Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. Today we are featuring MY FATE ACCORDING TO THE BUTTERFLY by debut author Gail D. Villanueva.
When a giant black butterfly lands on her, Sab knows her life is over. Black butterflies are an omen of death according to Filipino superstition. Her death is probably only a week away, and Sab has a lot to check off her bucket list before the inevitable happens- like finally getting a radical new haircut! But Sab’s truest wish is for her whole family to be united. That, unfortunately, is impossible. Her parents split up long ago, and her father and mother both have permanent boyfriends now. The biggest obstacle, however, is her older sister who mysteriously cut their father out of her life a year ago. To reunite her family before her time runs out, Sab will have to be brave enough to confront her sister’s anger and face the secrets and misunderstandings that have broken up their family.
This moving, coming-of-age story about family and reconciliation is richly steeped in Filipino culture with a gorgeously described setting. Story themes include poverty, drug addiction, racism, and inequality in a light-handed way that is appropriate for its audience.
This multicultural #ownvoices novel is both a light and deep read that invites important conversations. MY FATE ACCORDING TO THE BUTTERFLY is a must-purchase for all public/elementary/middle school libraries. It releases on 7/20/19! Preorder it at your local bookstore or request it at your library!
Thank you to #kidlitexchange for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the author’s website:
Gail D. Villanueva is a Filipina author born and based in the Philippines. She’s also a web designer, an entrepreneur, and a graphic artist. She loves pineapple pizza, seafood, and chocolate, but not in a single dish together (eww). Gail and her husband live in the outskirts of Manila with their dogs, ducks, turtles, cats, and one friendly but lonesome chicken. My Fate According to the Butterfly is her debut novel. Connect with Gail on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
