Notes on Her Color

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Winner of the Vulgar Geniuses Award, this debut novel intertwines Florida kitsch with magical realism, focusing on a young Black and Indigenous woman who learns to change the color of her skin. Gabrielle's relationship with her mother, Tallulah, is complex, shaped by intimacy and resilience against a volatile patriarch. Their home is dominated by a cold white aesthetic, from the cupboards to the food, and Gabrielle is pressured to pass into whiteness to avoid upsetting her father. The bond between mother and daughter shatters when Tallulah faces a mental health crisis, forcing Gabrielle to navigate her identity and control her color shifts independently for the first time. During a year after high school, Gabrielle immerses herself in piano lessons, an endeavor her father believes will enhance her pre-med applications. Her instructor, Dominique, a queer, dark-skinned woman, embodies the creativity and confidence Gabrielle craves, offering a nurturing love she lacks at home. As Gabrielle seeks a life beyond her family’s constraints, this lushly written tale explores how love can serve as a liberating force, breaking free from destructive origins.