My Fate According to the Butterfly

About this book

Light and deep, smart and funny, crushing and hopeful all at the same time, My Fate According to the Butterfly will open your eyes to both the world's potential for magic, and to its harsh realities.

When superstitious Sab sees a giant black butterfly, an omen of death, she knows that she's doomed! According to legend, she has one week before her fate catches up with her — on her 11th birthday. With her time running out, all she wants is to celebrate her birthday with her entire family. But her sister, Ate Nadine, stopped speaking to their father one year ago, and Sab doesn't even know why.If Sab's going to get Ate Nadine and their father to reconcile, she'll have to overcome her fears — of her sister's anger, of leaving the bubble of her sheltered community, of her upcoming doom — and figure out the cause of their rift.So Sab and her best friend Pepper start spying on Nadine and digging into their family's past to determine why, exactly, Nadine won't speak to their father. But Sab's adventures across Manila reveal truths about her family more difficult — and dangerous — than she ever anticipated.Was the Butterfly right? Perhaps Sab is doomed after all!

Reviews

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2019
An Amazon Best Book of the Month Editor's Pick
NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

"Superstition, family, and friendship are the hallmarks of this remarkable debut. I adore Sab -- and readers will, too." -- Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Award-winning author of Hello, Universe

"Gail Villanueva's debut novel captures all the richness of the Philippines, the heart-pounding thrills of a great mystery, and the warmth and wonder of growing up." -- Kate Messner, author of The Seventh Wish and Breakout

"At once rich in the vibrant culture of the Philippines and universal in its focus on family and forgiveness, My Fate According to the Butterfly is a soaring tale of hope that will be sure to touch the hearts of all young readers." -- Ruth Behar, Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Lucky Broken Girl

* "Villanueva's debut is a beautiful #ownvoices middle-grade novel. Tough topics -- the brutal war on drugs in the Philippines, family reconciliation, and recovery -- are addressed, but warmth and humor... bring lightness to Sab's story. This immersive novel bursts with life." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Debut author Villanueva deftly incorporates a touch of the magical alongside vibrant details about contemporary Filipino life and a universal story about growing up, reconciliation, and family." -- Publishers Weekly

"A gentle title that skillfully addresses difficult issues of drug addiction and family tension from the perspective of a young girl." -- School Library Journal