Solimar is soon to have her quinceañera, once her father and elder brother return from their annual expedition to Puerto Rivera. Solimar also has a secret—when marvelling arrives the annual arrival of monarch butterflies to their land, she happened to gain an unusual, and temporary power—she can predict with great accuracy, what will happen in the short-term future.
This is both fun, and a little worrisome, and has serious implications for the monarch butterflies.
No sooner has her father and brother left when aggressive King Aveno invades, putting everyone in Solimar’s home under arrest, with Solimar barely escaping in time. She decides she needs to get to her father to let him know of the treachery. Her father is several days journey away, and the path there is treacherous, not only because of the terrain, but King Aveno's soldiers dog her steps.

Solimar is a wonderful character, sweet, kind, fair-minded and committed to helping her people. She also proves to be determined and brave, when she and her new friend Berto travel days together on the dangerous journey to Puerto Rivera.

Pam Muñoz Ryan has written an adventure story with a wonderful main character, who despite her fears, persists to save her family and her people. It’s a story about kindness and persistence and left me feeling happy.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Disney Publishing Worldwide for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Solimar is a fun middle-grade fantasy perfect for those who are ready to level up their Encanto love. Like in Encanto, Solimar lives in a world touched by magic. You will also see the theme of butterflies and finding your place in your family.

All that being alike, Solimar does stand on her own as a strong character. She knows what she wants and respectfully tries to get it - with some requisite adventure! This is a solid recommendation with a lovely plot and a writing that stays focused and beautiful.

Solimar is a princess, preparing for her quinceanera. But she's a bit unorthodox, and likes to break the rules - both the general rules and gender roles. So instead of staying at home and dutifully performing her role as princess, Solimar steals away to a grove forbidden to all, and comes home with a magical robezo, a shawl that give her the ability to foretell the near future - an ability that may well either condemn or save her kingdom.

This is a delightful novel, one that is fun to read. Solimar, though a dutiful daughter, is a born leader, but being both female and the younger child, has no chance at becoming her kingdom's ruler - which is too bad, because her older brother really doesn't want the role, and thinks Solimar would be better at it that he would. But they're both locked into the roles their culture designates for them, until the reach outside and beyond their roles to save their kingdom. Join Solimar, her brother Campeon, and her new friend, Berto, as they change their world - and hopefully, save the kingdom in the process. Recommended for upper elementary and older - appropriate for tweens and teens, but an enjoyable read for fantasy lovers of any age.

I am providing this review in return for being given a preview copy of the novel by NetGalley.

This was a classic middle-grade coming-of-age, finding yourself story with an environmental twist. Solimar accidentally becomes a protector of the monarch butterflies. Unfortunately, that gives her the magical ability to foretell the future when asked—if she’s directly in the sun. This somewhat complicates her quest.

Solimar loves her home, but wishes she were allowed to travel with her father and the other men to sell their crafts at far away. If only she could figure out a faster way to get there—but the river is dangerous.

When a king who wants to take the forest to use for development invades during her father’s absence, Solimar must face the river to get help for her family and country before it’s too late. She meets an ingenious new friend who knows the river, and discovers her own strength as they overcome obstacles and find help.
I liked the characters in this book and the dialogue felt natural. It hits at the sweet spot for the age group—the right maturity level, the right relationships. And Solimar (why did I just want to call her Mirabel…can’t be that I just watched Encanto…) discovers that being a princess isn’t such a bad thing after all—because it gives her an opportunity to help others.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Perilous situations. A little bit of lying. Some violence, not graphic.

Who Might Like this Book:
Those who are concerned about the environment. Those who like coming-of-age stories.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2022/02/february-1-releases-part-2.html

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book was lovely. Last year, I finally got around to reading Muñoz’s Esperanza Rising, and unsurprisingly, I absolutely loved it, so when I saw that she had a new book coming out, a Middle Grade fantasy novel based on Mexican mythos and featuring a female MC who just wants to be the hero of her own story, I was already hooked.

What I loved:

-Solimar—she is spunky, brave, endlessly kind, and she has all the imagination and heart I could hope for. She wants to be the king, even though that will role should fall to her brother. I loved watching her journeys both physical and within herself.

-The magic—It was beautiful and wove together mythos and legend with traditions of caring for the earth and the power of nature.

-The side characters, Solimar’s best friend, her grandmother, her brother, and Berto, the precious boy who saves her from the river, who lives in a treehouse with a library, who is constantly telling everyone, “I can fix that” and meaning it, I thoroughly loved every single character in this book.

What could have been better:

-The resolution and quite a bit of the planning for it happened largely offscreen, so there were moments where I had to stop and really process what was happening and whether things were going according to plan or were going sideways.

-The ending was very neatly packaged even for a MG novel, and I felt like it would have benefitted from a bit more explanation.

Overall, this was absolutely a joy to read, and I highly recommend it. Muñoz’s writing is vivid and endearing, and Solimar was no exception.

What a wonderful tale. I loved how this read as a fairytale of old. It was full of adventure and magic and was just wonderful. I especially loved the imagery of the butterflies and the magic surrounding them. Solimar was such a fun protagonist. I really think middle grade kids are going to love this one.

life long fan of pam munoz ryan and will continue to read everything she puts out. this was such a beautiful book and rivals esperanza for me!

Are you looking for a new middle grade fantasy? Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan is your perfect next read!

Here’s a quick set-up: Solimar is a princess living in a kingdom in Mexico. She loves visiting the oyamel forest when it is full of monarch butterflies. One day, while sitting in the forest, she becomes imbued with a magical power that is both a blessing and a curse. She can predict the immediate future but also must protect weak and struggling butterflies.Shortly after discovering this new power, Solimar’s castle is attacked by a neighboring king, and Solimar sets off on a quest to save both the butterflies and her home.

The novel is a delightful fantasy and a fast-paced adventure story. Solimar is a strong-headed, independent princess and you’ll be rooting for her to protect the monarchs and save her kingdom. Growing up in the self-proclaimed “Butterfly Capital of California,” I was thrilled to read a novel that features these beautiful creatures. I have so many fond memories of walking in the forest, as Solimar does, to watch the monarchs hang from the trees and slowly unfurl their wings. The novel perfectly captures the magic of this experience.

Solimar is about to be crowned a princess, but she really wants to be in a position of actual power. When she is unexpectedly blessed with the ability to see the future, she tries to use this power to save her kingdom. This was not my favorite Pam Munoz Ryan book, but it was enjoyable. It was fast-paced, and I think middle grade readers will enjoy it.

It was the beautiful cover art by Jacqueline Alcantara that caught my attention when I saw Solimar by Pam Muñoz Ryan on a list of books by Latina authors coming out in 2022. Set in the fictional Mexican kingdom of San Gregorio during the yearly monarch butterfly migration, Solimar is a future princess blessed with a special gift that puts her and her family in danger. She escapes from the king who has taken her family hostage and embarks on an adventure to save them and the future of the monarch butterflies.

I enjoyed the world that the author created, and it felt like reading a traditional fairytale from a feminist, Mexican-inspired perspective. Solimar dreams of having a say in how the kingdom operates. She seeks guidance from her abuela and a curandera. She undertakes a dangerous journey to escape the evil king and is the heroine of the story with her daring rescue. I also liked the environmental theme and Solimar’s role to help protect the butterflies. Her pet quetzal and a talking doll were unique supporting characters that added a unique twist to the story.

The story, as a whole, felt a bit flat to me, though. Some parts felt undeveloped, while others felt too predictable. I would still recommend it, but I don’t plan to add it to my library’s collection at this time.

Solimar tells the story of a young princess who desires to protect the monarch butterflies and her kingdom of San Gregorio. This story of bravery and loyalty is beautifully portrayed. Pam Muñoz Ryan is one of my favorite middle-grade authors and I will love adding this book to my future classroom library. All in all, I really loved reading this book and became engrossed in the story the more I read.

I am always searching for more Latino representation, especially in fantasy (tired of immigration tropes) and this one delivers. A strong, lovable heroine who believes in doing the right thing is the center of the book. I love the focus on the important Mexican tradition of the Quinceneara along with the Monarch butterflies. It is a pretty quick read and I recommend It for about 4th grade and up.

A fantasy story with a plucky heroine and beautiful writing for middle-grade readers.

Solimar is almost 15, and on her Quinceañera, she will also be crowned princess of the kingdom. Before that happens, however, tragedy strikes. Solimar's kingdom is invaded when her father and brother are away, and the rest of her family is taken hostage. The invaders have also stumbled upon Solimar's magical rebozo, which allows her to see into the future and will also, hopefully, save the monarch butterflies who use the oyamel forests in their kingdom as a stopping point on their yearly migration.

Solimar is a character with a strong personal mandate of doing the right thing. She cares for her family, the people and the animals in her kingdom, and wishes that her father would change his mind about some of the laws that she feels are not equitable. Her pet quetzal Lázaro, a talking doll and a sidekick she meets along her journey round out the heroic characters in the story. The storyline is strong, if a bit predictable, but the lyrical writing makes up for that. I would have liked to have seen more character development of the minor characters. Environment protection, social justice, and good vs evil are the major themes in the story, and this would make an excellent read-aloud in a Gr. 3 or 4 classroom, with lots to discuss.

Thank you to NetGally and Disney Hyperion for the uncorrected galley proof. Opinions are my own.

As always Pam Munoz Ryan delivers a heart-felt, warm hero’s journey. Satisfying from the beginning to the end, her latest, Solimar, follows the titular heroine on a magical path of discovering her truest self as she completes her Quinceanera’s preparations.

Thank you to Disney-Hyperion books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Solimar is almost 15 and getting ready for her quinceañera and princess coronation in the kingdom of San Gregorio. Her older brother is set to become king in a few years but he’d rather explore the world. San Gregorio is home to the oyamel forests when the monarch butterflies winter each year. Solimar goes into the forest to watch the swirl of butterflies when some land on her rebozo (shawl). She has received a gift and a burden – to watch and protect the butterflies in her rebozo that need to regain their strength but now she can predict the near future. When her father and brother lead the merchants to the annual market a few days travel away, San Gregorio is invaded by the neighboring king who want to buy the land for his own selfish purposes. When her family and court are taken hostage, Solimar escapes and sets off to find her father and prevent him from walking into a trap. She is helped along the way by Berto, a clever older teenager, who knows the river that Solimar travels along. Will they make it to the Puerto Rivera market in time?
This is a fun and light fantasy that is also a very quick read. Ryan explains the customs of the quinceañera and also focuses on girl power. It is also timely, as the monarch butterflies are becoming endangered due to climate change. I would definitely recommend for grades 4 and up.
#SolimarTheSwordOfTheMonarchs #NetGalley

How important are rules and tradition when one’s desires do not necessarily align with them? Fourteen-year-old Solimar is the daughter of the king and queen, although her older brother is the official successor to the throne. When the annual migration of the monarch butterflies begins, Solimar ventures a little too far, finding herself unexpectedly granted with the important role of caring for the weaker butterflies that need a little more support before they can join their companions. In addition to this responsibility, Solimar becomes the only person able to protect her kingdom from the nefarious intentions of another ruler, and she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to restore balance to the world she loves so much.

Well-written and engaging, this story blends fantasy with reality while balancing one girl’s quest to better her kingdom with the need to protect monarch butterflies. Intriguing characters support Solimar along the way, and they are always available to lend an ear or a helping hand. Though there is some conflict with the neighboring kingdom, the overall struggle is found within Solimar’s journey to become an independent leader even when women are given less of a voice than men in her kingdom. Vivid descriptions bring Solimar’s experience to life, making it easy for readers to picture what is taking place in each scene. Even when Spanish vocabulary is used, it is defined in English in the surrounding text, making the presentation accessible to readers no matter their own Spanish-language fluency.

This charming story is one that showcases the strength of one independent young woman alongside the more restrictive nature of the kingdom in which she was raised. The overall narrative flows smoothly, with Solimar focusing on figuring out where to go and how to help rather than facing internal moral struggles. As Solimar is fourteen, this book will speak to older middle grade readers in plot while the presentation is accessible to those who prefer a streamlined narrative without many surprises. Succinct and heartwarming, this story is a good fit for middle grade readers who appreciate fantasy adventures in concise packages.

3.5 stars

In this creative novel that includes elements of fantasy, adventure, and light gender-specific commentary, readers get another solid middle grade entry from Ryan.

The titular character is a young princess who is just about to celebrate her quince with her family and who struggles with following the rules at times. This latter element helps her get into an unusual but exciting situation: encountering butterfly-related magic! In an effort to get a handle on her role with these butterflies, Solimar enlists the help of her awesome abuela and her abuela's curandera buddy (who gives some kinder-side-of-Baba-Yaga vibes for a number of reasons). Along with these mentors, Solimar gets assistance from two amazing sidekicks: her beautiful bird (pictured on the novel's cover) and a good natured but still frightening little talking doll (because, frankly, a talking doll is always terrifying). These four characters - the two mentors and two sidekicks - are the highlight of this novel. Their dialogue, antics, and general contributions are fun to follow, and I wish readers were able to see much more of them throughout.

Along with wanting to see more from the aforementioned characters, I wanted a bit more of a faster pace. Interestingly, when Solimar is close to home, her experiences are more engaging. The more traditional adventure aspects that all take place away from home are where, for me, the excitement and development unfortunately slowed.

I've read a lot of Ryan's works and have taught them over the years, and while this one isn't my favorite, it'll still get honorable mentions from me.

I forgot this was a kid's book just a few pages in. Munoz Ryan had me totally engrossed and desperately rooting for Solimar's safety as she accidentally found herself the protector of weakened Monarch Butterflies. Fast paced, easy to read, likeable main characters makes this title an excellent recommendation for reluctant readers. Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for an early edition.

What a phenomenal book! I am a huge fan of this author and of Esperanza Rising. Take that novel and add a fairy tale to get an idea of the feel of this book. It’s fast paced and a quick read that would be appealing to kids who love strong female characters, princess stories, fairy tales, quests, conservation and the environment, and even STEAM/engineering. I would recommend this to readers who liked Esperanza Rising, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and Ella Enchanted. It also leave lot of opportunity for book groups/discussions. I am dazzled and excited by this Latinx kick-butt princess story that breaks the boundaries of traditional royal roles.

This book was short and sweet. It is the perfect amount of adventure for middle grade readers. The story progresses quickly and is captivating as there is never a dull moment. Solimar is a great main character and is a good MC for middle grade girls as she is very progressive in her thoughts and feelings on how women should be as equal as men. She is a strong female character.