Blood Water Paint — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
"I will be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi's story for the rest of my life."—Amanda Lovelace, bestselling author of the princess saves herself in this one
A William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist
2018 National Book Award Longlist
Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint.
She chose paint.
By the time she was seventeen, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.
He will not consume
my every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.
Joy McCullough's bold novel in verse is a portrait of an artist as a young woman, filled with the soaring highs of creative inspiration and the devastating setbacks of a system built to break her. McCullough weaves Artemisia's heartbreaking story with the stories of the ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings but sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence.
I will show you
what a woman can do.
★"A captivating and impressive."—Booklist, starred review
★"Belongs on every YA shelf."—SLJ, starred review
★"Haunting."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★"Luminous."—Shelf Awareness, starred review
Frequently asked questions
Is Blood Water Paint appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book includes depictions of sexual assault and violence, particularly focusing on Artemisia's experience with her rapist and the violent biblical story of Judith murdering Holofernes. No content deemed scary or frightening detected in the search results for 'Blood Water Paint'.
Does Blood Water Paint have violence?
The book includes depictions of sexual assault and violence, particularly focusing on Artemisia's experience with her rapist and the violent biblical story of Judith murdering Holofernes.
Does Blood Water Paint have scary content?
No content deemed scary or frightening detected in the search results for 'Blood Water Paint'.
Does Blood Water Paint have religious themes?
The story features biblical heroines as inspirations for the protagonist, Artemisia Gentileschi, who stands up against her male abusers. This framing connects the narrative to religious themes, particularly from the context of biblical stories.
Does Blood Water Paint have racial/cultural content?
No explicit themes of racism or race-related issues detected in the search results for 'Blood Water Paint'.
Does Blood Water Paint have profanity?
No profanity detected in the search results for 'Blood Water Paint'.
Does Blood Water Paint have climate change?
No climate-related themes or content detected in the search results for 'Blood Water Paint'.
Does Blood Water Paint have sexual identity?
Contains scenes where the protagonist explores her own body and experiences sexual attraction, as well as references to sexual acts in biblical stories, such as Judith's seduction of Holofernes.
Does Blood Water Paint have gender roles?
The narrative critiques traditional gender roles by portraying Artemisia as a strong female character who resists victimhood and challenges the patriarchal society of her time. It emphasizes feminist themes and the importance of women's voices.
Does Blood Water Paint have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters detected in the search results for 'Blood Water Paint'.
