The Sound of a Rainbow

by Sharon Frayne

Sometimes the challenges we resist the most can give us the strength to transform into the person we want to be. Troubled, almost 16-year-old Raven Tantie just wants to be left alone, after her disastrous final performance in The Teen Talent show goes viral on social media. Worse, following a therapist's advice, her divorcing parents send her to Rainbow Wings, an inclusive summer camp for the performing arts in Northern Ontario. Initially, Raven is angry at the world, but inside she's desperate for acceptance and belonging. Campers with physical exceptionalities, learning disabilities, and complex neurodiversity are welcome at Rainbow Wings. Anxious and self-absorbed, Raven resists the charms of the quirky staff, the other campers, and the beautiful natural environment. When Ash, a camper with autism struggles to cope, her empathy for others begins to grow.Camp Director J. B., a former rock musician and professional clown, utilizes a philosophy of loving respect to help the campers. His estranged elderly mother lives in an abandoned wildlife sanctuary nearby, under threat from unscrupulous developers. When hard decisions have to be made, can Raven learn to use kindness and honesty to help new friends and herself? Because sometimes, when life deals hard problems, you can regain your confidence, and with trust and hope, build a better future.

Genres: Young Adult

250 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2023

Reviews

[Mary Varacalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to both adult readers and it’s target audience, young adults. As an adult reader, this book conjured nostalgic memories for me when I went to camp as a teen.
The protagonist, Raven is coerced into going to camp Rainbow Wings by her parents on the recommendation of her psychologist. Raven had a very public humiliation during her final performance on a teen talent show and her failure goes viral. Raven is in very negative space and angry at the world.
Camp Rainbow Wings is a device free, safe and inclusive space. The book is about how the camp and the people she meets there slowly open her mind and heart, the experiences that lead to her growth and the choices she makes that will define who she wants to be. The list of characters is charming from the autistic troublemaker, Ash, the endearing Owl Lady who runs a sanctuary and JB, her son who was once a Rock star.
The book is easy to read and the plot has twists and turns that keep you reading. This is definitely a book with a positive message to share with the young adult in your life and even the not so young adult.

[Liz Grebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I (11F) wanted to read this book because it was about a girl that was in a singing competition, and because she goes to a performing arts camp. I thought the character of Raven seemed like a real fifteen year old, but she had interesting problems. It was funny and exciting and I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen and then something else would happen instead, I liked that. My mom and I read it together and we both liked it. I think people who like the book "Wish" will like this book too.

[Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my granddaughter but enjoyed it myself. The author obviously has a good understanding of, and cares about, young people and their struggles, especially in this age of electronic media. I recommend this book for young people, parents, grandparents - anyone, really!

[Diane Magee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book beautifully captures the vulnerability and turbulence of adolescence. The Sound of a Rainbow presents a uniquely inclusive world that we rarely see in YA literature. Congratulations to Sharon Frayne on a heartfelt debut novel. Looking forward to her next book.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult reader I wondered if I would like this book. But, ‘The Sound of a Rainbow’ held my attention from the opening pages, right through to the end. It’s a fast paced story with a diverse cast of realistic characters. It’s unusual for books to have main characters with autism or special needs. This story and setting felt real, and uplifting. A great read for all ages.

[Maddie Neeley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The intentions of this book are good. The camp it describes would be awesome if it existed in real life. However. The writing style was not to my taste. There was a lot told and very little shown. The main character's growth didn't seem realistic to me. And the storyline with Ash was...well. I won't get into it. It was uncomfortable and seemed a bit like a savior-complex towards autistic people. Overall, this book felt juvenile and rubbed me the wrong way. I do appreciate what the author was trying to do, though. Hopefully, she can do it better if/when she writes another book.

[Fschander · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SOUND OF A RAINBOW introduces the reader to the main character, Raven, a 15-year-old, who has recently experienced trauma in her life. Not only did she embarrass herself when her singing voice let her down publicly, but the incident had been recorded and shared repeatedly on social media. The unkindness of her “friends,” who posted these videos, and the overall humiliating experience itself, left her feeling angry, overwhelmed, and worthless. Added to this unsettling backdrop, Raven’s divorcing parents are sending her away to a summer camp for children with special needs.

Although Raven determines to NOT like Camp Rainbow Wings, she gradually discovers that when she is totally self-absorbed, she is not happy and her problems loom larger. When she slowly begins making an effort to include and help other needy campers, life becomes rewarding. Gradually she sees that camp is really a microcosm of a larger world. Like her, many can use a smile, a true friend, and a helping hand. When Raven realizes that other people at camp may have more to offer her in return than is initially apparent, she begins to relax and bond.

Throughout the twists and turns of a well-executed plot, the novel unfolds through Raven’s point of view. The author has skillfully drawn from her own experience as an educator and created a credible, engaging story line that will resonate with young adult readers (and their parents!).

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl must learn to overcome the trauma of a past incident.

Raven Tantie, a fifteen-year-old girl, is forced to go to Rainbow Wings, an inclusive performing arts camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. Raven wants nothing to do with anyone ever since the incident in the TripleT show that left her emotionally scarred. But little by little, Raven begins to see the bright side of things with her new friends, perseverant Tasha and autistic, adorable Ash.

This book was another rollercoaster of a read. The parts were beautiful and sad to read. The Sound of a Rainbow also shows the common theme of friendship and giving others a second chance.

Raven is complicated, yet she shows remarkable growth in the story. In the face of danger, she also displays courage in those times. Tasha never gives up on anybody. Ash was the sweetest friend you could ever ask for, making him my favorite. Grif, a counselor, was pretty sneaky and two-faced.

This book tackles challenging subjects such as a viral social media disaster, divorcing parents, and the importance of fitting in and belonging for teenagers nowadays. But this book is filled with uplifting parts; this inclusive summer camp shows us empathy and loving respect.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Kevin Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raven, a teenager with shattered dreams, is forced to attend a camp where personal differences may be embraced, but broken hearts can't easily be mended. Bit by bit, she begins to realize that she might not be the center of the universe, and that the feelings of others do count. In broadening her outlook and opening her soul, she starts to heal.
But is it easy? Heck, no! Our heroine encounters many obstacles along her way, and experiences setbacks and betrayal. Her journey toward enlightenment is grueling and compelling. Fortunately, Sharon Frayne guides us skilfully along Raven's path toward personal redemption, and we cheer for her with each baby step she takes. In the end, she isn't quite at the finish line--which gives us reason to hope for a sequel!
As a special note about something that sets this book apart: one of the major characters in the novel is on the autism spectrum, and the author portrays his behavioral patterns with empathy and realistic attention to detail. This is a book that will appeal to young teens, and to their parents, too.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Navigating the teenage years has always been challenging: doing so in the constant glare of social media can be overwhelming.

The author has drawn from her years of experience as a teen herself , a parent and as a principal interacting with teens, to deliver a story that we can identify with and characters that we empathize with.

Young or old, the issues of child/parent elationships, peer pressure, bullying, defining who we are and who we want to be are universal.

The Sound of a Rainbow is an excellent YA read .
There can be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow- friends, acceptance and growth.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Pamela Nowina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set at a camp in the beautiful lake area of Ontario, The Sound of a Rainbow is a story about acceptance – of the past, of the foibles of others, of oneself. It's a page turner with many twists and a set of diverse, lovable, and, for the most part, admirable, characters. Frayne has created a world readers will want to return to. Here's hoping Raven, with all her insecurities, and Ash, with his exceptionalities, inhabit another book and another summer at Camp Rainbow Wings. A marvellous debut novel.

[RF Nowina · Rating 5 out of 5]

That a great read! I bought it for my grandchildren but read it first to ensure it was a good fit. It is, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with them.
This is a young teenager’s coming-of-age story. It keeps the reader going, wanting to know how this teenager will cope with her challenges and parental relationships. There’s a strong plot line with surprising twists and many interesting characters.

[Sunni | vanreads]

This is a cute wholesome read. I really have to say that YA seems better at including stories that feature multiple neurodivergent and disabled characters together. I also feel like this much better representation than I grew up with in school. I feel like it would have been nice to read about teen characters dealing with depression and self-harm among other heavier but very prevalent topics among teens.

Thank you Latitude 46 Publishing for the review copy!

[Lynne Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult reader, I was pleasantly surprised that I immediately became involved with the characters and their struggles to fit in. I found myself having to read just one more chapter to see what happened. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the exceptionally challenged. Hope this is the first of a series.

[Danielle French · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sound of a Rainbow is a YA novel that I would recommend to anyone who is a teenager, has a teenager or once was a teenager. This book reminded me of what it is like to be a teenager and brought back memories of summers spent at camp. The many plot twists made the book hard to put down. A great read!

[Cristela T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. Sometimes the main character annoyed me because she made dumb choices, but teenagers usually make dumb choices so it made sense. I also didn't like that she couldn't see through Grif's bullshit, but once again, she was a teenager enchanted by a good-looking guy.

[Eileen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although listed as Young Adult novel, readers of all ages will learn something from this story.
The lead character, Raven, is put into a difficult situation. She learns to adapt, become more relatable and make friends in the process. Instead of being focused only on herself, she learns to appreciate and help others.
A great read for all ages.

[Sharon Summerhayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Sound of a Rainbow’ by Sharon Frayne. I have family members who work for an organization in Toronto that run camps as depicted in Sharon’s novel. So true to life and tugs at the heartstrings. I love how Raven found her voice and overcame her own challenges while immersing herself in camp life with others at Camp Rainbow Wings.
~Sharon S.

[Liam Gilbert-Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It was an enjoyable read and at many times I didn't want to put it down and stayed up late reading!

[Chris Butt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story of a young woman trying to find herself as a summer camp leader.