BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSThirteen-year-old Elio Solis lives in East Oakland with his parents and two younger sisters, plays piano on the old upright his late grandfather left behind, and has always been more comfortable with his crew of guys than with the idea of liking a girl. That changes the first week of eighth grade at RISE UP STEM to STEAM Middle School when he spots Camelia, a talented manga artist with a blue streak in her hair, sitting at the artsy-fartsy lunch table. The two quickly become boyfriend and girlfriend, and Elio starts seeing the world washed in colors beyond the usual spectrum, something he calls ultraviolet. But a rival named Chava has his own eye on Camelia, and the school year also brings an awkward birds-and-the-bees talk from his dad, a father-son sweat-lodge ceremony with a group called Brothers Rising, and Elio's first hard lessons about consent, toxic masculinity, and what it actually means to treat people well.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Ultraviolet
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Ultraviolet. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book is a thirteen-year-old boy terrified of harmless little bees?
✓ Answer
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
Elio admits his number-one irrational fear in Ultraviolet is bees, even though he could be scared of way bigger things. His best friend Paco teases him by calling him a miedoso whenever a bee zooms by and Elio does his wild jiggle dance.
- First half
In what book does a boy give a girl real camellia flowers he swiped from a neighbor's yard?
✓ Answer
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
For their one-month anniversary in Ultraviolet, Elio brings Camelia a card plus flowers he snagged from his neighbor's yard, since she's named after that very flower. His hands shake like rattles as he hands them over.
- First half
In what book do two couples argue whether Cheetos or Takis are better during lunch on the quad?
✓ Answer
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
On the quad in Ultraviolet, Paco swears by Cheetos and Laurette insists Takis are better, while Camelia champions homemade popcorn with nutritional yeast. Elio jokes he'd eat all three at once and not even flinch.
- Second half
In what book does a boy write a list of rotten things he wishes on two people?
✓ Answer
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
Furious at Camelia and Chava, Elio lists curses like getting stung by a thousand bees and stepping in dog dung. The angry list shows how his hurt is curdling into a wish for revenge.
- Second half
In what book does a boy slam the piano keys until a framed photo falls and hits his shoulder?
✓ Answer
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
Heartbroken and furious, Elio bangs the piano so hard a framed photo of his grandparents tumbles onto him. He cradles their picture and thinks he will never have a love as true as theirs.
- Near the end
In what book does a leader teach boys the phrase "you are my other me"?
✓ Answer
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
Fernando opens the circle with the wisdom En lak ech, you are my other me, meaning harm to you is harm to myself. The phrase becomes a guiding idea for how Elio learns to treat others.
