Anna-Marie McLemore Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Remixed Classics Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Anna-Marie McLemore is an author of Mexican-American heritage. They were born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains into a Mexican-American family. Their work is deeply rooted in that culture, and the stories they learned from their family became the foundation of their writing. They live in Sacramento, in Northern California.

Anna-Marie attended the University of Southern California on a trustee scholarship. Their debut novel, The Weight of Feathers, was published in 2015. The book was a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award and was selected as a top pick by YALSA for Best Fiction for Young Adults. In 2016, Anna-Marie won the James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award, which honors works that explore and expand ideas of gender. Their novel When the Moon Was Ours also received praise for its portrayal of Samir, a transgender boy.

The Weight of Feathers

Rivalry and enmity have defined the relationship between the Palomas and the Corbeaus for more than two decades. The feud has lasted for generations and continues to grow. Both families make their living as traveling performers who compete in the same towns. The Palomas perform mermaid exhibitions, while the Corbeaus perform high in the tallest trees they can find, a legacy of their past as tightrope walkers.

Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are believed to practice dark magic. She has been taught since childhood to stay far away from them, fearing that even a single touch could be dangerous.

But when disaster strikes in a small town where both families are performing, Lace’s life is put at risk. She is saved by Cluck, a boy from the Corbeau family. That one moment pulls her into his world, and falling for him could turn her family against her. Lace knows that one wrong step could be just as deadly on the ground as it is in the trees.

The Weight of Feathers is a compelling young adult novel filled with vivid imagination. Anna-Marie McLemore brings the story to life through alternating viewpoints from members of both families. Lace is a young girl determined to do whatever it takes to become one of the mermaid performers, while Cluck works behind the scenes supporting his family’s act.

Wild Beauty

The women of Nomeolvides are closely tied to nature and care for the grounds of La Pradera. The garden is full of life and beauty, drawing visitors from all over the world. But the women also carry a terrible legacy. If any of them fall too deeply in love, the person they love disappears.

After generations of these mysterious vanishings, a strange boy appears in the gardens.

To Estrella, the boy is a puzzle. He is not only a mystery to her, but also to her entire family, and even to himself. He knows only his first name and has no idea who he is, where he came from, or how he arrived at La Pradera. Estrella sets out to help Fel uncover his past. In doing so, they are drawn into secrets that are as magical as they are dangerous, in a story about love, loss, and family ties.

When the Moon Was Ours

Miel and Samir are best friends, and their bond is unlike any other. To everyone who knows them, they are inseparable and equally unusual. Roses grow from Miel’s wrists, and rumors say she spilled out of a water tower when she was five years old.

Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees. Very little is known about his past, as he and his mother moved to the small town only a few years earlier.

Even though the town is full of gossip about them, Sam and Miel have managed to stay away from the Bonner sisters, four beautiful girls rumored to be witches. But the Bonner sisters want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin. They believe the scent of those roses can make anyone fall deeply in love. Determined to get what they want, they are willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means exposing a secret Miel has fought hard to keep hidden.

When the Moon Was Ours is a character-driven story centered on friendship, love, and identity. At its heart is the relationship between Samir, a Pakistani-Italian transgender boy, and Miel. Anna-Marie McLemore weaves together Spanish folklore, lunar imagery, and family dynamics to create a unique young adult novel. The book explores difficult themes with sensitivity, including gender identity and racism, through the experiences of its characters.