Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs

Middle-grade fans of Pam Muñoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising, will find a new Mexican heroine to love in Solimar and a fresh, magical story!

On the brink of her Quinceañera, and her official coronation, Solimar visits the oyamel forest to sit among the monarch butterflies. There, the sun pierces through a sword-shaped crevice in a boulder, which shines on her and sends the butterflies humming and swirling around her.

After the magical frenzy, she realizes she's been given a gift--and a burden: she can predict the near future! She has also become a protector of the young and weak butterflies. This alone would be a huge responsibility, but tragedy strikes when a neighboring king invades while her father and brother and many others are away. The remaining villagers are taken hostage--all except Solimar.

Can this princess-to-be save her family, the kingdom, and the future of the monarch butterflies from a greedy and dangerous king?

Written for ages 8 to 12 by the Newbery Honor Medal winner of the highly acclaimed novel Echo.

Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Published: 02/15/2022
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.35h x 5.51w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781484728352
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 12/01/2021 pg. 54
Publishers Weekly 12/20/2021
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 01/01/2022
School Library Journal 02/11/2022 pg. 1

About the Author
Pam Muñoz Ryan is a New York Times bestselling author and U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She has written over forty books, including Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, Riding Freedom, Paint the Wind, The Dreamer, and Echo, a Newbery Honor book and the recipient of the Kirkus Prize. She is the author recipient of the National Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for Multicultural Literature, and is twice the recipient of the Pura Belpré Medal and the Willa Cather Award. Other honors include the PEN USA Award, the Américas Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and the Orbis Pictus Award. She was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, but now lives near San Diego with her family. Many of her stories reflect her half-Mexican heritage.

Pam's Hometown:
Lives in North San Diego County in Encinitas, CA

Cities where Pam is well-known:
Was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA until college.
Boston, MA
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Long Beach, CA

Pam's social media handles:
Twitter @pammunozryan
Instagram pammunozryan
Facebook Pamela Ryan