force that is hunting them, and the spirit Lucera. She begins to learn of her own artistic power in order to protect her community and culture. The story ends with Sierra, her friends and Robbie ascending the Tower to defeat Johnathan Wick, a shadowshaper who had been exiled by Corona and the other old shadowshapers. Critical reception The book received mostly positive reviews from critics. Holly Black of the New York Times called the novel "magnificent" and praises Older's depiction of "a Brooklyn that is vital, authentic and under attack"; the Times also named it a Notable Book of 2015. Young adult science fiction author Cory Doctorow's review in Boing Boing called it, "a thrilling supernatural YA novel with a diverse, likable cast of characters whose peril can only be averted through acceptance, true friendship and an embrace of their identity." Ashley C. Ford of The Guardian said the book, "represents a realistic future that’s more diverse than... other science fiction." Ebony Elizabeth Thomas of LA Times said Older's characters, "masterfully navigating the tightropes of coming of age while wrestling with myriad identities, the spectacular central figures of their own fantastic stories." The book was a finalist for the 2015 Kirkus Prize from Kirkus Reviews, which called it, "Warm, strong, vernacular, dynamic—a must." School Library Journal listed the book among their Best Books of 2015, saying, "A comfortable-in-her-own-skin heroine, magnetic portrayals of a multicultural cast, and scintillating suspense make for a knockout thriller." Publishers Weekly gave a starred review: "a well-executed plot of the exceptional child with a mysterious history standing forth to save her world, aided by a similarly gifted romantic interest." Sarah Hunter of Booklist gave it a starred review: "Smart writing with a powerful message that never overwhelms the terrific storytelling." Amal Al-Mohtar of NPR said that while the book was "joyful and assertive and proud," its flaw was that "the plot unfolds in fits and starts; revelations occur haphazardly, awkwardly delayed and then in a rush." Adaptation Anika Noni Rose and her production company Roaring Virgin Productions have optioned the television and film rights for Shadowshaper (Rose previously acquired the rights to Older's series Bone Street Rumba). References 2015 American novels American young adult novels American fantasy novels Novels set in New York City Novels about art and creativity Arthur A. Levine Books books