Blanca & Roja
Page 26
So often, Latina women are called to rip ourselves apart, to reduce ourselves to versions who can be easily understood. So often, it pits us against each other. And the only way we survive is to find our way back to each other and ourselves, to resist the idea that we must be one version of ourselves or another.
Though no two experiences of marginalization are the same, sometimes parallels reveal themselves. Page Ashby is sometimes asked to identify as she or he, when the truth of Page’s identity is far more nuanced. This book uses alternating pronouns to reflect how Page expresses that identity; both she and he feel true to Page depending on the context, as does the word boy, while girl does not. My husband, who identifies as transgender and non-binary, has taught me that gender identity and expression are varied and complex, but that the first step to supporting our transgender siblings is always the same: respect how they identify.
This book is a work of fiction. Blanca and Roja aren’t me any more than the del Cisnes are my family. But, in some ways, I had to tear my heart in half to write this book, because even though neither sister is me, I have been both of them. I have been the light-skinned Latina who, if she’s careful—if she wears the right clothes, puts on the right makeup, strips certain intonations out of her voice—can sometimes pass for not-Latina. And I have also been the girl whose presence is considered provocation. I have been the good girl, fitting the shape of the small space the world leaves for me. And I have been the daughter who throws herself at locked doors even when she’s sure they will never open.
For me, the point where fairy tales and magical realism intersect is this: We find what is beautiful in what is broken. We find what is heartening in what is terrifying. We find the stars in the woods’ deepest shadows. Snow-White and Rose-Red are not just sisters growing up in their mother’s garden, but young women pushing back against what the world has decided for them. The bear-prince is a boy who is adjusting to losing vision in one eye, and who is slowly understanding that everyone’s heart is a little broken. The boy who becomes the bear-prince’s brother is a boy whose gender identity is seldom represented in storybooks.
My hope for you, reader, for all of us, is two sides of the same wish: that the world gives us each the space to write our own story, and that we leave room for each other’s stories. They are where our hearts survive.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For a story that braids together two fairy tales and the themes of a well-loved ballet, I should start with gratitude to the men who wrote them. And I will, because without their breathtaking work, this story would not exist. But with much respect to the Brothers Grimm, to Hans Christian Andersen, to Tchaikovsky, there were many others without whom this book would never have been. Those who, either directly or indirectly, made this fairy tale of two Latina girls possible. Here, I’ll name a few.
My agent, Taylor Martindale Kean, whose wisdom, wit, advice, and caring spirit I’m constantly grateful for. Stefanie von Borstel, Adriana Dominguez, and the entire Full Circle Literary family; I feel so lucky to work with you.
My editor, Kat Brzozowski, who I have long wanted to write a sister book for. I’m so thankful for you and for your help guiding Blanca and Roja through these woods.
Jean Feiwel, for making me part of the wonderful home for stories that is Feiwel and Friends.
My publicist, Brittany Pearlman, for being someone I always know I’m in good hands with and for showing me pictures of cute animals when I’m nervous before events.
Rich Deas, for the incredible art direction MacKids authors are so lucky to have on our books, and Danielle Mazzella di Bosco, for giving the story of these two sisters such a beautiful cover.
Everyone at Feiwel and Friends and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group: Jon Yaged, Kim Waymer, Allison Verost, Liz Szabla, Angus Killick, Molly Brouillette, Melinda Ackell, Teresa Ferraiolo, Kathryn Little, Julia Gardiner, Lauren Scobell, Ashley Woodfolk, Alexei Esikoff, Mariel Dawson, Romanie Rout, Brenna Franzitta, Mindy Rosenkrantz, Emily Settle, Amanda Barillas; Katie Halata, Lucy Del Priore, Melissa Croce, and Amanda German of Macmillan Library; and the many more who turn stories into books and bring them to shelves.
Taryn Fagerness and the Taryn Fagerness Agency, for helping my stories travel the world.
Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, for encouraging me to try writing this story. I’m grateful for your books and your friendship.
Dax Murray, for making Page’s identity and Page and Blanca’s love story clearer and truer on the page. Katherine Locke, for introducing Dax and me, and for all you do for queer YA.
Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, for brilliantly refining how Yearling navigates the world. Kayla Whaley, for connecting Elsa and me, and for being someone I’m so glad to be writer friends with.
Lindsay and Clayton McCarl, for patiently explaining birdshot, recoil, and more.
Las Chicas Malas, whose creative spirit I got to be around as I outlined this book: Lily Anderson, whose insights refined this story and whose genius I’m thrilled to have on my bookshelves. Tehlor Kay Mejia, who spent many hours helping me figure out these terrifying swans and who made me laugh at times I was sure I couldn’t. Candice Montgomery, there are scenes I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to keep in here if we weren’t friends.
Claire Legrand, for believing in Blanca y Roja when they were still becoming.
My mother and father, who both taught me that our fierce hearts and caring spirits are worth protecting, because they hold the best parts of us.
My husband, for being the one who first listens to the odd stories I want to tell, and for graciously and patiently answering questions about his identity as a genderqueer trans guy.
Readers, for giving stories space in your hearts. Thank you.
Thank you for reading this Feiwel and Friends book.
The friends who made BLANCA & ROJA possible are:
JEAN FEIWEL
PUBLISHER
LIZ SZABLA
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
RICH DEAS
SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR
HOLLY WEST
EDITOR
ANNA ROBERTO
EDITOR
KAT BRZOZOWSKI
EDITOR
VAL OTAROD
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
ALEXEI ESIKOFF
SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR
KIM WAYMER
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER
ANNA POON
ASSISTANT EDITOR
EMILY SETTLE
ASSISTANT EDITOR
MELINDA ACKELL
COPY CHIEF
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Our books are friends for life.
ALSO BY ANNA-MARIE MCLEMORE
Wild Beauty
When the Moon Was Ours
The Weight of Feathers
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ANNA-MARIE McLEMORE was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and taught by her family to hear la llorona in the Santa Ana winds. She is the author of The Weight of Feathers, a finalist for the 2016 William C. Morris Debut Award; 2017 Stonewall Honor Book When the Moon Was Ours; and Wild Beauty, a Kirkus Best Book of 2017.
Visit her online at author.annamariemclemore.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraphs
Part One: October Boys
Roja
Blanca
Page
Yearling
Roja
Page
Yearling
Blanc
a
Roja
Blanca
Roja
Blanca
Roja
Yearling
Blanca
Roja
Blanca
Page
Roja
Blanca
Roja
Yearling
Part Two: Rose & Snow
Blanca
Roja
Yearling
Blanca
Page
Blanca
Roja
Page
Roja
Blanca
Page
Blanca
Roja
Yearling
Part Three: Woods, Feathers, Frost
Blanca
Yearling
Roja
Yearling
Blanca
Roja
Roja
Blanca
Roja
Yearling
Roja
Blanca
Yearling
Blanca
Page
Roja
Page
Roja
Blanca
Part Four: The Swan & Her Sister
Blanca
Roja
Page
Roja
Yearling
Page
Roja
Yearling
Roja
Page
Roja
Yearling
Roja
Blanca
Yearling
Roja
Blanca
Page
Yearling
Page
Roja
Yearling
Roja
Part Five: Those of Us with Wings
Roja
Blanca
Page
Blanca
Roja
Yearling
Blanca
Page
Blanca
Yearling
Roja
Blanca
Roja
Yearling
Blanca
Roja
Page
Blanca
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Also by Anna-Marie McLemore
About the Author
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 by Anna-Marie McLemore
A Feiwel and Friends Book
An imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2018936436
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First hardcover edition, 2018
eBook edition, October 2018
eISBN 9781250162700