This Gray Canvas | sneak peek and book review

I read this novelette in two days, and at the end, I teared up. 😭 It’s a sweet, subtly powerful story of friendship and acceptance. The twist with the main character having monochromatic vision was so unique (I was ready to read it for that alone), and the themes of color and creativity were so captivating.

Ethan is a well-developed character, struggling with relatable wounds of feeling isolated and misunderstood. And the social anxiety. His arc was amazing and felt so believable. I love that he has a compassionate family, and his newly found friend Sophie is THE BEST. (Someone give HER chocolate. 🥰)

Usually I don’t talk too much about the plot in book reviews – I rant more about the characters, as you can see lol…but I have to express how BRILLIANTLY the plot of this story unfolded. The premise is so intriguing, and each new plot point is *chef’s kiss*. There was no dragging middle in this story, that’s for sure.

All in all, this is a wonderful quick Middle-Grade read that I’d recommend to any reader who is a creative of some sort and loves sweet friendship stories and solid themes.

(Also it’s a bonus that green is my favorite color 🤭)

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Release Date: June 25th, 2024

Genre: Middle-Grade Contemporary

Author: Jaiden Phillips

Cover Art: Jaiden Phillips

About This Gray Canvas

Because how did one explain the gray canvas I was trapped in?

Ethan was born into a world of black and white a medical condition known as monochromatic vision, but with one exception—he can see the color green. After moving from the Colorado countryside to New York City, Ethan struggles to adjust to the busy and colorless atmosphere.

When encouraged to join a local art contest by his grandfather and a peppy bookworm named Sophie, Ethan considers it. But when the bullies at school get a hold of his sketchpad, and make fun of his colorless art, Ethan wonders if he has anything worth sharing at all. Because how could anyone understand the gray canvas of his life?

buy your copy Today!

And don’t forget to add it on Goodreads!

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about the author

Jaiden Phillips is a teen author residing in the mountains of western North Carolina. She has six older siblings and one set of amazing parents!

More often than not, you can find her sketching one of her wild ideas, writing out a scene for a book, or giving her sisters a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Her debut novel, The Guild of Thieves, is available on Amazon!

Follow the author

free character art!

For those who order and submit to this form between June 25th and July 9th you receive a hand-drawn character card of Ethan, the main character of This Gray Canvas. The picture is digitally colored using only colors Ethan can see, so you get to see him the way he sees himself!

Physical cards are available for US residents, international readers will receive a digital card that they can print on their own for themselves.

preorder!

Now claim your character art!

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You’ll find the sneak peek at the very bottom of this post because yes I love to amp up the suspense. 😛

tour schedule

Monday, June 24th

Sisters Three – Blog Tour Launch Announcement 

Rhys-Marie Whitnell – Spotlight

Emma Crooks – Spotlight and review

Tuesday, June 25th

Issabelle Perry – Character Interview

Kristina Hall – Spotlight

Kylie Beevers – Spotlight and Sneak Peek

Virginia Henderson – Book Spotlight

Wednesday, June 26th

Jaiden Phillips Art – Character Art and Spotlight

Lorelei Angelino – Spotlight

Thursday, June 27th

The Introspective Introvert – Author Interview, Sneak Peek, and Spotlight

Writers’ Vision – Spotlight

Friday, June 28th

Old Fashioned Book Love – Review and Spotlight

Saraina Whitney – Review and Sneak Peek

Sisters Three – End of Tour Post

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sneak peek

read the full story now!

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What excites you most to read this book? Do you ever paint or draw? Are you better at portraits or landscapes? Have you heard of monochromatic vision? What’s your favorite color?