My Fate According to the Butterfly

Superstitious Sab, a 10-year-old Filipina girl, has always believed her father’s story that a visit from a black butterfly is a harbinger of personal or familial doom. And when the otherworldly butterfly lands on her prized locket one week before her birthday, she begins preparing for her inevitable death. With only a week left to live, Sab enlists the help of her American best friend to mend the rift between her father and her sister, Ate Nadine, who have been estranged since her father’s mysterious stay in a hospital. Chaperoned by Nadine, Sab’s quest for knowledge about her dad brings her deep into Manila, where she learns difficult truths about him and the world in which she lives, such as the government’s brutal crackdown on drug dealers. Debut author Villanueva deftly incorporates a touch of the magical alongside vibrant details about contemporary Filipino life (jeepneys, cheese-flavored ice cream) and a universal story about growing up, reconciliation, and family. Ages 8–12. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group. [em](July) [/em]