{"title":"R. M. Romero","description":"R.M. Romero 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.","products":[{"product_id":"a-warning-about-swans-hardcover","title":"A Warning about Swans - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\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. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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 \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Dreamy, melancholy, and pensive. . . .\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e--NPR\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eA BCCB Blue Ribbon Book!\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50517133623519,"sku":"9781682634837","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/nXAGQDWISC9781682634837.webp?v=1783126933"},{"product_id":"the-ghosts-of-rose-hill-paperback","title":"The Ghosts of Rose Hill - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA brilliantly original tale f\u003cb\u003eor fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Bear and the Nightingale\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Hazel Wood\u003c\/i\u003e about embracing your power, facing your monsters, and loving deeply enough to transcend a century.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eInspired by the author's experiences restoring Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe.\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"A must-read for lost souls everywhere.\" --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMagic will burn you up.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSent to stay with her aunt in Prague and witness the humble life of an artist, Ilana Lopez--a biracial Jewish girl--finds herself torn between her dream of becoming a violinist and her immigrant parents' desire for her to pursue a more stable career. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen she discovers a forgotten Jewish cemetery behind her aunt's cottage, she meets the ghost of a kindhearted boy named Benjamin, who died over a century ago. As Ilana restores Benjamin's grave, he introduces her to the enchanted side of Prague, where ghosts walk the streets and their kisses have warmth. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut Benjamin isn't the only one interested in Ilana. Rudolph Wassermann, a man with no shadow, has become fascinated with her and the music she plays. He offers to share his magic, so Ilana can be with Benjamin and pursue her passion for violin. But after Ilana discovers the truth about Wassermann and how Benjamin became bound to the city, she resolves to save the boy she loves, even if it means losing him--forever. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e A love letter to Latin American and Jewish diasporas, based on the author's experiences working to maintain Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe. \u003ci\u003eThe Ghosts of Rose Hill \u003c\/i\u003eis a tender and empowering read that you will devour in one sitting. Steeped in history and the experiences of immigrant families, especially Jewish families, each carefully-chosen word of this magical verse novel casts a spell. \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eA Sydney Taylor Notable Book\u003cbr\u003eA School Library Journal Best Book of the Year\u003cbr\u003eA Kirkus Best YA Book of the Year\u003cbr\u003eA BuzzFeed Best YA Book of the Year\u003cbr\u003eAn Indie Next Pick!\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50517198667999,"sku":"9781682635520","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/5TuaQWGRsd9781682635520.webp?v=1783130513"},{"product_id":"deaths-country-hardcover","title":"Death's Country - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLakelore\u003c\/i\u003e meets \"Orpheus and Eurydice\" when two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend's soul.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAndres Santos of São Paulo was all swinging fists and firecracker fury, a foot soldier in the war between his parents, until he drowned in the Tietê River... and made a bargain with Death for a new life. A year later, his parents have relocated the family to Miami, but their promises of a fresh start quickly dissolve in the summer heat. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eInstead of fists, Andres now uses music to escape his parents' battles. While wandering Miami Beach, he meets two girls: photographer Renee, a blaze of fire, and dancer Liora, a ray of sunshine. The three become a polyamorous triad, happy, despite how no one understands their relationship. But when a car accident leaves Liora in a coma, Andres and Renee are shattered. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThen Renee proposes a radical solution: She and Andres must go into the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend's spirit and reunite it with her body--before it's too late. Their search takes them to the City of the dead, where painters bleed color, songs grow flowers, and regretful souls will do anything to forget their lives on earth. But finding Liora's spirit is only the first step in returning to the living world. Because when Andres drowned, he left a part of himself in the underworld--a part he's in no hurry to meet again. But it \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e eager to be reunited with him... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn verse as vibrant as the Miami skyline, critically acclaimed author R.M. Romero has crafted a masterpiece of magical realism and an openhearted ode to the nature of healing. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eA New York Public Library Best Book of the Year!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50517996044511,"sku":"9781682636916","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/gIGpxxRdJ09781682636916.webp?v=1783203814"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/r-m-romero.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}