The wonderful thing about historical fiction is that readers are able to experience many points in time. We’re able to learn what life was like for people decades, even centuries ago, in different regions and countries. But what I love most about this genre is that I always find the characters and their situations are not that different from today.

R.L. Toalson’s novel-in-verse, The Colors of the Rain is one of those books. Although the story takes us back to 1972 Texas and segregation, I found the issues and interactions between the characters are still prevalent today.

Ten-year-old Paulie Sanders hates his name because it also belonged to his daddy-his daddy who killed a fellow white man and then crashed his car. With his mama unable to cope, Paulie and his sister, Charlie, move in with their Aunt Bee and attend a new elementary school. But it’s 1972, and this new school puts them right in the middle of the Houston School District’s war on desegregation.

Paulie soon begins to question everything. He hears his daddy’s crime was a race-related one; he killed a white man defending a black man, and when Paulie starts picking fights with a black boy at school, he must face his reasons for doing so. When dark family secrets are revealed, the way forward for everyone will change the way Paulie thinks about family forever. (Goodreads)

As I mentioned, I find trips to the past enlightening, and this story is no exception. I found myself wondering what I would do if I were Paulie. How would I feel? Of course I look at situations as an adult, but in this case, R.L. Toalson created magic and perfectly captured the voice and perspective of a ten-year-old. It’s through Paulie’s eyes that we see tragedy, anger, guilt, and happiness. His actions are clearly based on innocence and pure feeling.

Paulie’s story, although set in 1972, is applicable today. The Colors of the Rain provides invaluable insight to all sides of human interaction. We are all different, but through Paulie’s eyes, we learn we are all the same. This story shows us there’s understanding and hope in all of us. I would love to see it in classrooms around the country.

The Colors of the Rain is a wonderful book for both kids and adults. Toalson’s writing is filled with emotion and will become a favorite for everyone.

The book is available tomorrow, September 18, 2018. You can find it at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

R.L. Toalson is an author, essayist, and poet who regularly contributes to adult and children’s print and online publications around the world. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and six boys. The Colors of the Rain is her first novel. To learn more about her, visit her website here.