THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS: A Novel
By
Anna-Marie McLemore
St.
Martin’s Griffin
On
Sale: September 15, 2015
Hardcover: 978-1-250-05865-2/ $18.99 USD
eBook:
978-1-466-87323-0 / $9.99 USD
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The Night Circus meets Romeo and Juliet in this stunning young adult novel about two teens who fall in love despite the almost impossible odds against them.
The Palomas and the Corbeaus have long been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows-the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.
Lace Paloma may be new to her family's show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it's a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace's life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.
“McLemore’s prose is ethereal and beguiling… The enchanting setup and the forbidden romance that blooms between these two outcasts will quickly draw readers in, along with the steady unspooling of the families’ history and mutual suspicions in this promising first novel.” —Publishers Weekly
“Readers beguiled by the languorous language—a striking mix of French and Spanish phrases, wry colloquialism, lush imagery, and elevated syntax—will find themselves falling under its spell. The third-person narration alternates between Lace and Cluck, doling out twists and building to a satisfying, romantic conclusion.” —Kirkus Reviews
“In this tale of magical realism, the magic is so deftly woven into the fabric of the story… Told with skillful poetic nuances, this Romeo-and-Juliet story of forbidden love will entice fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle who wished for a little more romance.” —School Library Journal
“Anna-Marie McLemore's debut novel is a very imaginative modern-day romance akin to Romeo and Juliet and is infused with the whimsy of magical realism.” —RT Book Reviews
“An air of mysterious fantasy enshrouds the whole book, pulling the reader through it as if in a spell. McLemore is a writer to watch.”—The Guardian
“You've never read a love story quite like this one. Anna-Marie McLemore has created in entirely imaginative world and rich characters that will pull you in as if she's spinning magic herself.” —Bustle
“With prose as magical as its characters, The Weight of Feathers is an exciting debut.” —Paste Magazine
“McLemore’s debut novel has ties to Romeo and Juliet, David Almond’s mythical Skellig, and the real-life performances of Cirque du Soleil.” —Booklist
Now on to the interview.
Hi Anna! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! It’s
always awesome to have a local Norther California author stop by for a visit! THE
WEIGHT OF FEATHERS sounds absolutely fantastic and am so happy that you could
stop by for a visit! (From A-M: Thank you
so much for having me! Yay Northern California!)
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about
THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS and the characters?
THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS is the story of the romance between a
Latina girl and a Romani boy whose families each run rival traveling shows. In
addition to being rivals, their families have also been in a feud for the last
twenty years, and the love between Lace and Cluck begins to unravel what they
believe about their own families.
Were any of the characters in the book inspired by
people from your real life?
The characters are all very much
their own, but I was definitely inspired by my family in depicting how a relatives
have a strong influence in shaping who you are.
Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
I didn’t so much have favorite or
least favorite characters to write, but writing Cluck was probably both the
most challenging and the most rewarding. He very much values his heritage, and
unlike Lace’s heritage, his isn’t the same as my own, and I felt a tremendous
responsibility to portray it in a way that was both respectful and accurate.
What is your favorite passage/scene in THE WEIGHT
OF FEATHERS?
There’s a scene when Cluck first convinces Lace to climb a tree
with him, and, a little later, when she gets him to come with her into the
river. They’ve been raised as enemies, but in both those moments they open
themselves to each other’s worlds.
What kind of research did you have to do for the story?
I did a lot of research about Romani
traditions and history, including talking with a Romani scholar. I also talked
with a longtime mermaid performer, a geologist, a couple of language
experts…there was a lot of research that went into this book, and I’m
tremendously grateful to everyone who was willing to answer my questions!
Lightening Round Questions
What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
Emery Lord’s WHEN WE COLLIDED
Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?
A grown-up Dickon Sowerby. *faints*
What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you
in?
Ravenpuff!
What inspired you to write YA?
I didn’t really set out to write YA
so much as I knew I wanted to write about teens. I still
remember how it felt
to be seventeen. Maybe that’s because it wasn’t that long ago, but I don’t
think I’ll ever forget.
Twitter or Facebook?
I like them both, but I took more
easily to Twitter.
Favorite Superhero?
Rogue from the X-Men. Fun fact: Her
real name is Anna-Marie.
Favorite TV show?
UnReal (OMG ME TOOO!) Y'all if you haven't seen this show we both highly suggest it!
Sweet or Salty?
Yes. :)
Any Phobias?
Heights!
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
“Today” by Poe
Fall Movie you’re most looking forward to?
I’m so behind on what movies are coming out! But I do have a
list of old movies to check out from the library. Next up: Stage Door
Thanks so much Anna for answering my questions! I can’t wait to
read THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS!
Thanks for having me! I’m thrilled to be on Two Chicks on
Books!
Anna-Marie
McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and grew up in
a Mexican-American family. She attended University of Southern California on a
Trustee Scholarship. A Lambda Literary Fellow, she has had work featured by the
Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, CRATE Literary Magazine's
cratelit, Camera Obscura's Bridge the Gap Series, and The Portland Review. The Weight of Feathers is her first novel.
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