Cummings Moth’s pain at being “the guilty girl who lived” is keen and haunting, and the frequent evocation of her grandfather, a spiritual rootworker, adds a supernatural flavor. McBride writes Moth’s narration in spare, wistful free verse that reads like Francesca Lia Block in poetry or a fragile, emotional E. When a new student-talented Navajo musician Sani-shows up in her junior homeroom class, Moth finds a kindred spirit whose similarly painful past and physically abusive stepfather compound his depression.' - Publishers Weekly

'Two years after a devastating car accident killed her family as they drove from New York to northern Virginia, aspiring dancer Moth, the Black granddaughter of a Hoodoo root worker, is still navigating the accident’s fallout.

'With unmatched lyrical writing and a powerful plot, McBride is an absolute must-read author.'- Buzzfeed 'Written in gorgeous verse, Moth's painful story of heartbreak, connection, and learning to love again unfolds, thanks to a soul connection with cool guy Sani.'- Girls Life Magazine Me (Moth) will surprise you.' - BookPage, starred review 'If you think you know where this story is going, think again. Written in verse, this novel is hauntingly romantic, refusing to be rushed or put down without deep contemplation of what it means to accept the tragedies of our lives and to reckon with the ways we metamorphosize as a result of them.' - Booklist, starred review 'McBride artfully weaves Black Southern Hoodoo traditions with those of the Navajo/Diné people, creating a beautiful and cross-cultural reverence for the earth, its inhabitants, and our ancestors. Fans of Jacqueline Woodson won’t be able to put this one down.'- School Library Journal, starred review The story builds softly and subtly to a perfect, bittersweet ending. Each free verse poem is tightly composed, leading into the next for a poignant and richly layered narrative. 'This searing debut novel-in-verse is told from the perspective of Moth, a Black teen whose life changed forever the day a car crash killed her family. People magazine's Best Children's Books of 2021 Morris YA Debut Award FinalistĪ School Library Journal Best Book of 2021Ī Time Magazine Best Children's Book of 2021 FINALIST FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATUREĢ022 Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for New Talent WinnerĪ 2022 Willam C.

Moth by amber mcbride