Lindsey Reviews : The Rainbow Stick Boy Michael Santolini

 

 

Review:  The Rainbow Stick Boy - Michael Santolini - October 2012

This is the story of Huey, a stick boy who lives in Chromaville.  Huey is considered a bit of an oddity in his town as invariably stick people tend to be of one colour whereas Huey is a myriad of colours and hence his nickname Rainbow Stick Boy.  However, although his colours make him stand out, it is for the wrong reasons and Huey often feels sad and lonely as a result. 

 It is only when he goes on one of his walks in the forest that he meets Rae, an orange stick girl, that his fortune changes.  Rae too finds herself the object of suspicion as she is from Orange stock and as they are thought to have magical powers, they are ostracised by the Chromaville sticks as magic is thought to be evil.

Rae gives Huey a magic stone and one day when they are playing in the rain, something happens to Rae and Huey which changes their lives.

What a wonderful story!  I think that this would be ideal for younger children to teach them about diversity and just because you are different to others and stand out from the crowd, this can be a good thing.  Rae and Huey bond over the fact that they are distinct from others which causes them to find magic at the end of the rainbow.   

This is a book about friendship, believing in yourself and how even though we are not all the same, there is lots of positivity to be had in diversity and we are all special in our own way.  A lovely, uplifting tale of the merits of how variety is the spice of life.