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The Mystery of the Colour Thief
First the accident, then the nightmares. The shadowy thief steals all the colours from Izzy's world leaving her feeling empty and hopeless. Will her new neighbour and a nest full of cygnets save Izzy and solve the mystery of the colour thief? A heartwarming story about families, friendships,school, nature, hope and self-confidence.
After a frightening car accident, Izzy's mum is in a coma. Her family is in pieces. Her best friend at school has dumped her. And her nightmares are haunted by a shadowy man stealing all the colours from her world. She's trying so hard to be brave, but Izzy thinks everything is her fault. Then she meets her new neighbour, Toby, paralyzed after a skateboarding accident, and together they find a nest of cygnets who need rescuing. Particularly the odd one out, called Spike. Will saving Spike save Izzy? Will she and Toby solve the mystery of the colour thief and bring hope and happiness back to Izzy's life? Written with insight, compassion and empathy - an authentic story about real life and how to survive it.
After a frightening car accident, Izzy's mum is in a coma. Her family is in pieces. Her best friend at school has dumped her. And her nightmares are haunted by a shadowy man stealing all the colours from her world. She's trying so hard to be brave, but Izzy thinks everything is her fault. Then she meets her new neighbour, Toby, paralyzed after a skateboarding accident, and together they find a nest of cygnets who need rescuing. Particularly the odd one out, called Spike. Will saving Spike save Izzy? Will she and Toby solve the mystery of the colour thief and bring hope and happiness back to Izzy's life? Written with insight, compassion and empathy - an authentic story about real life and how to survive it.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published May 3, 2018
8 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Ewa Jozefkowicz
13 books14 followersEwa Jozefkowicz grew up in Ealing, and studied English Literature at UCL.
The daughter of a bookseller, she has always been a lover of children's books and has dreamed of publishing her own. She wrote her first book aged 5 (meticulously self-illustrated with felt tip pen) and twenty five years later achieved her dream of being a published children's author with 'The Mystery of The Colour Thief'. She is fascinated by stories about friendship and growing up.
The daughter of a bookseller, she has always been a lover of children's books and has dreamed of publishing her own. She wrote her first book aged 5 (meticulously self-illustrated with felt tip pen) and twenty five years later achieved her dream of being a published children's author with 'The Mystery of The Colour Thief'. She is fascinated by stories about friendship and growing up.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 28, 2018
Izzy felt the only place she could be happy was with her best friend Lou – but when she suddenly shunned her, preferring the company of someone else, Izzy was shattered. The nightmares woke her every night – the shadowy man who took a different colour, one after the other, leaving her distraught and filled with guilt.
Izzy’s mother was in a coma in hospital; her dad was worried and unhappy, a shadow of his old self, and Izzy was consumed by feelings that a twelve-year-old shouldn’t have to feel. The day she met her new next door neighbour, Toby, her life started to change. Toby had used a wheelchair since a nasty accident twelve months prior - but it didn't slow him down. They went to the nearby creek where they found a swan and her baby cygnets – one was struggling; a little smaller than the rest. Toby named him Spike and together Izzy and Toby worked out a way to feed him and keep him safe. They made unlikely friends – Izzy, Toby and Milo, Izzy’s devoted and playful puppy.
But what of the colour thief? Izzy knew the colour was going from her life; she just didn’t know how to stop it. Would Toby be her saviour? Could he work out how to help Izzy regain her life and her equilibrium?
The Mystery of the Colour Thief is a wonderful story of grief, guilt and overcoming fears by author Ewa Jozefkowicz; of compassion, friendship and love. I flew through the pages, finishing in a couple of hours – a young adult novel about the realities of life and how to combat some of the harshness in a positive manner. The Mystery of the Colour Thief is my first by this author, and won’t be my last. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for my digital ARC to read and review..
Izzy’s mother was in a coma in hospital; her dad was worried and unhappy, a shadow of his old self, and Izzy was consumed by feelings that a twelve-year-old shouldn’t have to feel. The day she met her new next door neighbour, Toby, her life started to change. Toby had used a wheelchair since a nasty accident twelve months prior - but it didn't slow him down. They went to the nearby creek where they found a swan and her baby cygnets – one was struggling; a little smaller than the rest. Toby named him Spike and together Izzy and Toby worked out a way to feed him and keep him safe. They made unlikely friends – Izzy, Toby and Milo, Izzy’s devoted and playful puppy.
But what of the colour thief? Izzy knew the colour was going from her life; she just didn’t know how to stop it. Would Toby be her saviour? Could he work out how to help Izzy regain her life and her equilibrium?
The Mystery of the Colour Thief is a wonderful story of grief, guilt and overcoming fears by author Ewa Jozefkowicz; of compassion, friendship and love. I flew through the pages, finishing in a couple of hours – a young adult novel about the realities of life and how to combat some of the harshness in a positive manner. The Mystery of the Colour Thief is my first by this author, and won’t be my last. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for my digital ARC to read and review..
April 12, 2021
Quite a good story talking about PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and written well representing the characters in a very convincing manner.
I find the character development done well and good; the side characters given their own distinct roles and the main issue handled sensitively.
However, I find the story to be a bit tiring at times because of repeated scenarios and the main character's perspectives quite fixed throughout the story and expecting everyone to be afraid that she would burst into tears or break down all the time.
I wanted more elaboration towards the ending as more than half of the story was built up in such a manner that we need to know the incident that led her mom to lie in a vegetative state since the beginning of the story.
The title has relevance but it's not been explained well. A few lines which depict magical realism doesn't do much.
The ending was quite rushed and a bit too convenient for the main character. All the teen drama at the first half of the story didn't matter much to the story I feel.
I would have liked the book better if the issues of violence, disability, PTSD and school scenes were handled better.
The best part of the book is the writing.
I find the character development done well and good; the side characters given their own distinct roles and the main issue handled sensitively.
However, I find the story to be a bit tiring at times because of repeated scenarios and the main character's perspectives quite fixed throughout the story and expecting everyone to be afraid that she would burst into tears or break down all the time.
I wanted more elaboration towards the ending as more than half of the story was built up in such a manner that we need to know the incident that led her mom to lie in a vegetative state since the beginning of the story.
The title has relevance but it's not been explained well. A few lines which depict magical realism doesn't do much.
The ending was quite rushed and a bit too convenient for the main character. All the teen drama at the first half of the story didn't matter much to the story I feel.
I would have liked the book better if the issues of violence, disability, PTSD and school scenes were handled better.
The best part of the book is the writing.
Read
April 13, 2018A beautifully heart-felt and poignant tale about family, friendship and hope through the blackest of days. Tissues were required!
March 28, 2021
A beautiful book! Heartfelt and hopeful. I loved it!
August 3, 2021
A relatively short story about 12-year-old Izzy and her challenges following an accident which has left her mother in a coma. Jozefkowicz empathetically introduces the topics of guilt, friendship breakdowns, night terrors and trauma. Each chapters begins by giving the reader an insight into Izzy’s nightmares, but each time Izzy awakens the colour thief steals a colour from her bedroom mural.
The mature topic, particularly alluding to PTSD, would be appropriate for year six onwards.
The mature topic, particularly alluding to PTSD, would be appropriate for year six onwards.
May 25, 2018
his is an authentically told story that poignantly portrays life during dark times for twelve-year-old Izzy. After a traumatic car accident, Izzy’s mum is in a coma in hospital and Izzy feels like the whole thing is her own fault. Dad is struggling to keep things together and even Izzy’s best friend Lou is turning away from her.
While Izzy tries to act bravely and hold everything inside, something even darker is happening inside her mind. At night, a terrifying shadow man is haunting Izzy’s dreams and stealing away colours one by one. Each morning Izzy wakes to find that another colour is missing and she feels lost in a bleak sea of confusion about what is happening and who to tell.
Meanwhile, Izzy befriends her new neighbour Toby, a wheelchair user who is recovering from an accident of his own. The pair bond when they discover a nest of cygnets by the river and take it upon themselves to help the smallest cygnet, Spike, to survive against the odds. In time, Toby becomes instrumental in helping Izzy face her shadows and find hope amid the bleakness.
This is an emotionally charged story with incredibly nuanced characters. Ewa Jozefkowicz respects the emotional intelligence of her readers by allowing the complexity of the characters’ feelings and perspectives to be exposed even when there are no easy answers and the characters cannot fathom what their feelings mean. At no point in the narrative do we look down on Izzy for being unable to process her feelings of hopelessness and confusion; instead the narrative evokes deep compassion and a sense that, while her family circumstances may have become unusual, her struggle to find order among her thoughts and feelings is quite relatable. Readers may find encouragement and solace in Izzy’s journey as she comes to realise that she is not as alone as she might think.
Sometimes emotions become so tangled that they are too difficult to put into words and what I liked about The Mystery of the Colour Thief is how the author weaves into the plot a number of ways of visually representing some of the associated feelings. First there is the painted mural on Izzy’s bedroom wall, which represents Izzy sliding into feelings of bleakness as the picture gradually becomes void of its colours. Then there is the vulnerable cygnet Spike, who needs a little help from others in order to survive in tough times. Finally there is the school play, in which actors can give the most impressive performances in role of a character while still feeling empty and misunderstood underneath the costumes and scripts, which reflects the way in which Izzy puts on an outward appearance of bravado even though she is really falling apart inside.
There are glimmers of hope at the end of the story as the mystery unravels and Izzy finds the help she needs to process all that is bottled up inside. Not everything gets resolved – because life is not like that - and there is a still a sense that things might be tough for Izzy for a while, but there is an encouraging message about seeking help during the dark days and that even if you are not sure what help you need then somebody else might.
This is a really moving story inspired by real experiences and it may see you reaching for the tissues. Powerful feelings are handled in a compassionate way, characters are authentically nuanced and the plot is compelling. I recommend this book for Years 5-6 for opening up important conversations about mental health.
Many thanks to the publisher for kindly sending me a review copy of this book.
While Izzy tries to act bravely and hold everything inside, something even darker is happening inside her mind. At night, a terrifying shadow man is haunting Izzy’s dreams and stealing away colours one by one. Each morning Izzy wakes to find that another colour is missing and she feels lost in a bleak sea of confusion about what is happening and who to tell.
Meanwhile, Izzy befriends her new neighbour Toby, a wheelchair user who is recovering from an accident of his own. The pair bond when they discover a nest of cygnets by the river and take it upon themselves to help the smallest cygnet, Spike, to survive against the odds. In time, Toby becomes instrumental in helping Izzy face her shadows and find hope amid the bleakness.
This is an emotionally charged story with incredibly nuanced characters. Ewa Jozefkowicz respects the emotional intelligence of her readers by allowing the complexity of the characters’ feelings and perspectives to be exposed even when there are no easy answers and the characters cannot fathom what their feelings mean. At no point in the narrative do we look down on Izzy for being unable to process her feelings of hopelessness and confusion; instead the narrative evokes deep compassion and a sense that, while her family circumstances may have become unusual, her struggle to find order among her thoughts and feelings is quite relatable. Readers may find encouragement and solace in Izzy’s journey as she comes to realise that she is not as alone as she might think.
Sometimes emotions become so tangled that they are too difficult to put into words and what I liked about The Mystery of the Colour Thief is how the author weaves into the plot a number of ways of visually representing some of the associated feelings. First there is the painted mural on Izzy’s bedroom wall, which represents Izzy sliding into feelings of bleakness as the picture gradually becomes void of its colours. Then there is the vulnerable cygnet Spike, who needs a little help from others in order to survive in tough times. Finally there is the school play, in which actors can give the most impressive performances in role of a character while still feeling empty and misunderstood underneath the costumes and scripts, which reflects the way in which Izzy puts on an outward appearance of bravado even though she is really falling apart inside.
There are glimmers of hope at the end of the story as the mystery unravels and Izzy finds the help she needs to process all that is bottled up inside. Not everything gets resolved – because life is not like that - and there is a still a sense that things might be tough for Izzy for a while, but there is an encouraging message about seeking help during the dark days and that even if you are not sure what help you need then somebody else might.
This is a really moving story inspired by real experiences and it may see you reaching for the tissues. Powerful feelings are handled in a compassionate way, characters are authentically nuanced and the plot is compelling. I recommend this book for Years 5-6 for opening up important conversations about mental health.
Many thanks to the publisher for kindly sending me a review copy of this book.
June 29, 2023
Adored this!
A wonderful story that deals with guilt and trauma.
Adore the friendship building and overall story.
A wonderful story that deals with guilt and trauma.
Adore the friendship building and overall story.
December 27, 2020
Very compelling and touching novel which was very imaginative and almost magical. I love how confident Toby was even though he was confined to a wheelchair. I really felt for him when he said that he almost wished he hadn't lived his life before because then he wouldn't experience such a sense of loss. Milo was adorable, and I actually think he played quite an important part because of how he comforted Izzy and helped demonstrate how strong Toby is. I always enjoy books which have the protagonist losing old friends as they experience something new and make new friends. I recommend to anyone who likes reading books about new friendships, loss or challenges in life. (9+)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2024
Such a beautiful book I loved it to the moon and back
Izzy is finding it hard her bestie dumped her when she knew the times she was going through her mom is in a coma! The weird creepy colour thief is coming in her dreams and turning them to nightmares!
Toby is a great character and from what I hear a great friend! I think his story is really interesting and not sad but something like that !
This is an excellent book and a heartwarming story I love it!😻
Love and a flock of doves 🕊️
Xxxxxxxxx
Izzy is finding it hard her bestie dumped her when she knew the times she was going through her mom is in a coma! The weird creepy colour thief is coming in her dreams and turning them to nightmares!
Toby is a great character and from what I hear a great friend! I think his story is really interesting and not sad but something like that !
This is an excellent book and a heartwarming story I love it!😻
Love and a flock of doves 🕊️
Xxxxxxxxx
May 21, 2018
The Mystery of the Colour Thief sensitively handles the heartbreaking issues 12 year old Izzy is experiencing. Most pressing is the guilt Izzy feels for her mother being in a coma in hospital, yet in the background Izzy is dealing with starting high school and no longer having the friend support she was used to. This book highlights how to deal with change, guilt, loneliness and friendship in a readable yet sensitive manner. Highly recommended.
August 27, 2018
A sweet story encompassing mystery, family drama and the consequences of a devastating accident. Izzy's dreams are haunted by a mysterious 'colour thief' and her life is spiraling out of control, but when she meets Toby from nextdoor and they begin to take care of a young baby swan, she finds that friendship and love will help her deal with her fears.
April 14, 2018
Book review will be published soon on www.mrripleysenchatedbooks.com
September 15, 2018
Absolutely loved this book. It gave me all the feels. No silliness, completely believable and so heartwarming. Strongly advise people to read this book.
September 30, 2018
Beautiful, ever-unfolding story, with complex character, enormous depth, well filled out.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
May 6, 2019
Beautiful book about grief, friendship, family and recovery. Should be in every library and classroom!
May 18, 2019
This was such a powerful little story. It reminded me a lot of A Monster calls by Patrick ness and Siobhan Dowd. It's a book I am glad that I got to read.
February 9, 2020
Lovely
I am currently reading this in school and I wanted to read the end and I would like to know if izzys mum got out of the coma
I am currently reading this in school and I wanted to read the end and I would like to know if izzys mum got out of the coma
June 25, 2018
I thought this was an excellent book. I thought I'd have a quick flick through to check it out before giving to a friend's (8yo) daughter, but of course was quickly hooked and devoured it...
I loved the way that it combined gripping narrative with real depth and takes the reader on a powerful emotional journey with Izzy. It manages to cover difficult topics of loneliness, fear and guilt in ways that seem very accessible yet non-patronising (as far as this 36yo can tell!).
The friendship troubles at school struck me as exactly the sort of thing that this intended readership would connect with- painful to remember! I liked the imperfections of the family (the struggling, distant dad, the over-bearing if well meaning aunt), and the building tension and worry for Izzy as she has such a hard time - it felt appropriately tough given her circumstances, and with the right balance of hope yet reality in the not-fully-resolved ending.
The 'extra' layer of the narrative about the colour thief seemed like a clever way to mirror and explore the feelings that Izzy was experiencing. I wonder if younger readers would appreciate it? I can imagine a really great book club discussion about this! I will definitely recommend it to another mum friend I know who has started a Girls Leadership Bookclub for mums & daughters (doesn't that sound ace? I can't wait for my 4yo to be able to read!)
Once I'd given it, the friend's daughter (who is a pretty advanced reader for her age) also couldn't put it down, finishing it in a day. She was thoroughly absorbed by Izzy's character and the plot and thought it was really good. I asked if she would recommend it to her friends: "Oh yes, I would, ...for when they have finished Harry Potter" - the JK Rowling grip on them all is iron strong!!
I will be giving this book to more friends, and looking forward to seeing what comes next from this writer
I loved the way that it combined gripping narrative with real depth and takes the reader on a powerful emotional journey with Izzy. It manages to cover difficult topics of loneliness, fear and guilt in ways that seem very accessible yet non-patronising (as far as this 36yo can tell!).
The friendship troubles at school struck me as exactly the sort of thing that this intended readership would connect with- painful to remember! I liked the imperfections of the family (the struggling, distant dad, the over-bearing if well meaning aunt), and the building tension and worry for Izzy as she has such a hard time - it felt appropriately tough given her circumstances, and with the right balance of hope yet reality in the not-fully-resolved ending.
The 'extra' layer of the narrative about the colour thief seemed like a clever way to mirror and explore the feelings that Izzy was experiencing. I wonder if younger readers would appreciate it? I can imagine a really great book club discussion about this! I will definitely recommend it to another mum friend I know who has started a Girls Leadership Bookclub for mums & daughters (doesn't that sound ace? I can't wait for my 4yo to be able to read!)
Once I'd given it, the friend's daughter (who is a pretty advanced reader for her age) also couldn't put it down, finishing it in a day. She was thoroughly absorbed by Izzy's character and the plot and thought it was really good. I asked if she would recommend it to her friends: "Oh yes, I would, ...for when they have finished Harry Potter" - the JK Rowling grip on them all is iron strong!!
I will be giving this book to more friends, and looking forward to seeing what comes next from this writer
August 24, 2018
If you're a regular reader of my book reviews then you'll know there is one quality above all others that I look for in children's novels: the potential for it to develop empathy in the reader. This book has that in spades.
Izzy blames herself for what happened to her mum. Since the incident her relationship with her best friend has suffered and despite many well-meaning adults offering support, she is finding life difficult to cope with. And it doesn't help that her recurring nightmare features a shadowy man who begins to steal the colours, one by one, from her life.
But then she meets Toby - a wheelchair-user who has moved in up the road - and he introduces her to Spike, a young swan and the runt of the litter. She and Toby strike up a friendship and in their dedication to saving the starving cygnet, Izzy finds hope and purpose. She also finds inspiration in straight-talking Toby who, through the wisdom gained from his own experiences, helps her to solve the mystery of the colour thief.
Imagery abounds in this wonderful short novel aimed at Key Stage 2 and 3 children. The gradual loss of colour in the mural of her life that her mum painted above her bed is a sensitive metaphor for the creeping onset of depression. The improving wellbeing of Spike causes and provides parallels with Izzy's improving mental health - in both cases the injured party allows others to help them. The feather Izzy gives to her mum as she lies in a coma is a symbol of optimism and freedom - a freedom which Izzy eventually gains as she discovers she is guilt-free.
In this beautifully-written story debut author Ewa Jozefkowicz deftly explores issues that young children may well come up against in real life. 'The Mystery of the Colour Thief' will bring comfort to those with similar experiences to those portrayed and will help those who haven't to be that little bit more understanding of those who have.
A must for any library, classroom or home bookshelf - books like this position the current generation to begin to work for a better, kinder future.
Perfect Partners:
'The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle' by Victoria Williamson - another story in which an unlikely duo bond over caring for an injured wild animal
'My Dad's A Birdman' by David Almond - aimed at a younger audience, and a little zanier, this story also explores how a young girl and her dad feel after the loss of her mother
'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness - aimed at an older audience, this book also explores the feelings of a young person experiencing the illness and loss of his mother
Izzy blames herself for what happened to her mum. Since the incident her relationship with her best friend has suffered and despite many well-meaning adults offering support, she is finding life difficult to cope with. And it doesn't help that her recurring nightmare features a shadowy man who begins to steal the colours, one by one, from her life.
But then she meets Toby - a wheelchair-user who has moved in up the road - and he introduces her to Spike, a young swan and the runt of the litter. She and Toby strike up a friendship and in their dedication to saving the starving cygnet, Izzy finds hope and purpose. She also finds inspiration in straight-talking Toby who, through the wisdom gained from his own experiences, helps her to solve the mystery of the colour thief.
Imagery abounds in this wonderful short novel aimed at Key Stage 2 and 3 children. The gradual loss of colour in the mural of her life that her mum painted above her bed is a sensitive metaphor for the creeping onset of depression. The improving wellbeing of Spike causes and provides parallels with Izzy's improving mental health - in both cases the injured party allows others to help them. The feather Izzy gives to her mum as she lies in a coma is a symbol of optimism and freedom - a freedom which Izzy eventually gains as she discovers she is guilt-free.
In this beautifully-written story debut author Ewa Jozefkowicz deftly explores issues that young children may well come up against in real life. 'The Mystery of the Colour Thief' will bring comfort to those with similar experiences to those portrayed and will help those who haven't to be that little bit more understanding of those who have.
A must for any library, classroom or home bookshelf - books like this position the current generation to begin to work for a better, kinder future.
Perfect Partners:
'The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle' by Victoria Williamson - another story in which an unlikely duo bond over caring for an injured wild animal
'My Dad's A Birdman' by David Almond - aimed at a younger audience, and a little zanier, this story also explores how a young girl and her dad feel after the loss of her mother
'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness - aimed at an older audience, this book also explores the feelings of a young person experiencing the illness and loss of his mother
May 6, 2022
My wonderful daughter bought me this book some time ago…we often buy each other books that we want to read ourselves and this book was a case in point…One of the reasons I love reading children’s books is that they discuss topics/issues in such a beautiful way; in a way which I think both children and adults can assimilate more easily.
Izzy’s Dad runs a charity to save elephants; her Mum is artistic, has painted Izzy’s ceiling with a huge mural; works with children with special educational needs…but now she is lying in an induced coma in hospital. Izzy is struggling..not that she would tell you that. She’s doing fine thank you and it doesn’t matter that her best friend has moved on and that children at school say unkind things about her …it doesn’t matter does it. And Izzy can’t talk about what happened to her Mother and she suffers terrible nightmares and the colours on the mural are disappearing. How can she explain that?
This is such a beautiful story and written with such a lightness of touch but with such intuition. I felt the sadness of losing that one key friend, of pretending the barbed comments don’t hurt, of feeling the fear of believing something is your fault..The friendships that Izzy starts to form with other children are beautifully observed, embryonic attachments as she begins to reconnect. I loved Toby and Frank…and the ways they find to encourage and support each other. This is about friendship, it is about coping with hard times..It is very probably about PTSD but we don’t really need labels: what we see is how trauma has distorted memories; how Izzy’s feelings and emotions have created a filter through which she is perceiving the past and future and that her inability to process that ‘black day’ is holding her back. These are all difficult subjects to discuss but embedding them in a narrative about colours, perceptions of colour and a colour thief creates a powerful mechanism for discussion.
This is a beautiful and thought provoking story which doesn’t seek to wrap things up neatly. It also includes some useful discussion questions.
In the story Toby builds a little house for a swan..There is a little pond near us which year after year has seen ducklings carried off by predators…but this year there is a duck house floating on the water. The whole village is watching that duck house hopefully..swipe for photo.
June 3, 2018
‘Simply ‘specsational’. Heart-wrenching yet heartwarming at the same time… it takes a very special talent to achieve this and I’m delighted to say that Ewa does with flying colours.’
The story begins, as does some of the chapters, with a voice. An unknown voice. A voice given to a character. A most sinister, shadowy character who we can’t see, but later see the effects of, and can instantly feel coming; looming closer with every word. This too is how it feels for main character, Izzy who finds herself waking up more and more as white as a sheet, reeling in shock and horror at the thought of her dreams which are every bit turning in to nightmares that are encroaching upon her, invading her and taking over her sleep.
Izzy’s mum is in hospital after a car accident – and Izzy attributes blame and fault only to herself. Overwhelmed with pangs of guilt, wracked with anxiety and shrouded in grief, Izzy cannot even face the slightest of sights of her hospitalised mother, lying senseless to the world in a coma. So it’s no wonder the colours of her world start to fade. Literally. As she watches the mural on her bedroom wall’s colours mutate and dissipate; reds, yellows, greens, blues: gone. But what could be happening and where could they be going to?
With no mother to turn to, likewise no father to turn to and a best friend who turns her back on Izzy, she’s left in the dark; trapped in a world where’s she continually suffering from the blackest of Blackest Days. However, new hope emerges for Izzy with a new neighbour. Toby. Paralysed after an accident yet full of positivity and perseverance, it is he that starts to bring new life to Izzy in more ways than one.
First with a nest of cygnets that need rescuing. When researching the correct collective noun to describe a group of cygnets, it referred me to swans. More specifically, ‘a lamentation of swans’. Yet towards the end of the story, I think that the first collective noun in the list, ‘a ballet of swans’ becomes the more apt term because it is this small change for Izzy from Toby that brings about a radically different change in Izzy’s thinking. Together can they help the cygnets, who become one of the true centrepieces and cornerstones of the story?
But even greater than that, can they put an end to the disappearing colours, break through the darkness and solve the mystery of the eponymous colour thief?
As Izzy’s father would say himself, this is simply ‘specsational’. Emotive, engaging and full of moving moments, The Mystery of the Colour Thief paints a picture that’s a compassionate and heartfelt look at mental health and ends up being a canvas of hope that permeates through its pages. It’s beautifully and sensitively written; heart-wrenching yet heartwarming at the same time. It takes a very special talent to achieve this, especially with her debut and I’m delighted to say that Ewa does this with flying colours.
The story begins, as does some of the chapters, with a voice. An unknown voice. A voice given to a character. A most sinister, shadowy character who we can’t see, but later see the effects of, and can instantly feel coming; looming closer with every word. This too is how it feels for main character, Izzy who finds herself waking up more and more as white as a sheet, reeling in shock and horror at the thought of her dreams which are every bit turning in to nightmares that are encroaching upon her, invading her and taking over her sleep.
Izzy’s mum is in hospital after a car accident – and Izzy attributes blame and fault only to herself. Overwhelmed with pangs of guilt, wracked with anxiety and shrouded in grief, Izzy cannot even face the slightest of sights of her hospitalised mother, lying senseless to the world in a coma. So it’s no wonder the colours of her world start to fade. Literally. As she watches the mural on her bedroom wall’s colours mutate and dissipate; reds, yellows, greens, blues: gone. But what could be happening and where could they be going to?
With no mother to turn to, likewise no father to turn to and a best friend who turns her back on Izzy, she’s left in the dark; trapped in a world where’s she continually suffering from the blackest of Blackest Days. However, new hope emerges for Izzy with a new neighbour. Toby. Paralysed after an accident yet full of positivity and perseverance, it is he that starts to bring new life to Izzy in more ways than one.
First with a nest of cygnets that need rescuing. When researching the correct collective noun to describe a group of cygnets, it referred me to swans. More specifically, ‘a lamentation of swans’. Yet towards the end of the story, I think that the first collective noun in the list, ‘a ballet of swans’ becomes the more apt term because it is this small change for Izzy from Toby that brings about a radically different change in Izzy’s thinking. Together can they help the cygnets, who become one of the true centrepieces and cornerstones of the story?
But even greater than that, can they put an end to the disappearing colours, break through the darkness and solve the mystery of the eponymous colour thief?
As Izzy’s father would say himself, this is simply ‘specsational’. Emotive, engaging and full of moving moments, The Mystery of the Colour Thief paints a picture that’s a compassionate and heartfelt look at mental health and ends up being a canvas of hope that permeates through its pages. It’s beautifully and sensitively written; heart-wrenching yet heartwarming at the same time. It takes a very special talent to achieve this, especially with her debut and I’m delighted to say that Ewa does this with flying colours.
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June 13, 2018First the accident, then the nightmares and the thief who steals the colour from Izzy's world. Will her neighbour and a nest of cygnets help solve the mystery of the colour thief? First the accident, then the nightmares. The shadowy thief steals all the colours from Izzy's world leaving her feeling empty and hopeless. Will her new neighbour and a nest full of cygnets save Izzy and solve the mystery of the colour thief? A heart-warming story about families, friendships, school, nature, hope and self-confidence. After a frightening car accident, Izzy's mum is in a coma. Her family is in pieces. Her best friend at school has dumped her. And her nightmares are haunted by a shadowy man stealing all the colours from her world. She's trying so hard to be brave, but Izzy thinks everything is her fault. Then she meets her new neighbour, Toby, paralysed after a skateboarding accident, and together they find a nest of cygnets who need rescuing. Particularly the odd one out, called Spike. Will saving Spike save Izzy? Will she and Toby solve the mystery of the colour thief and bring hope and happiness back to Izzy's life?
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