Solimar was a fun and quick read. It had likeable characters and an exciting adventure. There were times where I felt things were rushed or not explained enough, but overall I think kids will really love this one!

Solimar Guadalupe, princess-to-be of San Gregorio, wants nothing more than to accompany her father, the king, to the annual mercado in Puerto Rivera down the hill from San Gregorio but she's not permitted to go. In fact, she'd like to be made king after her father but that role belongs to her brother, the reluctant Prince Campeón. Solimar's main duty is getting ready for her quinceañera, a coming-of-age celebration that will occur on her fifteenth birthday. Fortunately, she's got the annual arrival of the monarch butterflies to distract her.

Eager to greet the migrating swarm, Solimar disobeys her family's warning not to go out alone or cross the river to the monarch's sacred island. The swirling butterflies bestow upon her a gift of being able to foretell the future as well as the burden of caring for a clutch of unborn butterflies that have become trapped in her rebozo (shawl). When a scheming king invades San Gregorio and takes the royal family hostage, only Solimar escapes. Her visit to the mercado has just been granted, but not in the way that she expected. She must find a way to warn her father while taking care of the still-unhatched butterflies entrusted to her care and guarding the secret of their gift.

I've read two other books by Pam Munoz Ryan: Esperanza Rising and Echo, two superb upper middle grade novels. (I think that Echo is a masterpiece.) But Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs, reads a bit more like a book still in the making: fascinating for me as a writer but a bit frustrating for me as a reader.

Although the book is pitched to an 8-12 middle grade audience, Solimar is nearly 15 years old. Her voice also sounds much younger than a fourteen-soon-to-be-fifteen year old.

The first half of the book is the strongest, and introduces us to Solimar, a girl who's torn between tradition and rebellion. (In other words, a perfect upper middle grade hero.) The kingdom of San Gregorio, Solimar's home and family are all drawn with the same rich, warm detail I've come to expect from Munoz Ryan's work, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Solimar's relationship with her Abuela. Munoz Ryan excels in portraying supportive relationships between women, especially ones that span generations. She also plays with fairy tale conventions and in this story we've got a curandera (healer/medicine woman) in the woods with a clutch of talking dolls, and a wise guardian bird, who manufactures a hilarious distraction later on in the book.


But the story falters midway. Solimar's torn between her sense of duty to the kingdom and the kind of disobedience that can lead to innovation, but her inner journey becomes strangely detached from the outer journey she takes to the mercado to warn the king. I would have expected Solimar, who's already proven she can think for herself but still feels attached to her family, to struggle more with her decisions. The bird, her talking doll companion and the river engineer she meets could all have challenged her perspective in the way that friends do and sown some much-needed seeds of self-doubt.

Solimar's never tempted to use the butterfly's gift of foretelling at dangerous junctures for herself - a weakness that may have led her to a more full realization of the dangers her magical gift has bestowed and may have made her more determined to complete the journey on her own. Instead, she gets through each hurdle with minimal reflection - or regret - and makes none of the wrong decisions that would force her to grapple with and grow into herself.

There's not even a confrontation with her father, the king - a man who's forbidden Solimar to make the journey she's just completed. Without having to fight for her vision for San Gregorio and her right to make a forbidden journey, Solimar's transformation from dutiful daughter to would-be-ruler feels unconvincing and incomplete.

I love Pam Munoz Ryan's writing but I felt that Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs needed more development. The page count is too short to allow Munoz Ryan to excel at the things she's so good at: complex character development, a unique re-working of fairy tale conventions and a strong sense of landscape, place and family all interwoven into an impeccable plot. It's confusing to me why Solimar wasn't allowed to be the wonderful upper middle grade hero she so clearly is.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and Disney Hyperion.

I really enjoyed Solimar. Fresh, interesting fantasy. I loved the butterflies, and the way the magic worked with the main character. There was so much that really came alive, and shone. I loved the sunshine, and the way the character had to step into the sunlight to nurture her magic. I loved the woman who was born to lead, and the beautiful cultural tapestry. Another lovely book from Pam Munoz Ryan.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs is filled with adventure! Solimar is a young daughter of the King on the verge of her quinceañera and becoming an official princess of her people. When her father and brother leave for their annual trip to a market, a neighboring enemy takes advantage and invades the castle. The enemy king wants to take advantage of her strange new powers of telling the future, which was gifted to her by migrating monarch butterflies. Solimar is the only one who escapes the castle and warn her father before he is captured by the enemy’s soldiers. Solimar must survive waterfalls, caves, and choose who she can trust in this delightful middle grade novel.

Our heroine, Solimar, embarks on a high-stakes quest to protect the butterflies, bring an important message to her father, and save her family and home. Along the way, she finds help from new friends and discovers just how strong and brave she really is. I loved her relationship with her Abuela, as they were both often misunderstood. Highly recommend this fast-paced adventurous read.

Solimar is preparing for her Quinceanera and coronation as princess. While in the forest, watching the monarch butterflies, she receives the gift to tell the immediate future and the responsibility to care for the weaker butterflies until they are ready to fly. When her father and brother lead the annual caravan to market, their kingdom is invaded. What can Solimar do to save her people and protect the butterflies? A story of strength, magic, and adventure. Solimar is bright, thoughtful, and brave.

Solimar, soon to be a princess of the world, feels stuck in her role. When the monarch butterflies bless her rebozo, she gets the incredible gift of being able to foretell the immediate future. With her quinceañera approaching, a rival kingdom threatens not only the sacred forest the monarchs gather in annually, but also Solimar's own.

The story is incredibly fast pace, with characters you easily fall in love with. Solimar is steadfast, incredibly empathetic, and brave. Abuela, Berto, Zarita, Campeón and Lázaro all shine alongside Solimar and help her on her journey. The entire story was so well crafted that I could picture everything. The beauty of the monarch butterflies is one that will stay with me (and made me think of the ending to Encanto).

The magical realism brought such fantastical life to this story and I sincerely hope we get more stories with Solimar and all of San Gregorio, I look forward to sharing this book with my niece, who will adore reading about a princess that represents her.

I fell in love with this book from the first look at the cover. (The copy I read was an eARC that I received from NetGalley.) I have read nearly everything Pam Muñoz Ryan has written before and knew that she would not steer me wrong in this book.
Most of this review will be a gush fest since I have difficulty thinking of anything negative to say about this book.
Solimar, the character, engages the reader from the outset. She's a spunky girl on the eve of her quinceañera in a magical realist Mexico, an almost princess who sets out to save her kingdom and the amazing monarch butterflies that migrate to and from her home. This book centers Mexican culture and heritage in a heartwarming, encouraging light while sprinkling in the magic that forms a crucial part of Mexican literature.
I will most certainly add this to my classroom library and may also purchase a separate copy for myself!

Also reviewed at storygraph.

Solimar is a truly enchanting character. This book grabs your attention within the first few chapters then you’re hooked. It is a good paced adventure with a happy ending. I loved how the book incorporated the Spanish language. This book would be great for middle school students.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

*Note I have received a free copy of this book and it will not affect my thoughts or feelings towards it*
This story I thought was crafted pretty well. The pacing was always at a great speed and never speed down so it never felt like we ever stopped and did nothing, I thought Solimar was a great main character and their message that their character tells is a great message that everybody should hear. The plot overall was a really cute fun adventure and a fun time. Overall this book was a 3.5/5 stars for me,

Solimar is 100% enchanting, entrancing me from the first few chapters. I love her strength, her unique soul, and the way she stands up and speaks out. Her abuela was easily my second favorite, reminding us all to hold fast to a little bit of magic and not to prejudices. I highly recommend, especially for early middle graders as it is a quicker read and not as dense as some other middle grade magical realism.

Solimar is not excited about her upcoming quinceañera. She doesn't want to be a princess with no hope of ruling like her brother the prince. (Also, she seems a lot younger than 14 in the story.) She wears hiking boots, keeps her hair short, and wants equal rights and say for all the citizens of her kingdom, men and women. When she is temporarily given the gift of predicting the near future, she stays in her room so as not to use it. When a neighboring king invades and takes the rest of the castle hostage, Solimar sets off on an adventure to save them.This was a fun and exciting read, though the end happened pretty quickly. Recommended for grades 3 & up.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of Solimar by Pam Munoz Ryan.
Solimar by Pam Munoz Ryan is a fast-paced adventure of a Mexican girl trying to save her family and the forest where monarch butterflies migrate. Ryan creates a heroine in Solimar; a strong female character that finds the courage to take on the enemy. The friendships that are formed as well as the magical realism make this a story that will interest many readers. The addition of the environmental concerns about monarch butterflies creates a well-rounded package. This book could easily be a Disney movie!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this advance listener copy and advance reader copy.

Description from NetGalley:
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?
I was able to listen to and read this book, which is a wonderful emersion. I finished this book in like 2 to 3 days. Solimar is quite the character. She cares for her people but embraces what she needs to do for them and for the monarch butterflies. The author and narrator did a great job of making the world come alive for the short amount of time that I was reading because this is a quick read. I don’t want to give to much away because it is a fun, quick book, but it feels very “Disney,” which makes sense since Disney published it.
Overall: 4/5

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs

By: Pam Munoz Ryan

Disney Publishing Worldwide

Disney Hyperion

Children’s Fiction, Middle-grade

Publish Date 1 February 2022

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Disney Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

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.

I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. The book is a fast read and fairly easy to understand. I don’t know a whole lot of Spanish and that did bring me some issues, but I was able to figure it out to understand what was going on. I understand this book is for middle-grade, but the main character is about to turn to 15 in the story. This book is about a royal family who is getting ready to present the main character Soli, with the princess crown and shoes which will level her up from a child to an adult in their eyes.

The adventures start when Soli discovers that all of sudden, she can foretell the future and she doesn’t know why. She went against the rules and crossed the creek and butterflies were all around her and her reboz. She wants to understand what happen and she goes to her grandma to find out. The two of them go on a small adventure to help her understand what happened. They need to keep this secret but somehow someone found out and want to capture her. Other things are also going on in the story and they do connect in the end. Soli ends up going on an adventure to help her kingdom and family.

Does she save the kingdom and her family? How can she tell the future? You will have to read the book.

Solimar is a Mexican princess just about to celebrate her quinceanera. She struggles to follow the rules and fit into the role society expects her to fill. Her bravery is put to the test when a threat emerges to her kingdom, family, and beloved Monarch butterflies. She must go on an action packed adventure to save everything she holds dear.
This is a solid middle grade fantasy with plenty of adventure. The elements inspired from Mexican culture are integrated throughout the story and gives the setting depth. I’d recommend this for a middle school reader looking for a stand-alone fantasy story with lots of action.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

☆☆☆☆,25 /5
(english review below)

Une très belle histoire célébrant les traditions, la famille et la nature ! Un roman qui m'aura fait voyer et enchanté.
¤
Au bord de sa Quinceañera et de son couronnement officiel, Solimar visite la forêt d'oyamel pour s'asseoir parmi les monarques. Là, le soleil perce à travers une crevasse en forme d'épée dans un rocher, qui brille sur elle et envoie les papillons bourdonner et tourbillonner autour d'elle.
Après la frénésie magique, elle se rend compte qu'elle a reçu un cadeau et un fardeau : elle peut prédire l'avenir proche ! Elle est également devenue une protectrice des papillons jeunes et faibles. Cela seul serait une énorme responsabilité, mais la tragédie frappe lorsqu'un roi voisin envahit alors que son père et son frère et bien d'autres sont absents. Les villageois restants sont pris en otage, tous sauf Solimar.
Cette future princesse pourra-t-elle sauver sa famille, le royaume et l'avenir des papillons monarques d'un roi avide et dangereux ?
¤
Ce roman était aussi enchanteur qu'un voyage onirique ! Vraiment, l’autrice plonge son lecteur dans un univers magique. L'histoire est belle, tant dans les relations interpersonnelles décrites, l'inspiration de la culture et de la mythologie d'Amérique Latine -et plus particulièrement du Mexique-, que dans la nature environnante.
Solimar est une jeune fille débrouillarde et vive d'esprit. Elle ne manque pas de ressources et n'hésite pas à valoriser le bien-être des autres avant le sien. C'est une jeune fille que j'ai admiré pour sa force de caractère et sa sensibilité dans l'histoire. Elle m'a touché par ses choix, autant les bons que les mauvais, et j'ai bien aimé sa maturation au fil des pages. Les relations avec sa famille et ses amis m'ont bouleversée. Ce roman valorise tellement les liens forts entre les individus, peu importent les générations.
Aussi, j'ai beaucoup apprécié ce focus fait sur les papillons dans ce roman. C'était particulier et original comme début d'intrigue.
Le texte se lit plutôt facilement et le rythme était entraînant, bien qu'un peu trop lent à mon goût.
C'est un roman qui m'a fait voyager, me faisant découvrir d'autres cultures, mythologies et inspirations.

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ENGLISH REVIEW

A very beautiful story celebrating traditions, family and nature! A book that will have made me see and enchanted.
¤
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?
¤
This reading was as enchanting as a dreamlike journey! Really, the author plunges her reader into a magical universe. The story is beautiful, both in the interpersonal relationships described, the inspiration of the culture and mythology of Latin America -and more particularly of Mexico-, and in the surrounding nature.
Solimar is a resourceful and quick-witted girl. She doesn't lack resources and doesn't hesitate to value the well-being of others before her own. She's a young girl whom I admired for her strength of character and her sensitivity in the story. She touched me with her choices, both good and bad, and I really liked her maturation over the pages. The relationships with her family and friends overwhelmed me. This book values ​​so much the strong bonds between individuals, regardless of the generations.
Also, I really appreciated this focus on butterflies in this book. It was particular and original as a plot start.
The text was easy to read and the pace was catchy, although a little too slow for my taste.
It's a book that made me travel, making me discover other cultures, mythologies and inspirations.

A great choice for kids who love princess and fairytales but are a little beyond the level of series like The Princess in Black. Solimar is an almost princess who is strong, resourceful, caring, and an overall excellent role model. She takes action and is ready to go on an adventure to save her kingdom and her family. My library serves a heavily Hispanic population and I am excited to be able give those children a princess book with a girl who looks like them on the cover!

I loved this story of Solimar, the spunky princess to be. From the opening scene where Solimar witnesses the Monarch butterflies land in her town, something magical happens. The butterflies attach themselves to he rezebo, allowing her to predict the future but also becoming their protector. The story turns into quite an adventure story, when Solimar learns of a betrayal and needs to save her kingdom. With the help of a boy she meets on the journey, Solimar needs to use her wits and bravery to reach her father and brother before it’s too late. This story reads like a Disney movie and I am all in!

I absolutely enjoyed this coming of age, middle grade fantasy by Pam Munoz Ryan. Solimar is a strong and natural born leader as she and her little entourage- a young boy, her pet bird and an enchanted doll try to save the monarch butterflies and her kingdom from an evil king.
This books was full of magic and adventure and I smiled through every moment of it. Definitely a feel good book for middle school age kids.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Disney Publishing Worldwide for this arc in exchange for my review.