Violet is like many other children who prefer their own company to the noisy gatherings that so many children love. Violet likes solitude and she likes quiet spaces.
With her headphones on in the quiet of her room, readers can see this is very true. She has all she needs to be truly happy in the moment - her crayons, her stuffed toys, her books and papers, and time all to herself. Smiling and attentive to what she is doing, she is content. While others at school play outdoors, Violet likes to wander about quietly gathering items for her window sill at home. From that window, she watches the birds that gather daily at her feeders.
Readers are told there are things she doesn't like as well - especially parties. Her father reminds that there are party things she does like. That may be true, but Violet doesn't like them all at the same time. They bother her palms, ears, stomach and teeth. Her father means well, describing parties in variants meant to distract his daughter (reception, function, potluck, shindig, bash, get-together). Whenever she is tricked into going, Violet finds a quiet place to hide and pretend she is an animal that does not react in the same way as she does to the hoopla.
"Her ears don't feel hot anymore because sharks don't have ears that stick out the way hers do, and her palms aren't sweating because sharks don't have hands."
A discussion prior to attending the Shrink family reunion results in a perfect compromise. It is true that honest, brave communication is key.
"Dad, I have an important thing to say," Violet says as he is tucking her into bed for the night. "Okay," he says, putting on his listening-for-real face."
Carmen Mok uses gouache, color pencils and graphite pencil in colors that are quietly contemplative, matching Violet's persona.
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