"When I finished this novel, I knew I would be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi's story for the rest of my life." (Amanda Lovelace, best-selling author of The Princess Saves Herself in This One)
A William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist2018 National Book Award Longlist
Her mother died when she was 12, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint.
She chose paint.
By the time she was 17, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.
He will not consumemy every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.
Joy McCullough's bold novel in verse is a portrait of an artist as a young woman, filled with the soaring highs of creative inspiration and the devastating setbacks of a system built to break her. McCullough weaves Artemisia's heartbreaking story with the stories of the ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings but sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence.
I will show youwhat a woman can do.
"A captivating and impressive." (Booklist, starred review)
"Belongs on every YA shelf." (SLJ, starred review)
"Haunting." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
"Luminous." (Shelf Awareness, starred review)
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
A William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist2018 National Book Award Longlist
Her mother died when she was 12, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint.
She chose paint.
By the time she was 17, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.
He will not consumemy every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.
Joy McCullough's bold novel in verse is a portrait of an artist as a young woman, filled with the soaring highs of creative inspiration and the devastating setbacks of a system built to break her. McCullough weaves Artemisia's heartbreaking story with the stories of the ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings but sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence.
I will show youwhat a woman can do.
"A captivating and impressive." (Booklist, starred review)
"Belongs on every YA shelf." (SLJ, starred review)
"Haunting." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
"Luminous." (Shelf Awareness, starred review)
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Praise for this book
"Blood Water Paint is a deftly layered portrait, at once intimate and universal." - Melanie Crowder
"Tragically relevant and unflinchingly feminist, Blood Water Paint is the kind of book all historical fiction should aspire to be." - Mackenzi Lee
"When I finished this novel, I knew I would be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi's story for the rest of my life." - Amanda Lovelace
"A visceral reminder that women have suffered and stood strong throughout time." - Mindy McGinnis
"Both a grave reminder of how little has changed and a hopeful testament to how much more we might achieve, McCullough's debut is a must read." - Gae Polisner
"Tragically relevant and unflinchingly feminist, Blood Water Paint is the kind of book all historical fiction should aspire to be." - Mackenzi Lee
"When I finished this novel, I knew I would be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi's story for the rest of my life." - Amanda Lovelace
"A visceral reminder that women have suffered and stood strong throughout time." - Mindy McGinnis
"Both a grave reminder of how little has changed and a hopeful testament to how much more we might achieve, McCullough's debut is a must read." - Gae Polisner
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Used availability for Joy McCullough's Blood Water Paint