Viking Books for Young Readers | 978-0593525760
I’ve been looking forward to sharing A FLICKER OF HOPE for quite some time now, and here we are! Beautifully written by Cynthia Harmony and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, A Flicker of Hope is about family, the migration of the monarch butterflies, and the special relationship Lucía has with her papá.
As the story opens, Papá is preparing to leave home. He’ll be traveling north in order to find work in the fields so that he can support his family. Lucía knows that as spring approaches and she puts away her winter capa, both the monarchs’ and papá’s journey north will begin.
From the publisher: Told through the parallel stories of the butterflies’ journey and Lucía’s migrant farmer father, Cynthia Harmony’s A Flicker of Hope is a love letter to the power of families and nature, both of which know no borders.
I’m so glad Cynthia agreed to answer a few questions about her latest picture book!
DIANNE: Welcome to ReaderKidZ, Cynthia! I’m excited to share your newest book with readers! Where did the spark for A FLICKER OF HOPE begin?
CYNTHIA: A few years ago, my sister worked in environmental reserves with indigenous communities and produced videos to showcase the importance of the Monarch Reserve. I was inspired to write about monarchs and the Mazahuas in Mexico who, each winter, welcomed back the butterflies. But at that time, we were also experiencing a crisis due to the “Zero Tolerance” immigration policy enforced in 2018 when thousands of children were taken from their parents and placed in separate detention centers along the border, including a facility in Tucson, where I live. As an immigrant author, writing this story helped process this heartbreak.
DIANNE: Those were unconscionable and scary times. And, unfortunately to this day, an alarming number of people continue to promote rhetoric and hostility towards migrants.
You and I have talked a little about the two narratives running through the story, but for readers who haven’t read your book yet, can you share more about these parallel storylines?
CYNTHIA: Sure, it’s a tale of a little girl waiting for her beloved papá to return when the monarchs fly south to their home in Mexico. I wanted the reader to experience with Lucia both goodbyes — Papá and the butterflies in the Spring — as well as their homecoming in the Fall.
DIANNE: I imagine it may have taken some time to link the two stories so seamlessly. How did you approach the writing?
CYNTHIA: It took MANY revisions and finally clicked during my We Need Diverse Books mentorship in 2020. Rob Sanders was an excellent writing teacher and mentor. He helped me capture what was essential from both angles. And then my editor Liza Kaplan helped me bring a bit more of the butterfly journey that mirrored Lucía and Papá.
DIANNE: A Flicker of Hope accomplishes exactly what Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop suggests in her 1990 essay, “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors”:
“Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection, we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience.”
A Flicker of Hope invites children to put themselves in the shoes of Lucía and her family. The leaving, the returning, and all the time of waiting and working in between. The dual narrative structure invites opportunities for additional questions and discussion. Have you been able to share the book in classrooms or heard from teachers and librarians who have? What kinds of connections, questions, and conversations have come up?
CYNTHIA: Thank you for that compliment! I think School Library Journal summed it up well in their (starred!) review “younger children may enjoy the family and butterfly story, while older children can further explore the concept of migration.” I have only shared this story at bookstore story times so far and the young kids connect with Lucia and are fascinated with the butterflies. I’m looking forward to school visits scheduled next month to listen to what older kids have to say about the more complex layers. By the way, Melissa Taylor on her Imagination Soup blog created a free educator’s guide specifically for AFOH to dig deeper on these topics.
DIANNE: Devon Holzwarth’s artwork is stunning. In addition to the brilliant colors, there’s so much movement from page to page. I especially love the double spreads that hold lines from both narratives – such as when papá joins others in search of work, and the monarcas travel across rivers and mountains. I bet you swooned when you saw the illustrations! Do you have a favorite?
CYNTHIA: I agree, Devon’s work is absolutely brilliant so it’s really hard to choose a favorite, there’s so much to love in each spread! But I did have to pick one because I wanted to buy a print from her to frame. My kids helped me choose the spread when the butterflies take flight in the Spring. I think it’s the next’s best thing to actually being there, so magical!
DIANNE: You have several books coming out over the next several years. Can you tell us more?
CYNTHIA: I have two upcoming picture books published by Farrar Strauss Giroux/Macmillan. The first is called APAPACHO LOVE illustrated by Erika Meza, out next year. It’s the story of a little girl wondering how she will cope without her mom’s apapachos-cuddles when Mami leaves on her first work trip. And HASTA PRONTO IS A PROMISE, a first day of school story about not being in the same class with your best friend. I also have two additional unannounced projects, which I hope I get to share more about soon!
DIANNE: Thanks for sharing A FLICKER OF HOPE with us today. I look forward to seeing both Apapacho Love AND Pronto is a Promise when they release, and can’t wait to hear about your other yet-to-be announced projects!
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Enjoy this book birthday interview with Cynthia on the “Las Musa” site.
Did you know you can find A Flicker of Hope in Spanish?? Check it out!: Un Aleteo de Esperanza.
