Echo

An ethereal mother. A dying father. A city of angels and ruins where one young woman must paint her way toward her own light.

Acclaimed author Francesca Lia Block weaves pure magic into this deftly constructed tale殮e girl′s path to womanhood told in linked short stories.

Rooted in modern myth, the narrative traces Echo through bohemian lofts, hospital corridors, and desolate beach coves. Los Angeles becomes a backdrop of canyon gardens and neon crosses where she confronts her father's illness.

Block chronicles the painter's encounters with a troubled poet, a grieving rock singer, and a winged youth by the sea. The stories capture an adolescence shaped by inherited paintbrushes, sorrow, and the need to be seen.

Written in her uniquely poetic, carefully crafted style, Echo is a tour-de-force from one of our most exciting contemporary writers.

Ages 11+

• Coming of Age: From hiding behind vintage dresses in Hollywood to subletting an East Village walk-up with thirteen cats, Echo learns to navigate her own complicated desires.
• Magical Realism: Luminous enchantments infuse every corner of daily life, from a mother whose garden petals sing at night to a boy concealing soiled feathers beneath his shirt.
• First Love: Relationships blur fantasy and heartache, whether sharing a rain-soaked glass sunporch with a Berkeley poet or dancing for a singer bound by a secret vow.
• Identity and Self-Discovery: Echo channels private visions and grief into oil paints, turning away from self-starvation and the shadow of perfection to reclaim herself on canvas.
• Also by This Author: Weetzie Bat, The Rose and The Beast and Pink Smog.