Casa Azul: An Encounter with Frida Kahlo »

Laban Carrick Hill is the author of the award-winning Harlem Stomp! (0-3168-1411-3), a history of the Harlem Renaissance that Publishers Weekly called "compelling." He has also written Xtreme Mysteries and many other books for young adults. He lives in Burlington, Vermont.

Frida Kahlo's work comes to life—literally—in this magical realist novel, the latest addition to Watson-Guptill's acclaimed Art Encounters series. The story alternates between Kahlo's home in Mexico City, Casa Azul, and the journey of a teenage girl and her young brother, lost in the city. At the mystical Casa Azul, everything with a face talks—including Kahlo's pet monkey, her cat, portraits on the wall. Over the course of the book, the cover painting, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, transforms from a nightmarish vision of death into a life-affirming masterpiece. This dramatic story offers a vivid reimagining of the life and work of a woman as well known for her amazing life as for her amazing art.

• Laban Hill is a National Book Award Finalist and recipient of the Parents Choice Gold Award

• Frida Kahlo is one of the most popular artists among young people today-her art and her blazingly flamboyant style make her eternally up-to-date

• Ties in to school curriculum in art and social studies

Michele Tremaine - Children's Literature

Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera formed one of the most intriguing and controversial couples in the twentieth century. Highly politicized, undeniably brilliant, they moved in the most glittering social circles of mid-century America and Europe. Their volatile, complex and often scandalous personal lives were played out on a sweeping international stage. Creating an intimate picture of Frida Kahlo suitable for young adolescents is a daunting task, one which award-winning author Hill has undertaken with enthusiasm and panache. In a tale stylistically akin to the magic realism of Latin American authors, he weaves a fantasy of two youngsters who become involved with Kahlo at one of the most critical periods of her life, when she was divorced by Rivera and finally came into her own as an artist. The story revolves around the creation of her famous Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. Hill does not mince words when it comes to Kahlo's suicidal tendencies or her sexual ambivalence, but still manages to craft a magical, light-hearted and ultimately satisfying tale for young adults. This title is part of Watson-Guptill's "Art Encounters" series for young adults designed to illuminate famous works of art and their creators through fiction. Highly recommended to introduce the sophisticated young reader to this fascinating artist. 2005, Watson Guptill Publications, Ages 12 up.