Review By: Nicole Russell
Published: 2024
Genre(s): Realistic Fiction, Hispanic, Masculinity, Relationships
Audience: Grades 7–8
Content Warnings: Discussions of puberty, consent
Goodreads Link: Ultra Violet
Summary:
Elios Solis is an eighth grader navigating family expectations, friendships, first love, and what it means to “be a man.” As he wrestles with heartbreak, social pressures, and his father’s idea of toughness, Elios begins to question how masculinity can also include kindness, vulnerability, and empathy.
Review:
Ultra Violet by Aida Salazar is an honest and heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse that captures the complexity of adolescence, identity, and growing up male in a culture that often silences emotion. Salazar gives readers a rare look into the emotional world of boys, blending humor, tenderness, and cultural authenticity. Written in accessible and lyrical verse, this story will resonate deeply with middle school readers, especially reluctant readers. Elios’s journey is both universal and distinctly Latino, with Spanish woven naturally into the text. It celebrates empathy and self-acceptance while dismantling toxic stereotypes about masculinity. This book is perfect for classroom libraries and discussions about consent, respect, and growing up. It encourages emotional honesty and redefines what it means to “man up” in today’s world.
