Life in Color: A Coloring Book for Bold, Bright, Messy Works-In-Progress

This is a great coloring book that’s just for teens. The book is appropriately subtitled Works in Progress, recognizing that teens are still developing and growing in varied and myriad ways. The coloring pages cover widely varied topics and artistic styles. Twelve different artists have contributed forty-five designs that range across all types of art, from stylized doodles to thoughtful futuristic scenes to purely abstract imaginings. They all address issues and themes relevant to teens, such as a crazy lifestyle or standing out from the crowd or various other experiences and emotions. One poignant, resonant image asks, “Where is all the rain coming from?” and shows a weeping girl whose tears flow into an ocean and become water for fish and plants; one particularly disturbing image, titled “Nightmares” shows human skeletons emerging from wolf skins. But the images are empowering, as they respect teens’ unique point of view and their frequently-shifting emotions. One day it may be calming to color a set of intricately designed circles, and another day it may be energizing to color a selection of sports paraphernalia or some whimsical animals or even monsters and aliens. Whatever their mood, teens will find just the right art to help them express it.