Juan Pablo and the Butterflies

Gr 7 Up—Juan Pablo lives in the small Mexican village of El Rosario, the southern terminus for the migration of millions of monarch butterflies every year, with his abuela, who is the local healer. JP, as his best friend (and hopefully someday girlfriend) Rocio calls him, loves life in the butterfly sanctuary; he plays his violin for the thousands of tourists who visit the village, and he enjoys listening to his grandmother's tales of the Sky People, the spirits who guide all life. One day, drug traffickers take over the village and drive everyone out—except JP and his abuela, who is on her deathbed, and Rocio, who is in hiding. With her dying breath, Abuela tells JP to follow the butterflies to the United States, where he will be safe. When the cartel discovers Rocio, Juan Pablo uses one of his abuela's poisons to unintentionally murder eight cartel members; from then on, it's a race to the border between the two teens and a murderous bounty hunter known only as The Hunter. Inspired by the deaths of her husband and son, Flowers creates a touching tale of two friends reliant upon each other for survival. Spiritual but never preachy, and with a touch of magical realism, as the butterflies guide JP and Rocio's way north by showing them where to hide and whom to trust, this book is a gentle immigrant story that doesn't shy away from the gritty details. Some Spanish grammatical errors and spelling may distract readers.