Unfadeable
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
A Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club Pick!
Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Kelly Yang, readers will love this heartfelt and genuine story about building community, finding family, and the power of Black girl magic.
Bella “Unfadeable” Fades is determined to stay out of trouble. A wiser-than-her-years graffiti artist known for tagging walls and bridges in her Indianapolis neighborhood, the Land, Bella plans to spend her summer break laying low and steering clear of anyone who might tip off to social services that she’s living on her own.
But keeping a low profile is all but impossible when Bella discovers people in high places are trying to defund the Land. She has to find a way to fight back.
Getting involved will mean putting herself out there—making connections with unlikely friends and attracting potential enemies. But if Bella doesn’t put her trust in her neighbors and learn how to bring her community together, her home—and her future—will never be the same.
One spray can. A neighborhood in danger. A voice that won’t be silenced.
Art as Activism: Bella Fades isn’t just a graffiti artist; she’s a fighter who uses her spray cans to give her community a voice and expose the truth.Community Organizing: From uniting neighbors to facing down corrupt officials, Bella learns that the most powerful magic comes from people working together.Strong Female Lead: At thirteen and living on her own, Bella is a resourceful and resilient hero readers will root for from the very first page.Social Justice for Kids: A timely and important story that tackles gentrification, community, and the power of one kid to make a difference.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Broaddus's (The Usual Suspects) endearing novel is a testament to personal empowerment, community, and art. Thirteen-year-old mixed-race (Black and white) Isabella Fades is a graffiti artist known as Unfadeable. Previous familial incidents have made Bella independent and cautious, and left her unhoused, squatting in an abandoned home in The Land, her Indianapolis neighborhood. After Ms. Campbell, a member of the Northwest Planners neighborhood association, invites Bella to one of the group's meetings at the local library, she meets Mattea Larrimore, the association's board chair. Citing a lack of funds, Mattea opposes Bella's initiative for a community art project. A meeting with the enigmatic M leads Bella to investigate the association and its nefarious dealings, plunging her into a world of local corruption and gentrification that could put her entire livelihood at risk. Broaddus delivers an optimistic story that champions community engagement and encourages standing up against oppressive systems. Bella's growth and confidence is nurtured throughout by mentors who support her in her decisions without hesitation, and her journey symbolizes a passing of the torch toward younger generations. Ages 8–12.
