She's
Like a Rainbow
by Eileen Colucci
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Release Date: June 13th 2016
Summary from Goodreads:“The summer I turned ten, my life took a fairy tale turn.”
So begins Reema Ben Ghazi’s tale set in Morocco, SHE'S LIKE A RAINBOW. Reema awakes one morning to find her skin has changed from whipped cream to dark chocolate. From then on, every few years she undergoes another metamorphosis, her color changing successively to red, yellow and ultimately brown. What is the cause of this strange condition and is there a cure? Does the legend of the White Buffalo have anything to do with it? As Reema struggles to find answers to these questions, she confronts the reactions of the people around her, including her strict and unsympathetic mother, Lalla Jamila; her timid younger sister, Zakia; and her two best friends, Batoul and Khalil. At the same time, she must deal with the trials of adolescence even as her friendship with Khalil turns to first love. One day, in her search for answers, Reema discovers a shocking secret – she may have been adopted at birth. As a result, Reema embarks on a quest to find her birth mother that takes her from twentieth-century Rabat to post-9/11 New York.
Reema’s humanity shines through her story, reminding us of all we have in common regardless of our particular cultural heritage. SHE'S LIKE A RAINBOW, which will appeal to Teens as well as Adults, raises intriguing questions about identity and ethnicity.
by Eileen Colucci
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Release Date: June 13th 2016
Summary from Goodreads:“The summer I turned ten, my life took a fairy tale turn.”
So begins Reema Ben Ghazi’s tale set in Morocco, SHE'S LIKE A RAINBOW. Reema awakes one morning to find her skin has changed from whipped cream to dark chocolate. From then on, every few years she undergoes another metamorphosis, her color changing successively to red, yellow and ultimately brown. What is the cause of this strange condition and is there a cure? Does the legend of the White Buffalo have anything to do with it? As Reema struggles to find answers to these questions, she confronts the reactions of the people around her, including her strict and unsympathetic mother, Lalla Jamila; her timid younger sister, Zakia; and her two best friends, Batoul and Khalil. At the same time, she must deal with the trials of adolescence even as her friendship with Khalil turns to first love. One day, in her search for answers, Reema discovers a shocking secret – she may have been adopted at birth. As a result, Reema embarks on a quest to find her birth mother that takes her from twentieth-century Rabat to post-9/11 New York.
Reema’s humanity shines through her story, reminding us of all we have in common regardless of our particular cultural heritage. SHE'S LIKE A RAINBOW, which will appeal to Teens as well as Adults, raises intriguing questions about identity and ethnicity.
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Links:
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kindle | Amazon
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& Noble
Colucci
holds a BA in French and English from the University at Albany and an
MA in Education from Framingham State University.
When
not writing, Colucci enjoys practicing yoga, taking long walks and
playing with her chocolate Labrador Retriever, Phoebo. Now that she
and her husband have four grandchildren, they spend as much time as
possible in Virginia with their two sons and their families.
Author
Links:
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Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your interest!
DeleteEileen Colucci
I enjoyed the summary! Sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your interest!
DeleteEileen Colucci
I know that Native Americans say that the White Buffalo is a sacred symbol. I'd love to read this book :)
ReplyDeleteA major theme running through the novel is the legend of the White Buffalo. This legend was actually the inspiration for the story. I read an article about Miracle, a white buffalo calf that was born on a South Dakota farm to black/brown parents. I learned that white buffaloes are very rare but that, due to some strange phenomenon, other species, such as tigers, whales and turtles, were also experiencing white young being born. The white buffalo calf would not remain white, but would turn various colors – black, yellow, red and finally brown. Some Native American tribes believe that Miracle and other white buffalo are sacred and symbolize all the different races of humanity.
DeleteAs I read, an idea was born. What if a human baby was born white to black parents? What if her skin repeatedly changed color as the legend of the White Buffalo played out on the human stage?
Thanks for your interest!
ReplyDeleteEileen Colucci
FROM EILEEN COLUCCI:
ReplyDeleteHere is my complete Bio:
A native New Yorker, Eileen Colucci has been living in Rabat with her Moroccan husband for the past thirty-plus years. She is a former teacher and recently retired after twenty-eight years as a translator with the U.S. Embassy, Rabat. Her articles and short stories have appeared in various publications and ezines including Fodor's Morocco, Parents' Press, The New Dominion and Expat Women. SHE'S LIKE A RAINBOW, which was recently published, is her second novel.
Colucci holds a BA in French and English from the University at Albany and an MA in Education from Framingham State University.
When not writing, Colucci enjoys practicing yoga, taking long walks and playing with her chocolate Labrador Retriever, Phoebo. Now that she and her husband have four grandchildren, they spend as much time as possible in Virginia with their two sons and their families.
I love the title and even the cover makes me curious to read it!
ReplyDeleteThe title is inspired by the Rolling Stones song, She's a Rainbow. And my husband, who is an architect and very handy with CAD programs, designed the cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your interest!
Peace,
Eileen
Oh this sounds so good, and I have a feeling I would learn to much from it! I cannot wait to read. I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteLaura, thanks for your interest and glad you like the cover. Hope you enjoy it!
DeletePeace,
Eileen
Thank you for the chance!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and good luck!
DeletePeace,
Eileen