Winner

Lola
by Karla Arenas Valenti; illus. by Islenia Mil
Intermediate    Knopf    256 pp.
9/24    9780593177006    $17.99
Library ed.  9780593177013    $20.99
e-book ed.  9780593177020    $10.99

Lola, ten, lives in Mexico City in a house built around the Tree. The Tree is full of life, and spirit-like beings called chaneques protect it. One day, Lola notices gray splotches on the Tree and in the garden. The spots spread to Lola’s brother Alex, covering him in gray patches and making him ill. With the help of the chaneques, Lola sets out to save the Tree and Alex. Through a panel in her closet, she enters the kingdom of Floresta, now afflicted with the Stillness, where “the cycle of life and death simply stops.” Lola needs to find the newly appointed young queen, who is grieving the recent death of her mother, and persuade her to reverse the Stillness—to convince her that “change is everything.” In the process, Lola discovers something unexpected about herself. Valenti (Lotería, rev. 11/21) skillfully incorporates magical realism into this captivating tale, taking the reader on a memorable journey through a different world. She addresses the weighty topic of death in a hopeful manner, encouraging readers to view death as a new phase, a transformation, rather than an end. The strong bonds between siblings are central to this heartwarming story, and love perseveres. Occasional black-and-white illustrations contribute to the mystical atmosphere (some final art unseen). An appended author’s note and a glossary enrich the material. YESICA HURD

From the January/February 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

Honor Books

Cruzita and the Mariacheros
by Ashley Granillo
Intermediate, Middle School    Carolrhoda    248 pp.
4/24    9798765608500    $19.99

Cruzita Tayahua ends sixth grade with a D in Spanish, which is embarrassing considering her family’s Mexican roots. But being fluent in Spanish isn’t a priority for Cruz, who dreams of being an American pop music superstar. Her summer plan: visit the music theme park Encore Island and enter the Rising Star Contest. A trip to Hollywood isn’t part of Cruz’s parents’ plans, however. They need her help in the family’s struggling panadería in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles, which has been losing customers since her tío Chuy’s death a month earlier. When her grandmother gives Cruz a violin “that once belonged to my great-grandpa” and signs her up for mariachi lessons, Cruz is reluctant: “So I’m supposed to learn to speak Spanish and play the violin at the same time?” She’s surprised to find that she can sing in Spanish and to discover that she likes being connected to her culture. An unexpected opportunity means she has to choose between her dreams and obligations to family and new friends. Cruz’s inner conflict and search for identity are sensitively drawn, and Granillo weaves a believable sense of community pride into the heartfelt and enjoyable story. YESICA HURD

From the May/June 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

Ultraviolet
by Aida Salazar
Middle School    Scholastic    304 pp.
4/24    9781338775655    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781339027432    $18.99

REVIEW TO COME

Read reviews of the 2025 Pura Belpré Illustrator Awards here and of the 2025 Pura Belpré YA Awards here. For more, click on the tag ALA LibLearnX 2025.