Daniel Jose Older’s Shadowshaper is a fantasy novel based on the story of Sierra Santiago. Several characters in the book possess supernatural abilities capable of infusing spirits into artwork. Sierra is a young girl in her teens who loves painting. The girl is requested by Manny to paint the mural in a certain unfinished building. During the painting, Manny discovers that Sierra is staring at something. Manny asks Sierra what she is staring at, but Sierra argues that she is staring at nothing. In fact, Sierra is surprised by a certain mural that appears like dropping a tear as a human.
Sierra is destined to save her family, and this becomes clear when his grandfather speaks for the first time since he suffered a stroke. Just like any other younger girl, Sierra loves partying. On this particular day, she leaves before completing the painting of the mural. When she goes home, her grandfather tells her that she was born a shadowshaper. The disclosure stuns Sierra and decides to ask her mother the meaning of the shadowshaper. However, her grandfather cautions her against the shadowshaper killer and urges her to seek help from Robbie.
The book explores the restoration of neighborhood settings to certain levels. Although change is inevitable, local residents tend to resist the establishment of new structures within their neighborhoods. Sierra is one of a kind and her artistry skills give hope to the dwindling creativity in Brooklyn. Some people like Jonathan Wick are not thrilled and find every means possible to eliminate the talented girl. The plan is futile.
