Her debut young adult novel , '' The Weight of Feathers '' , was published in 2015 by Thomas Dunne Books . It deals with themes of discrimination and marginalization in a magical-realist story about black magic , and includes a generational feud between Mexican-American and Romani rival families . Her debut was chosen as a William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist in 2016 and received a starred review from Bulletin of the Center for Children 's Books . It also was chosen for YALSA 's 2016 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list
William C. Morris Debut Award
William C. Morris Award
Anna-Marie McLemore