read for Popsugar 2018 Challenge: next book in a series you've started

I've become really bad at reading YA series. I forget everything about the previous books and get stuck trying to catch up. I feel like I'm becoming so old! This book had enough to reference the previous book that I didn't feel totally lost, which I appreciated. However, there wasn't a ton of exposition for the plot of this book, which drove me crazy for the first third. I understand that Sierra was in the dark for most of the book about the Deck of Worlds, but it was really hard for me to understand its purpose? Eventually, Sierra and the reader are given more information, but I failed to really see the risk surrounding the Deck when it was just randomly introduced. (Unless it was mentioned in the first book, in which case, blame my failing memory!)

However, that was my only real issue with this book. Otherwise, I totally loved it. Sierra and her friends have so much fun and are such a great teenage gang

for Halloween they literally dress up as the Scooby gang, it was very cute.

. I loved the exploration of the shadowshaping talents of each of her friends, and wish we'd gotten more of that! It was a really great way to express the personalities of the characters. Also, I totally vibed with Sierra's romantic pursuits and confusions; it felt so authentically 16 year-old to me.

The last third of this book was WILD, and so amazing. The book really hit a stride and does not let go. Older manages to combine discusses of police brutality and protesting (very real things black and Latino kids in Brooklyn would be dealing with) with all the magical elements in such an amazing way. It added some real world stakes that will grip at your heart, and seeing Sierra and her friends and family get to be literally empowered with their magic despite all the nonmagical issues and oppressions they face is a really powerful moment.

I read the first book for a college course, and I really wish these were talked about more widely in the YA community. These books are so fun and accessible, and hit so many points for the excellence of diversity. Frankly, the fact that you can imbibe drawings and paintings with spiritual power would make for a really visually stunning movie! Also these covers are a DREAM.