Wild Beauty

Starred review from July 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Set in an undisclosed time period, this new magical realism story featuring characters of color across the gender and sexuality spectrum draws on Latin American culture and language. Relying on lyrical prose, McLemore weaves an intricate tale of family, love, loss, and flowers. The Nomeolvides women have lived on and tended the enchanted gardens of La Pradera for generations. They are also hiding a dangerous secret: when those in their family fall in love too deeply, their lovers suddenly vanish. When Estrella and her four cousins (the youngest generation of Nomeolvides women) realize they are all in love with the same girl, they offer a desperate prayer to the gardens to save Bay Briar from nothingness. However, instead of protecting Bay from disappearing, they conjure up a strange and mysterious boy who knows nothing about his past or even his identity. As Estrella helps Fel discover the truth of his history, the Nomeolvides women learn more and more about their family's legendary curse and the terrifying power of La Pradera. While somewhat confusing at times, the leisurely plot flows smoothly and elegantly. The well-crafted characters add to the vibrant and magical tale that readers will not easily forget. VERDICT A solid, must-have addition to McLemore's growing body of work, this fantastical tale will delight her fans and entice a new audience.-Ariel Birdoff, New York Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 4, 2017
Nomeolvides women have the power to conjure flowers. They’re also cursed: whenever they fall in love, the object of their affection vanishes. The women strive for normalcy, channeling their magic into the elaborate gardens at La Pradera estate and forsaking suitors before they can disappear, but then Estrella Nomeolvides and her four cousins all fall for La Pradera’s vivacious owner, Bay Briar. The girls perform a ritual that’s intended to protect her, but it instead summons Fel, a strangely dressed boy who can’t recall his past. Assuming that Fel is the resurrection of a prior generation’s lost lover, the Nomeolvideses take him in; when his memories surface, they must face dark truths about their history and home. Featuring gay, bisexual, and genderqueer characters from multiple cultures, this vibrant, eloquently written fairy tale from McLemore (When the Moon Was Ours) illustrates the nondiscriminatory nature of love while thoughtfully exploring its risks and rewards. The pace is languid and some of the supporting characters lack depth, but McLemore’s mythology is rich, and the heart-rending conclusion thrills and gratifies. Ages 12–up. Agent: Taylor Martindale Kean, Full Circle Literary.

Starred review from August 15, 2017
Estrella and her four cousins have been told anyone they love too deeply will vanish, so what happens if they all fall for the same young woman? McLemore's latest original fairy tale follows the Nomeolvides ("Forget-Me-Not") women, of implied Mexican descent: for generations, they've tended the gardens of La Pradera, a beautiful property set in an undisclosed location (and time period). Although they possess inexplicable abilities to grow flowers with their bare hands, Estrella, Azalea, Calla, Dalia, and Gloria pay a price for their magic. Their elders have warned them that if they love someone, he will eventually disappear. They must also never permanently leave the grounds, or they will die. When the cousins realize, to shared horror, that they are all in love with wonderful Bay Briar--heiress to La Pradera--they pray for her safety by scattering treasured offerings in the magical garden's dark pond. The next day, Estrella discovers the garden has given something back: a mysterious Spanish-speaking young man, in century-old clothes, with nothing more than a half-ripped label spelling "FEL." The women speculate that Fel, who can remember nothing about his past, is one of their predecessor's missing lovers. As Estrella bonds with the sensitive and attentive Fel, she begins to question the rules governing the Nomeolvides women's lives, the legendary curse keeping them tied to this garden, and the nature of love. A garden is the perfect setting for McLemore's plush, sensuous prose, which unspools the story with delicious languor. Part mystery, part love story, this evocative, lush novel is a delight for sophisticated readers. (Magical realism. 13-adult)

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