You are the Magic: A Colorworld Book Review
Capturing the giddy delights of childhood curiosity is tough, but the creative talents of Anthony Richici are perfectly aligned to the task. Cultivated from his journey bringing his first book rendition to the stage in January, the written words from the novelized version illuminate the inner growth and creativity of the main character. Published in 2025 following the live production, it masterfully expands his Colorworld story to new heights and age groups that take Henry on a whirlwind of adventures through his art.
The story revolves around Henry, a young, artistic boy many decades in the future when the craft of art on physical paper was nearly forgotten. He had procured a bunch of paper and art supplies from an old box found in the attic belong to his father. It was not only filled with supplies, but comic books created by his father long ago. Nearly forgotten by his dad, the dozens of comics illustrated the adventures of a robot. This uplifting discovery spurred Henry to delve into the power of his imagination. Being able to transform a blank page into a work of art, whether with words or pictures, is mystifying to outside observers. In fact, Anthony Richichi has compared artists to magicians, a sentiment that I fully agree.
The sporadic undertones of a seemingly dystopian society, filled with electronics galore, smoggy skies, and computer chip implants, are thrust into the background as the lead character, Henry, cultivates a colorful and imaginative world of his own. We meet Henry, the main character, as he is doodling in class, much to the dismay of his teacher. The class is focused on electronic gizmos, portraying paper as archaic. He is ridiculed and bullied for his love of drawing, especially when one of his classmates learns about his imaginary character Captain Tony. Just like his father, he uses his imaginary creation to illustrate dozens of adventures that spark his curiosity about the world. Anthony’s portrayal of the harmful effects of verbal bullying offers parents guidance for talking about the issue with children. The detrimental effects of bullying on a child’s self-confidence can have lifelong consequences, but the book illustrates an uplifting path to overcoming relentless bullies.
Following Henry’s classroom experience, the story takes an incredible turn when he is told to move his winter clothes to the attic, a chore that he neglected for a while. This simple act leads to an amazing discovery: color. Colored markers, pencils, highlighters, and pastels were nearly bursting from a glowing wooden trunk in the attic. His imagination and creative mind raced with possibilities, and the transformative effect on his drawings was quite astonishing.
Captain Tony comes alive, along with many other surprises. His imagination is the only limitation, instilling a sense of confidence into his life. With a colorful outlet, his world is brighter and full of life. Through a span of a couple hours, Henry and Captain Tony are whisked to outer space, forests, and beyond, all being driven by his art and imagination. The way the story is written helps to instill a creative spark in any child (or adult) that wants to change their world with art. The final chapter, titled “The World is Different”, embodies the feeling of confidence that is experienced when you believe in yourself.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of a young artist’s journey of self-expression in the midst of a society that does not appreciate it. Highly recommend grabbing a copy, from Bookshop, Amazon, or your local bookstore, and giving it to a young, inspiring artist that needs the confidence to unleash their own creative potential.
