthesia and how we see it show up in Rosie's academics and relationships.

I did not like the depiction of most of the characters outside of Rosie and her new friend Yara. Everyone else is awful and none of the negative behaviors are ever truly addressed. Rosie's mom is only there to be a rules enforcer - she never has an actual conversation with her child about what is happening in her life. But I'm not sure the author intended for her to be unlikable and absent - I think it was a byproduct of careless storytelling. Best friend Harper is a bully and it is mostly brushed away at the end. I'm not saying kids can't make mistakes, but there have to be consequences and adult support to course correct. The math teacher punishes Rosie without trying to understand the situation or addressing the bullying from other students. The author had a plot they wanted to tell and didn't develop the characters beyond that plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Ink for an arc in exchange for a review.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this digital ARC.

I loved this story so much. I had never heard of Synethesia either but I've read other books where characters had some of the types (like being able to taste certain sounds, like people's voices). What a cool way to share this trait in a really great story. Rosie and Yara are both such great characters.

And there is so much to unpack with Rosie's friendship with Harper. I see these kinds of "friends" a lot in the graphic novels for this age group and as a mom of two girls, its a reminder that my kids are going to navigate challenging times in their friendships in the coming years and be ready to support them when they do.

I hope this author keeps making more books. She's incredibly talented!

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me the chance to read this book before its publication date.

This was book was a great way to introduce synesthesia and different ways people can experience it. At the same time, it did a convincing job relaying a common experience about how relationships, interests, and people can change, expand, and grow apart. The graphic novel format works perfectly for this story. I look forward to seeing more work from Maya Henderson (and more of Rosie’s story, if she wants to continue that).

[Abby Aguilera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Negalley for the advance copy of this graphic novel!

The only reason for a 4 star instead of a 5 star was how frustrated I was with Harper and the lack of consequences for kids being so unkind!!! It did work out in the end, and I loved the synesthesia representation across all the characters. This wasn't a topic I had seen covered in a kids' book before and I thought it was covered in a really fun way. The art was really cute, and I loved how the characters were depicted artistically.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Caitie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great young middle level read! A rather predictable plot but informational and would be great for SEL and DEIB learning in upper elementary or lower middle!