{"product_id":"a-warning-about-swans-isbn-9781682634837","title":"A Warning About Swans","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSwan Lake\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eThe Last Unicorn\u003c\/i\u003e by way of the Brothers Grimm in a dreamy, original fairytale.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAcclaimed author R.M. Romero spins an enchanting tale in elegant verse about the search for belonging, and ultimately, empowerment. Perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eUprooted\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Bear and the Nightingale.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Dreamy, melancholy, and pensive. . . .\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e—NPR\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBavaria. 1880. Hilde was dreamed into existence by the god Odin and, along with her five sisters, granted cloaks that transform them into swans. Each sister’s cloak is imbued with a unique gift, but Hilde rejects her gift which allows her to lead the souls of dying creatures to the afterlife.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile guiding the soul of a hawk, Hilde meets the handsome Baron Maximilian von Richter, whose father left him no inheritance. Hilde is intrigued by Richter’s longing for a greater life and strikes a deal with him: She will manifest his dreams of riches, and in return, he will take her to the human world, where the song of souls can’t reach her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut at the court of King Ludwig II in Munich, Hilde struggles to fit in. After learning that fashionable ladies are sitting for portraits, she hires non-binary Jewish artist Franz Mendelson, and is stunned when Franz renders her with swan wings. The more time she spends with Franz, the more she feels drawn to the artist’s warm, understanding nature, and the more controlling Richter becomes. When Hilde’s swan cloak suddenly goes missing, only Franz’s ability to paint the true nature of souls can help Hilde escape her newfound prison.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Warning About Swans \u003c\/i\u003eweaves poetry into myth with spellbinding verse. Familiar as a Grimm tale and beautiful as a fairytale, but darker and more lyrical. The perfect fantasy to cozy up with and be whisked away to real-world enchanted castles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA BCCB Blue Ribbon Book!\u003c\/b\u003e\"Dreamy, melancholy, and pensive. . . .\"\u003cb\u003e—NPR\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ★ \"The blend of elements from ‘Swan Lake,’ Germanic folklore, and Norse mythology is richly harmonious, presenting a beautifully wrought surface beneath which (as in all good fairy tales) layers of meaning reward those willing to dive.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books, \u003c\/i\u003eStarred Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A queer, feminist spin on familiar fairy-tale elements. Highly recommended.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"With its lush language and modern themes, [\u003ci\u003eA Warning About Swans\u003c\/i\u003e] is a relevant, whimsical fairy tale in verse. . . . R.M. Romero (\u003ci\u003eThe Ghosts of Rose Hill\u003c\/i\u003e) incorporates contemporary themes of self-acceptance, patriarchal culture, and gender into an original fairy tale that is immersive and picturesquely written.\"—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"The story smoothly melds contemporary understandings of gender equality, exploration, and representation with fairy tale–like ambiance and language, making for a gratifying read\"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Publishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Filled with romance and betrayal, enchantment and the natural world, this will appeal to fairy-tale lovers everywhere.\"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Booklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \"Fairy tales and myths form a seamless whole in R. M. Romero’s fantasy novel \u003ci\u003eA Warning about Swans\u003c\/i\u003e. . . . Echoes of \u003ci\u003eSwan Lake \u003c\/i\u003eand folktales about animal bride transformations infuse the story with folklore. Written in prose poetry, it leaps across the page in italics and indentations, mimicking the flights of Hilde and her sisters. . . . Grounded in history and myths, \u003ci\u003eA Warning about Swans \u003c\/i\u003eis a dreamy, eloquent fairy tale with timeless reflections on love, duty, and betrayal.\"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Foreword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"R.M. Romero has woven a powerful, moving fairytale about finding belonging in the in-between and holding onto magic in a cruel world. \u003ci\u003eA Warning About Swans \u003c\/i\u003ecarried me from hope to despair and back again on the wings of dreamy, wrenching verse. Entirely spellbinding.\" \u003cb\u003e—Allison Saft, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eA Far Wilder Magic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\"An absolutely gorgeous book with words that dance across the page in shining verse. I wanted to linger with Hilde and Franz in their world even after the story came to an end. Utterly magical!\" \u003cb\u003e—Kip Wilson, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eThe Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Enchantment, love, danger, passion, and power, \u003ci\u003eA Warning About Swans\u003c\/i\u003e is an unforgettable story, perfectly woven and hugely accomplished, both fresh and timeless, like a forgotten Grimm tale given a dazzling new life. This has confirmed Romero as one of my all-time favorite writers.\" \u003cb\u003e—Sophie Anderson, award winning author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe House with Chicken Legs\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Ghosts of Rose Hill\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e“\u003c\/i\u003eA story of deep hurts delivered with a very gentle, kindly touch.\u003ci\u003e”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e—NPR\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e★\u003c\/b\u003e “A must-read for lost souls everywhere.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e, Starred Review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e★\u003c\/b\u003e “An intoxicating blend of the contemporary and otherworldly.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e, Starred Review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e★\u003c\/b\u003e A modern folktale, a love letter to the diaspora, and a unique novel-in-verse.”—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, Starred Review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e★\u003c\/b\u003e “[A] wistful and deeply symbolic tale of feeling seen and finding powerful connections to the past.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e, Starred Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eR.M. Romero\u003c\/b\u003e is a Jewish Latina and author of fairy tales for children and adults. She lives in Miami Beach with her cat and spends her summers helping to maintain Jewish cemeteries in Poland. You can visit her online at rrmromero.com or on Instagram @rmromeroauthor.","brand":"Peachtree Teen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46299719991525,"sku":"NP9781682634837","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781682634837.jpg?v=1767720910","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/a-warning-about-swans-isbn-9781682634837","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}