The Colours of Carol Molev

Susannah D. Ketchum is a teacher-librarian at the Bishop Strachan School
in Toronto. She also serves on the Southern Ontario Library Services
Board.

Because of “The Colours,” Carol, 16, is frequently able to read
other people’s thoughts and influence their actions. When her brother
plays hockey, she sees patterns of energy on the ice and is able to
direct him telepathically. She and her boyfriend are also able to
communicate using telepathy. The downside to her unusual abilities is
that it is harder and harder to find a private place; as well, some of
The Colours are associated with malevolent gods. After discovering that
many of her peers also see and are influenced by The Colours, Carol
attends a Gathering and is disturbed by its undertones of control and
forced sacrifice. Eventually, she learns to integrate her abilities and
to take charge of her own life.

While Carol is an attractive, spunky heroine, many of the remaining
characters are underdeveloped and occasionally seem to exist only
because they are necessary to move the plot forward. The quality of the
writing is uneven. Often, Goobie writes simply and very effectively, but
occasionally, the reader is jarred by sentences like “Carol had always
gotten weird days but this one was really loaded.”

Despite these weaknesses, The Colours of Carol Molev is a worthwhile
purchase. It is refreshing to read about teenagers who want to wait
until they know and trust each other before becoming intimate. Teenagers
will appreciate Carol’s struggles as she learns to know and value
herself; they will also enjoy Goobie’s offbeat humor. The publisher
warns that the novel contains “mature situations” and suggests that
it is suitable for ages 16+. Adults may want to skim the book before
giving it to younger readers. Recommended.