Ultraviolet

by Aida Salazar

Overview

A PURA BELPRÉ AWARD HONOR BOOK

Sometimes life explodes in technicolor.

In the spirit of Judy Blume, award-winning author Aida Salazar tells it like it is about puberty, hormones, and first love in this hilarious, heartwarming, and highly relatable coming-of-age story. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, and Adib Khorram.

"Savagely funny and deeply human." —New York Times Review

* "Stunning…A story that sings to the soul." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

For Elio Solis, eighth grade fizzes with change—His body teeming with hormones. His feelings that flow like lava. His relationship with Pops, who’s always telling him to man up, the Solis way. And especially Camelia, his first girlfriend.

But then, betrayal and heartbreak send Elio spiraling toward revenge, a fight to prove his manhood, and defend Camelia’s honor. He doesn’t anticipate the dire consequences—or that Camelia’s not looking for a savior.

Ultraviolet digs deep into themes of consent, puberty, masculinity, and the emotional lives of boys, as it challenges stereotypes and offers another way to be in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338775655
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 18 Years

About the Author

Aida Salazar is an award-winning author and arts activist whose writings for adults and children explore issues of identity and social justice. She is the author of the middle-grade verse novels Ultraviolet (a Golden Poppy Book Award finalist), The Moon Within (International Latino Book Award Winner), and Land of the Cranes (Américas Award Winner), as well as the picture book anthology In the Spirit of a Dream: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color, and the Caldecott Honor Book Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter illustrated by Molly Mendoza. Salazar is a founding member of Las Musas, a Latinx kidlit debut author collective. She lives with her family of artists in Oakland, California.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Ultraviolet:

“Savagely funny and deeply human. . . .Each poem bursts with energy…Weaves sharp, witty social commentary into the narrative without being didactic. . . . Salazar, whose son helped inspire the novel, depicts Elio’s emotional trajectory with grace and empathy. ‘Ultraviolet’ beautifully captures the essence of what it means to be a boy trying to make himself into a good man.” —New York Times Review

* “Salazar writes from a place of abundant empathy. . . . Her frank but thoughtful approach to puberty and sexuality . . . provides valuable life lessons to young readers without tilting into preachiness. . . . Could inspire in-depth conversations on the broad spectrum of coming-of-age narratives and experiences. Yet another heartfelt and accessible tale of growing up from one of the best in modern children’s literature.” —School Library Journal, starred review

* “Written in Salazar’s stunning and highly accessible verse . . . this novel stands out for the thoughtful way it expresses a young boy’s perspective as it discusses topics such as masculinity and consent. . . . A story that sings to the soul.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “In a succinct, conversational style, Salazar (A Seed in the Sun) humorously and introspectively depicts the effects of puberty on Elio’s everyday life as he grapples with confusing messaging he receives about how to be a man. Issues around consent and patriarchal systems are handled with insight and sensitivity, culminating in a compassionate verse novel about first love, heartbreak, and vulnerability.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Salazar’s verse is captivating. . .Commenting on topics that range from patriarchy to colonialism, the internet to peer pressure, and first loves to heartbreaks, Salazar delivers a fully intersectional look at what it means to try to embody masculinity without toxicity. She filled a gap she saw in middle grade literature, and countless readers will see themselves in the pages, regardless of race or gender, but especially Latino boys.” —Book Page, starred review

"Ultraviolet is a lyrical explosion, true and beautiful, of the pains and joys of growing into a good man." — Francisco X. Stork, award-winning author of I Am Not Alone and Marcelo in the Real World

"Honest and poignant. Aida Salazar hits the mark with this important and intensely relatable tale that perfectly captures the angst of growing up. A true gift to maturing tweens everywhere." — Ernesto Cisneros, award-winning author of Efrén Divided

From the Publisher

Narrator Alejandro Antonio Ruiz dazzles listeners with their vocal range and agility. Ruiz convincingly portrays characters of different ages and genders, displaying an impressive command over their versatile voice. Eighth-grader Elio Solis has become more aware of his body, emotions, and female classmates. He feels his world has become radiantly ultraviolet when his classmate Camelia agrees to be his girlfriend. His joy soon turns to anger when she betrays him. Luckily, Elio's loving family encourages his emotional maturity, teaching him about puberty, toxic masculinity, consent, and life in general while embracing their Mexican American heritage. Ruiz proves to be a master narrator with impressive vocal talent. They rise to the challenge of successfully conveying a wide range of emotions. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2024 - AudioFile

★ 2024-01-05
Elio is in love for the first time—and he has no idea what to do about it.

Eighth grader Elio Solis is only 13, but he’s met the girl of his dreams. His feelings for Camelia are so profound that he sees things in ultraviolet: “Whoever heard of having your whole vision / change because you met some girl?” Growing up in East Oakland, California, Elio is trying to navigate social media, friendships, his family’s Mexican culture, and his changing body—all part of his quest to understand what it means to be a good boy who will grow into a good man. What does that look like when your father takes you to cockfights and your mother warns you about toxic masculinity? Most of all, how do you handle the crushing blows of a first heartbreak? Written in Salazar’s stunning and highly accessible verse, with Spanish words contextually woven in and easily understood by non-Spanish speakers, this novel stands out for the thoughtful way it expresses a young boy’s perspective as it discusses topics such as masculinity and consent. Elio and his dad join Brothers Rising, a group started by Fernando, Elio’s best friend Paco’s dad, which offers them community and a framework for honest conversations about coming of age and masculinity, as well as a beautiful rendering of Indigenous Mexican rituals.

A story that sings to the soul. (Verse fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews