Ultraviolet
Written by Aida Salazar
Scholastic Press
Ages 10-14
Available April 2nd, 2024

The moment thirteen-year-old Elio Solis meets Camelia, his whole world seems to burst with light and color he never even knew existed. He’s in love and ready to learn how to be a good boyfriend. This vibrant new world creates more questions than answers though, especially in a family where his mom openly discusses resisting the patriarchy while his dad preaches about upholding the impenetrable, machismo way of the Solis family. Elio navigates his growing body, new vulnerable feelings, Mexican culture, and changing friendships with an open mind and kind heart, but his confidence turns to “angry, wild red” when he is unexpectedly heartbroken (p 192). In a climactic fist fight scene that ends in relief and tears, this novel shows that strength lies on the inside in a way that avoids clichés.

Dedicating this book to her tween son, Salazar counters her belief that society has “failed our boys emotionally” with sensitive masculine characters and an inviting, casual, powerful writing style that intersperses Spanish words and phrases. Using ethically centered characters like Elio’s mom, best friend Paco, and teachers, Salazar guides Elio through candid and difficult conversations about toxic masculinity, consent, and even sexual health. The recurring themes of light, flowers, and color also resist harsher versions of masculinity and give readers a view into the fullness of complex human emotions. Written in verse, Salazar’s language pops with accessible alliteration and engaging rhythm, like when Elio feels “freeze-tag frozen” or describes liking Camelia as “soul sonic cosmic” (p 11) (p 103). Through Elio’s vulnerable and imperfect soul-healing journey, Salazar helps give readers permission to shred unhealthy expectations and redefine themselves.

We are focusing this week on picture books and children’s literature. Our featured book this week is Too Much: My Great Big Native Family by Laurel Goodluck and Bridget George. Goodluck tells the story of young Russell who shines brightly when cast in his school play. When he tries to share the casting news with his huge loud family, getting their attention is nearly impossible. His boisterous family is just too noisy and too much! Venturing out on his own, Russell decides that being alone is not always the answer. His large loving family steps in at just the right moment when Russell needs them the most. For more amazing titles, check out the list below!

All of Those Babies

Written by Mylisa Larsen and Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

Published by Simon & Schuster

Available now!

Sona Sharma: Looking After Planet Earth

Written by Chitra Soundar and Illustrated by Jen Khatun

Published by Candlewick Press

Available now!

This Little Kitty in the Garden

Written by Karen Obuhanych

Published by Random House

Available now!

Today Is For You!

Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Illustrated by Kevin Waldron

Published by Candlewick Press

Available now!

Too Much: My Great Big Native Family

Written by Laurel Goodluck and Illustrated by Bridget George

Published by Simon & Schuster

Available now!

My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages
Written by Uma Menon
Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell
Candlewick Press
Ages 4-8
Available February 13th, 2024

Snowflakes flutter to the ground as Sumi’s mother sets foot on U.S. soil from India painting a picture of her mother’s migration journey. Through tireless work, her mother learned English, and as a result, she now speaks two languages–Malayalam and English. Flash-forward to the present day while grocery shopping, Sumi’s mother switches from speaking Malayalam to grandmother to English with the cashier and a combination of both languages to Sumi. “The languages hop like rabbits from her tongue” (p. 4). To Sumi, her mother’s tongues are rapidly woven together into one fine tapestry with invisible seams. Sumi studies English at school like her mother and learns that each of her languages is like a muscle that needs to be exercised to grow strong. 

Sixteen-year-old Uma Menon, who grew up in a multilingual household, penned this picture book because she could not find stories that reflected her experience. Simple sentence structure gives the story a childlike tone reflecting the main character’s youthful age. However, the wise words and powerful messages that emerge surpass our expectations of a teenage author. The power of multilingualism is evident in this story when Sumi says, “I want to learn dozens of languages so that, one day, I can speak with people who live in every part of the world” (p.24). Speaking many languages is a superpower that can catapult one across boundaries and around the globe. Woven textures and muted earthy tones give the book a nostalgic feel of the old world and times gone by. On the cover page, title page, and final spread, Rhahele Jomepour Bell incorporates visual metaphors weaving together the Malayalam and English languages within an alphabet quilt. The quilt is then transformed into Sumi’s superhero cape in the final image of the book because “having a tapestry of tongues” (p. 26) will be her superpower.  

Our Butler Bookshelf this week features our new arrivals touching on historical events, themes of romance, and even some nonfiction about the body. One of our powerful new works is a young adult adaptation of Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” a posthumous publication from Zora Neale Hurston that illustrates the experience of the last known survivor of the Atlantic slave trade in 1927: Cudjo Lewis. Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, this nonfiction work gives age-appropriate historical context to Lewis’ story, brought to life with Jazzmen Lee-Johnson’s accompanying illustrations.

Check out more of our new additions below!

Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers
Written by Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi
Illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson
Published by Amistad Books for Young Readers
Available now!

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You
Written by Ann Liang
Published by Scholastic Press
Available now!

It’s So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, Gender, and Families
Written by Robie H. Harris
Illustrated by Michael Emberley
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Uprising
Written by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Published by Scholastic Press
Available March 5, 2024!

Yours from the Tower
Written Sally Nicholls
Published by Walker Books
Available now!

Love and belonging is the theme of this week’s Butler Bookshelf. We are featuring Courtesy of Cupid by Nashae Jones on the Butler Bookshelf this week. Jones recounts the story of Erin Johnson’s 13th birthday, which begins like any other day. Erin competes with her rival Trevor Jin for the number one spot in their class and indulges her quirky mother who wants to celebrate her birthday after school. However, her birthday presents this year are unusual: magical powers. Erin finds out that her enigmatic father is Cupid the love god, and she has inherited his talent for love. Erin thinks that if she wraps Trevor around her finger with her new talent, she will win the race against him for president of the Multicultural Leadership Club. For more amazing titles, check out the list below!

Courtesy of Cupid
Written by Nashae Jones
Published by Aladdin
Available now!

Diary of a Confused Feminist
Written by Kate Weston
Published by Simon & Schuster
Available now!

How Big is Love?
Written and illustrated by Emma Dodd
Published by Candlewick Press
Available February 6, 2024!

Love Lah, Lah!
Written by Nailah Blackman
Illustrated by Jade Orlando
Published by Random House
Available now!

Okay, Cupid
Written by Mason Deaver
Published by PUSH
Available now!

Gut Reaction
Written by Kirby Larson and Quinn Wyatt
Scholastic Press
Ages 8-12
Available March 5th, 2024

Tess Medina’s new beginning is anything but refreshing. She just moved to a new town, she’s started a new middle school, and ever since her dad died three years ago, she can’t shake these new sharp pains in her stomach after every meal. Luckily, Tess is an excellent baker thanks to her dad—but she can’t eat anything she makes, and she has to develop a mental map of all public bathrooms in case “the Knife” visits her stomach (p 137). Despite these difficulties, Tess meets some warm, unwavering friends (with the help of her salted butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies), who help give her courage to enter the Junior Baker Competition. As she prepares, Tess’ pain becomes so unbearable that she eventually receives another new thing: a diagnosis. Culminating in an exciting, fast-paced baking competition that pushes Tess to her mental and physical limits, she learns how to fit her love of baking into her new normal.

Award-winning author Kirby Larson partners with her daughter, Quinn Wyatt, for a mother-daughter debut that balances grief, loneliness, and chronic illness with joy, passion, and friendship. Wyatt’s personal experience with Crohn’s disease genuinely immerses readers in Tess’ emotional and physical distress. At the same time, mouth-watering recipes, strong friendships, and witty middle-school humor add depth and hope to the more distressing plotlines. As Tess works through pain and grief, Larson and Wyatt slyly offer readers coping skills, such as Tess’ breathing mantra: “inhale to four, exhale to eight” (p 9). Ending the book with Tess thinking, “I have a disease; I’m not a disease,” Larson and Wyatt instill a lasting powerful message of self-acceptance that can help give readers strength during any number of middle-grade maladies (p 253).

The Butler Bookshelf is featuring some of our newly acquired children’s fiction this week, highlighting the graphic novel Shiny Misfits by comedian and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid. This novel centers a confident, smart, talented, Arab American, Muslim middle schooler named Bay Ann with cerebral palsy, a strong friend group, and determination the strength of steel. After winning her school’s talent show with her tap dance routine, Bay Ann feels flustered and almost falls in the presence of her crush, Alyee Maq, who ends up catching her on stage. Alyee becomes and instant viral sensation, minimizing Bay Ann’s identity down to her disability. Furious and driven, Bay Ann uses the help of her friends and her own will power to reclaim her identity and take the spotlight back from Alyee.

Check out this hilarious, trailblazing novel along with more of our children’s fiction below!

The Fifth Hero: Escape Plastic Island
Written by Bill Doyle
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available January 30, 2024!

Heroes: A Novel of Pearl Harbor
Written by Alan Gratz
Published by Scholastic Press
Available February 2, 2024!

Marshmallow Martians: Museum Sleepover
Written by Deanna Kent
Illustrated by Neil Hooson
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available today!

Shiny Misfits
Written by Maysoon Zayid
Illustrated by Shadia Amin
Published by Graphix
Available April 16, 2024!

The War of the Witches
Written by Zetta Elliott
Illustrated by Cherise Harris
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Words are Magic!
Written by Zaila Avant-garde
Illustrated by Felicia Whaley
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Timid 

Written and Illustrated by Jonathan Todd 

Published by Scholastic Graphix 

Ages 8-12 

April 2, 2024 

Outsider. Misfit. Alone. Everyone has felt like they don’t belong at one point in their lives, just like Cecil Hall. Shy, artistic Cecil has just moved with his family from Florida to the Boston suburbs. He is worried about making friends and fitting in at his new middle school. Leah, Cecil’s older sister, thinks he should make friends with the other black kids at school. Bookish and unathletic Cecil is unsure how to befriend the black kids without it being awkward. He wants to be known for his comic drawing talent anyway. When one of Cecil’s drawings is used by a “friend” for a prank and gets him into trouble, find out if he stands up for himself and discovers his real friends. 

Tweens will empathize with the protagonist in Jonathan Todd’s semi-autobiographical graphic novel. When Cecil gives his white “friend” Ruthie a drawing she had requested, she rubs his hair and says, “Great job, fuzzy” (p. 190). Cecil believes that Ruthie is treating him more like a pet that can be ordered around than a friend and his sister was right all along. He should have joined the black kids’ lunch table on the first day of school. The black kids treat him like a human being, not based on the color of his skin. Assertiveness and finding your voice are timeless lessons in this story for middle-grade readers. Set in the 1980s, the deep beige, brown, and blue hues evoke a throwback appeal. Speech bubbles used throughout the novel showcase Cecil’s innocent and sweet thoughts and move the plot forward. The author’s note in the backmatter reassures readers that middle school can be rough, but that they will make it through the tough times.  

This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find some tremendous teen fiction, including Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia. Teer tells the story of 14 year-old Almudena who has always been curious about the dad she has never met. When Almudena’s white mother decides to travel, she is left to stay with her Guatemalan father for the whole summer. Xavier is happy to have Almudena around, but he expects her to help repair his deteriorating brownstone home. The young Latina has to overcome the language barrier with her father who only speaks Spanish and learn to fit into Xavier’s Latin American neighborhood. With time running out, can Almudena and Xavier make a connection despite their differences?

Brownstone 
Written by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia
Published by Versify
Available June 11, 2024!

The Colliding World of Mina Lee
Written by Ellen Oh
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available January 23, 2024!

Dungeons and Drama
Written by Kristy Boyce
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

Looking for Smoke
Written by K.A. Cobell
Published by Heartdrum 
Available June 4, 2024!

A Place for Vanishing
Written by Ann Fraistat
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!