McCullough gives us description after description of the process and time it takes to simply prepare a canvas for paint-the invisible work, the work that precedes what we usually think of as The Work. And the layering is all the more beautiful-and appropriate-in a book about the physical act of painting, an art form that’s all about layers. The craft here, and the layering-of form, of story, of perspective and memory and experience, of connections to conversations and debates and frustrations of the current day-is impeccable. Some of that reeling stems from the fact that it’s a debut novel. I was already quite familiar with Artemisia Gentileschi’s story, and I’m still reeling from this book. During her late teens-in 16-a trusted tutor raped her, a crime that led to a lengthy court case in which she was forced to undergo literal torture before the court even considered the idea that she could possibly be telling the truth.

There will be no more asking questions once a sword is in her hand.īlood Water Paint is based on the most well-known period of Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi’s life. She has to ask herself-and women have asked themselves this question for centuries-would she rather be suffocated slowly for the rest of her life, or die quickly trying to accomplish something? We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire is a searing and nuanced portrait of a young woman torn between a persistent desire for revenge and a burning need for hope.But he’s strong, and powerful, and from most perspectives, he’s on the winning side. To make matters worse, a news clip of her saying that the sentence makes her want to learn 'how to use a sword' goes viral.įrom this low point, Em must find a new reason to go on and help her family heal, and she finds it in the unlikely form of the story of a fifteenth-century French noblewoman, Marguerite de Bressieux, who is legendary as an avenging knight for rape victims. While her family is stunned, Em is literally sick with rage and guilt. In a matter of minutes, justice vanishes as the judge turns the Morales family's world upside down again by sentencing the rapist to no prison time. Em's family would have real justice.īut the victory is short-lived. Her passion and outspokenness helped dissuade the DA from settling for a plea deal. A jury eventually found the rapist guilty on all counts-a remarkable verdict that Em felt more than a little responsible for, since she was her sister's strongest advocate on social media during the trial. From the author of the acclaimed Blood Water Paint, a new contemporary YA novel in prose and verse about a girl struggling with guilt and a desire for revenge after her sister's rapist escapes with no prison time.Įm Morales's older sister was raped by another student after a frat party.

Blood water paint joy mccullough