Author Aida Salazar visits Wawona K-8 School in Fresno

Wawona K-8 School played host to Oakland-based Author Aida Salazar. Given that it is School Library Month, her visit is visiting many schools and libraries presenting her latest work, “Ultraviolet” to the middle school students while using others of her books for the younger students. The Teacher Librarian at Wawona, Jennifer Agazarian facilitated the event and the principal, Delia Nuño purchased one of the author’s books for each student.

In addition to the Wawona students who were able to attend, the event was also broadcast via Microsoft Teams for other schools in the district.

Based on the number of students who lined up to get their books signed after the afternoon as well as the response during the event, it was a huge success!

Wawona K-8 School is part of Fresno Unified School District.

The Truth About Publishing: Ms. Salazar shared with students the challenges in getting books published. While Salazar now has quite a few books published (see below), it took her twenty years to get that first one published and that happened only after getting an agent to present her writing to publishers. Salazar also talked about how representation plays a role in getting published and how difficult, but not impossible, it can be for writers of color to be successful.

Summary of “Ultraviolet”: “For Elio Solis, eighth grade fizzes with change―His body teeming with hormones. His feelings that flow like lava. His relationship with Pops, who’s always telling him to man up, the Solis way. And especially Camelia, his first girlfriend.

But then, betrayal and heartbreak send Elio spiraling toward revenge, a fight to prove his manhood, and defend Camelia’s honor. He doesn’t anticipate the dire consequences―or that Camelia’s not looking for a savior.”

Author Links

Other Books by Aida Salazar