Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar (review)

Reviewed by: Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar Amanda Toledo Salazar, Aida Ultraviolet. Scholastic, 2024 304p Trade ed. ISBN 9781338775655 18. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 6-9 When Elio starts to date Camelia, his world is sent tilting on its axis with an all-encompassing infatuation. In this insightful verse novel, the young Latinx pianist navigates his first romance along with the issues around machismo and the always present discomfort of going through puberty. When Camelia cheats on Elio with an angry boy in their grade, the heartbreak sends Elio into an emotional tailspin that has fallout on his friendships, his physical health, and his perspective on love. So much of this story is excellent: the complexity of the characters, the fraught dynamics of middle school tussles, the introspection on the demands that toxic masculinity makes of young boys. There's a truly potent rendition of the longing and pain that comes from the loss of sweetness between a father and son as a boy grows older that may resonate deeply with many. The narrative, however, suffers from heavy-handed preachiness and loses nuance as it becomes more a lesson and less a story. Humor is occasionally inconsistent and inauthentic to middle schoolers, and it's a little unclear on whether the reader should laugh at or empathize with Elio as he discusses his body changes, referring to his penis as "the downstairs neighbor guy in my pants. " While the latter half of the novel is riveting and clearly demonstrates why Salazar is an award-winning author, it is quite a slow build to that point. Nonetheless, boys deserve stories where they can be confused, overwhelmed, and, most importantly, soft, vulnerable, and tender. Readers of all genders who power through the beginning will find something rewarding in this read. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois