Violet Shrink

December 15, 2019
A young girl prefers solitude and quiet activities to parties. Violet likes to hunker in a makeshift tent to write and illustrate comic books, and she often wears her purple headphones around the house. But even though she enjoys cake and games, Violet definitely does not like parties. Large groups of people make her so uncomfortable that she has adverse physical reactions, like hot ears and stomachaches. If she must attend a party, Violet imagines she is a different kind of animal that can better cope with these feelings, like a shark with no external ears to get heated. The character's preferences and reactions mirror those of someone with autism, social anxiety, and/or sensory-processing sensitivity. The story's climax comes before the Shrink family reunion, a particularly big party, when Violent and her dad have an open discussion about her feelings. Violet states outright, "I don't like parties," along with certain other things, adding, "I don't think I ever will." Her dad listens, and when the reunion occurs, readers see a compromise: Violet brings her headphones and comic books, and she eats dessert under the table. Mok's illustrations are in subdued hues, with a predominantly purple, green, and gray palette that pairs well with the dark purple print. Careful lines add detail and depth while giving the perception of a tactile, orderly calm. Among a multiracial cast including the extended family, Violet and her dad, both bespectacled, possess the white skin tone of paper and appear to be of Asian heritage. A calm, effective model for stating--and listening to--needs. (Picture book. 6-9)

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February 21, 2020

K-Gr 2-Violet Shrink does not like parties. Instead, she prefers to be alone, under a tent of blankets, drawing with her headphones on. She lives with her well-meaning but apparently clueless father, who inadvertently tricks her into attending social gatherings, not understanding the anxiety she experiences. To cope, Violet escapes into her imagination, but, faced with a family reunion, eventually confides in her father. He listens and accepts her, and Violet participates in the reunion under the table with her headphones on. Refreshingly, the book centers on a character whose shyness and anxiety are not "overcome"; rather, they are accepted and understood. Violet's story is told in the present tense third person and feels relatable to its intended audience. Violet likely experiences not just shyness but serious anxiety and sensory processing disorder, and Baldacchino (Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress) describes the physical sensations of anxiety, which will resonate with children experiencing it. Mok's illustrations, rendered in gouache, colored pencil, and graphic pencil, contain many shades of pink and purple, while the text is violet. The rest of the palette is muted, but shading and cross-hatching give the images more dimension. Violet, her father, and most of her family have paper-white skin and brown hair, and the various party guests represent a wide range of races and ethnic backgrounds. VERDICT A helpful message about differences, acceptance, and how to navigate one's way through the world.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2020
Grades 1-3 Violet hates parties. They make her palms sweat, her teeth clench, and her stomach hurt. She would much rather be at home in her blanket fort reading comic books. When a family reunion looms near, Violet's anxiety bursts forth as she explains her feelings and concerns to her father. He listens closely, and together they arrive at an acceptable compromise to help Violet feel more comfortable during the reunion. Baldacchino treats the introverted Violet with respect, validating her feelings and never scolding her anti-social behavior, even when her dad tries to coax her to play with others. Violet assumes different forms in the soft artwork?rendered in gouache, colored pencil, and graphite?to reflect her coping mechanisms or emotions. For example, one illustration shows her as a shark at a party because if she were a shark, she wouldn't have ears that burn or palms that sweat. Violet's story is a useful example of communicating needs and boundaries that may provide shy or anxious children with tools for interacting with the larger world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)