SOLIMAR

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 quinceañera 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.