“Rick Riordan Presents Ballad & Dagger”: Daniel José Older & Meagan Albright

Bestselling author Rick Riordan presents Daniel José Older’s Ballad & Dagger, a music-and-magic-filled YA urban fantasy about two teens who discover each other and their powers during a political battle within a unique diaspora community. While the rest of his tight-knit Brooklyn community dreams of someday finding a way back home to the lost island of San Madrigal, Mateo Matisse – a high school junior and piano prodigy living with his two aunts (one who’s alive, the other not so much) – is focused on one thing: getting the attention of locally grown musical legend Gerval. Mateo finally gets his chance on the night of the Grand Fete, an annual party celebrating the blended culture of pirates, Cuban Santeros, and Sephardic Jews that created San Madrigal all those centuries ago. But the evil that sank their island has finally caught up with them, and on the night of the celebration, Mateo is thrust into an ancient battle that spans years and oceans, unraveling deadly secrets and awakening a power within him that could hold the key to unlocking the dark mystery behind his lost homeland. Moderated by Meagan Albright, librarian for Nova Southeastern University. Grades 9-12

Spotify Playlist: San Madrigal Radio

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