Shadowshaper

Sierra finally learns the truth about shadowshapers and how their powers are uniquely linked to her through her Afro-Boricuan roots and love of art. The shadowshapers use artwork to prolong the life of spirits of loved ones who have passed by placing their spirit into a piece of art; Robbie did so after his mentor, Papa Acevado, passed away. These living artworks are protected by spirits of the shadowshapers’ ancestors, as are the shadowshapers themselves: “[…] they’re like our protectors, our friends even” (62-63). The Puerto Rican aspect of Sierra’s culture is reflected in the shadowshapers and their connection to the dead. Puerto Rican culture places a great emphasis on honoring ancestors, so having the shadowshapers aid the spirits of the dead reflects an important cultural touchstone. Sierra is also a talented artist, so the fact that shadowshapers use artwork to help the spirits means she is even more uniquely suited to carry on the tradition of shadowshaping.

Sierra’s journey to learn more about shadowshaping helps her to learn more about her culture, her family, and how to honor the traditions of the past and the ancestors who upheld them. However, the novel makes clear that not everyone shows as much respect to cultural traditions. In the previous section, Nydia spoke of problems with cultural appropriation, indicating that some researchers do not respect the cultures they study.

As Sierra attempts to learn more about shadowshaping, she faces difficulty, since many adults in her life refuse to talk about it. For example, María refuses to speak every time shadowshapers are mentioned, and Manny tells Sierra that he doesn’t want anything more to do with shadowshaping: “For your own good, this is something you need to stay out of. Stay far away from it, okay?” (75). Manny hints at shadowshaping being dangerous, which Robbie further confirms when he tells Sierra about corpuscules, dead bodies that have had spirits placed into them. Robbie explains that only someone who knows about shadowshaping could have done this to Vernon, the man who followed Sierra after the party: “Takes someone really messed up to force a spirit into a body” (66). Whoever would do so is not honoring the traditions of the shadowshapers on their quest to help the dead but is instead twisting these methods to their own benefit.

Though Sierra’s quest to learn about the shadowshapers often turns her focus to the past, the novel also deals with modern-day issues that Sierra faces in her life. In Chapter 12, Sierra is displeased when Tía Rosa tells her not to date Robbie if his skin is dark: “If he’s darker than the bottom of your foot, he’s no good for you!” (77). Sierra is appalled by this suggestion, as is María, but Tía Rosa doubles down and insists that Sierra’s own appearance has attracted the “wrong” kind of boyfriend: “See, María, this is what happens. You let her keep her hair all wild and nappy like this...” (78). Tía Rosa’s comments reflect embedded racism about beauty norms in America as well as Puerto Rico. Traditionally white features, such as light skin and straight hair, are often held up as the standard for attractiveness, and anyone who has features that seemingly come from different ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to change those features, such as Tía Rosa implying that Sierra should straighten her hair. These standards of beauty are evolving and changing to include those from different backgrounds, but many—like Tía Rosa—continue to hold onto antiquated ideas about there being one right way to look.

Tía Rosa’s comments cause Sierra to question herself and her “ever-changing Puerto Rican body” (79). Sierra worries about her skin, her hair, and her butt, which stand out to her as the features that most connect her to her Puerto Rican background. She worries about her backside appearing too prominent in her outfit, afraid it might look “too extra” (79). Sierra also recalls a time when she was chatting with a boy online and told him her skin was “the color of coffee with not enough milk” (79). Though the boy eventually told her that was hot, Sierra left the conversation feeling the sense that something about her was “not enough” (80). What troubles Sierra the most is not what other people think about the way she looks, but that some part of her agrees: “It came from somewhere deep inside her” (80). However, Sierra determines to ignore those voices as best she can, choosing instead to believe that nothing about her physical features makes her inferior. Sierra’s choice to overcome cultural biases, beauty norms, and outside critics shows an inner strength and self-reliance.