Solimar

December 1, 2021
Grades 3-7 Solimar Guadalupe is excited to see the arrival of the monarch butterflies in the kingdom of San Gregorio this year, just a few days before her coronation and quincea�era. After sitting by the creek and admiring the butterflies from a distance, she decides to cross to the other side, which has been strictly forbidden in the past. After becoming engulfed by monarchs spiraling around her, she is marked as the monarchs' protector and bestowed with the magical ability to tell the near future, which is both a blessing and a curse. One day when the kingdom is left vulnerable, a villainous king seizes the region. With everyone else captured, Solimar is faced with the duty of saving her kingdom and the monarch butterflies. Award-winning author Ryan has skillfully crafted a story using cultural elements from Mexico with a generous sprinkling of magic. In this story of courage, determination, and ingenuity, readers will cheer on Solimar in her arduous journey to save what is near and dear to her heart.

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December 20, 2021
Muñoz Ryan (Mañanaland) nimbly wields fairy tale charm in this rousing fantasy about a young Mexican royal who must protect her home and its rich natural resources from invading forces just before her quinceañera and official coronation. In the kingdom of San Gregorio, soon-to-be 15-year-old Solimar Guadalupe (“more like a rough-and-tumble forest elf than a princess”) sneaks out of her palace to greet the first wave of migrating monarch butterflies in a nearby forest. After the encounter leaves her rebozo, a long linen shawl, with a curious iridescence she can’t seem to remove, Solimar discovers that she has gained the ability to predict future events and been given a critical task: protecting young straggling monarchs until they can fly. But when a neighboring kingdom uses her father and brother’s absence to invade San Gregorio in a play for land, Solimar must use everything in her arsenal to save her kingdom and its beautiful oyamel fir forests from destruction. Though Muñoz Ryan incorporates an
ill-considered connection to the colonial powers of Spain to explain Solimar’s “distinguished” royal heritage, the otherwise thoughtfully crafted protagonist and band of heroes display charisma and cleverness aplenty, and the narrative’s action sequences create an enthralling, well-paced narrative. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kendra Marcus, BookStop Literary.

February 11, 2022

Gr 3-6-Solimar is turning 15, preparing to have her quincea�era and be crowned as princess of San Gregorio. Her older brother, Campe�, is the heir apparent to the kingdom, though he doesn't wish to be. Meanwhile, her parents, the king and queen, are in danger from the neighboring king, who wishes to take their land. On their land is the magical oyamel forest, known for the migrating monarch butterflies. When Solimar crosses the river to see the butterflies, they magically settle upon her. After she returns home, her rebozo (a scarflike shawl) starts to glisten and Solimar learns she has inherited an unusual power. She is able to see into the near future while wearing the rebozo, making her a target and a risk to the butterflies and those she loves. It's up to Solimar to single-handedly save the butterflies and the entire kingdom, including her family. But difficulties abound, including a kidnapping and travels down the treacherous Rio Diablo river with her sidekicks Quetzal, Lazaro, an enchanted doll named Zarita, and a young boy named Berto in tow. Solimar's relationship with her abuela is touching, and the characters are all well developed. The story is rich with vibrant imagery, suspense, and humor. VERDICT Mu�oz Ryan has given readers a strong and appealing Latinx heroine, while weaving in beautiful elements of culture, ancestry, family values, and gender equality.-Michele Shaw

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May 1, 2022
A girl's determination, combined with a little bit of magic, has the power to save kingdoms and the ecosystem. Solimar is the daughter of Mexican royalty--though she won't become a princess until she celebrates her quincea�era in a few weeks. While her family seems to excel at fulfilling the royal duties, Solimar pushes back against expectations--especially gender roles--and yearns for adventure. An encounter with the beautiful monarch butterflies that migrate annually through Solimar's kingdom leaves her with a gift--her rebozo, or shawl, which now appears to be covered in butterfly wings, grants her intuition about the future. The newfound ability may also be draining the butterflies' energy, so Solimar must keep it a secret to preserve them. A rival king discovers her power and plans to exploit it along with the butterfly territory through underhanded deals and hostage taking. Solimar manages to escape and must make a treacherous journey to foil the plot. The story moves briskly from problem to resolution. The text gives a nod to the colonialism that has impacted Mexico, mentioning the original borders of the country as well as Solimar's Spanish and Indigenous heritage. Solimar's mother is European and Indigenous and has dark brown skin; Solimar is described as having dark brown eyes and short black curls. Though the story is written about a teen, the engaging plotline and whimsical elements will appeal to a younger audience. An energetic romp with a conservation motif. (information about monarch butterflies) (Fiction. 7-10)

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