Aida Salazar

Elio is an eighth grader dealing with a changing body, his first girlfriend. His mom is determined to raise him as a feminist and encourages his dad to join a group of men who talk about puberty, relationships, and toxic masculinity. This plays out in Elio's life when his girlfriend chooses to start dating another guy who is not tuned into her needs and not a very nice guy.
A quick read that'll get middle schoolers thinking about relationships and the kind of interactions they want to have with other people.… (more)

children's middlegrade fiction, novel in verse - 13 y.o. Elio Solis starts his 8th grade year at his STEM school with a major crush on Camelia--and she likes him back! But all of a sudden he has to navigate all the weird ups and downs of puberty as well as the toxic machismo that is expected of him; fortunately he has supportive adults (and even a nonbinary spiritual guide) who are there to help him through. CW/TW: cock-fighting (not emergency room visits that are unexpected and potentially triggering. Also, there is some (helpful) advice about masturbation--it's natural but keep it private, don't spend all your time doing it, and also don't hog the bathroom.

don't skip the author's note at the end --- I loved that the author wrote this in response to her sons' asking for books about boys going through puberty (I can't think of any either but agree that there are likely even fewer featuring Black/brown boys). I don't always like books written in verse, but I liked this and found it effective as well as very appealing to its target audience. I can't speak for how well it captures that tumultuous time for 8th grade boys, but the potentially toxic group chats Elio shares with his male friends and classmates are definitely a real problem and a lot of things in this book could be helpful to a lot of kids who maybe don't already have adults/mentors who can help guide them.

Elio incidentally has synesthetia -- visions of color that he associates with emotions; love presents itself in a brilliant rainbow of colors, especially ultraviolet. I like that he gets to learn about his culture but updated with the wisdom of his mom (and what his father has learned in loving and respecting his mom), and I like that Elio has a lot of choices to make that he doesn't always get right.… (more)

Gr 3–7—This novel in verse explores family separation, deportation, and detention at the U.S.-Mexico border
through the eyes of Betita Quintero. Betita loves to write, and it's through her words that readers experience the
abounding emotions of a fourth grade girl trying to understand her family's situation. Salazar trusts her readers with
complex issues, and while the story doesn't provide the closure they may expect, Betita finds hope and her own kind
of happiness in the end. A potent book with many opportunities for discussion.… (more)