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Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite
For some people, silence is uncomfortable, but for others, it’s a moment of calm, so it all depends on how we interpret it. A.V. Harlow offers children an example of this in Ellie Harlow and the Pumpkin House by the Railroad. The story takes place on Halloween in Salem. Ellie, Julian, and an Irish setter named Kelly go out for a walk, as the streets are decorated and everything looks festive. However, Julian soon finds it difficult to be there, since he perceives sounds as colors and lights, and the excessive noise overwhelms him, so they move away from the main street and come across an old Victorian mansion. When they approach the door, they are greeted by an elderly man named Abraham. He explains that the house is gradually disappearing: first the sounds, then the colors, and finally everything else. Now, together, they’ll try to solve the problem before the house disappears.
A.V. Harlow shares an intriguing story with us in which colors and sounds take center stage. This creates a wonderful atmosphere, thanks to the level of detail in the storytelling. I loved the illustrations, which add to the magical atmosphere of the story, and I appreciated how the author portrays neurodiversity through Julian, who has synesthesia and perceives sound as color. Julian is sensitive to noise and has to cope with it. But he also appreciates sound and its absence in an extraordinary way. Ellie Harlow and the Pumpkin House by the Railroad will teach children the value of creativity and thinking differently.
