Publishers Weekly
★ 01/22/2024
A Mexican girl waits for the return of her migrant farmworker father, whose departure parallels the migratory pattern of monarch butterflies, in this ecological tale of dual-species movement. In spring, Lucía observes as the “Monarcas perch... sleepily” just as Papá prepares to head north. Papá picks up his guitar: “Songs soothe weeping hearts,” he says while playing Lucía’s favorite tune. As the butterflies, too, pause before journeying, Papa reminds Lucía that when “the monarcas return, our winged ancestors will guide me home.” After “a million monarchs flicker magic into the sky,” the smartly twined telling follows Lucía’s community braiding baskets of “ocoxal leaves and memories,” and migrant workers, including Papá, “in search of fields, crops, and a better tomorrow.” Field and forest greens and butterfly oranges dominate the digitally finished mixed media, which feature strong, deep shades over pale washes. A glossary, author’s note, and “How Can We Help?” section conclude. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
Praise for A Flicker of Hope:
★ "A beautiful story about cycles and traditions that shines a light on migration."—Kirkus, starred review
★ "A Mexican girl waits for the return of her migrant farmworker father, whose departure parallels the migratory pattern of monarch butterflies, in this ecological tale of dual-species movement."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Lyrical text and captivating illustrations create a truly compelling reading experience.... Magnificent and hopeful."—School Library Journal, starred review
"A treasure."—BCCB
School Library Journal
★ 01/26/2024
K-Gr 3—Lucía and Papá love watching the monarch butterflies outside their Mexico home. When spring comes and the monarchs must fly north, Lucía knows that her father will travel north as well. He is looking for work to help support their family, "in search of fields, crops, and a better tomorrow." Lucía anxiously awaits the return of the monarch butterflies in autumn, knowing they signal the imminent return of her father. Lyrical text and captivating illustrations create a truly compelling reading experience. The pain of separation and the hope for better days are clearly portrayed in Lucía and Papá's faces. Most readers will be able to empathize with the story of a child and parent being separated, and the emotional impact of their reunion is satisfying. Vibrant illustrations with whimsical and traditional cultural elements add charm and a sense of magic. This book would provide an excellent framework to talk about both the general concept of migration and migrant worker populations. With that context, the potential age range for this book is broad: younger children may simply enjoy the family story, while older children could be prompted to have in-depth conversations about complicated concepts. VERDICT This magnificent and hopeful tale of journeys and returns is recommended for first purchase.—Elizabeth Lovsin
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-11-18
Like the monarch butterfly, Lucía’s father migrates according to the seasons, retracing the steps of his ancestors.
Springtime means a journey north for Papá and for the monarch butterflies that flit around their garden in Michoacán, Mexico. Soothing a tearful Lucía, Papá tells her he’ll return when the weather cools and their “winged ancestors” lead him home. This heartwarming story connects butterfly and human migration and shows how both are natural and part of deep-rooted life patterns. Monarch butterflies follow the same migratory route as previous generations; Lucía’s father, a migrant laborer, journeys north in search of work, following the harvests just as his ancestors did. Though Lucía stays behind, her life also follows the cycles of seasons. While her father is gone, she learns to weave ocoxal-leaf baskets from her mother and grandmother, using the same technique as previous generations. With autumn’s return comes Día de los Muertos, and Lucía welcomes back her father, along with the monarchs. The prose is simple yet elegant; the love between Lucía and her father reverberates deeply through subtle echoes such as the detail of the ocoxal hat Papá wears in the fields. The digitally finished watercolor, colored pencil, and crayon illustrations are richly textured and engrossing, with line- and brushstrokes enhancing the emotion. The characters have brown skin.
A beautiful story about cycles and traditions that shines a light on migration. (glossary, author’s note, how can we help?) (Picture book. 4-8)
