Summer of the Mariposas
by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
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Juvenile Fiction. Folklore. In this young adult retelling of The Odyssey, Odilia and her four sisters journey to Mexico to return a dead man to his family and encounter magical creatures along the way. When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they embark on a hero's journey to return the dead man to his family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an odyssey that would rival Homer's original tale. With the supernatural aid of ghostly La Llorona via show more a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a road of tribulation to their long-lost grandmother's house. Along the way, they must outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious half-human barn owls, and a bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras. Can these fantastic trials prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they face their final test, returning home to the real world, where goddesses and ghosts can no longer help them? Summer of the Mariposas is not just a magical Mexican American retelling of The Odyssey, it is a celebration of sisterhood and maternal love. show lessTags
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Summer of the Mariposas is a magical Mexican American retelling of The Odyssey - and a celebration of sisterhood and maternal love.
When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they embark on a hero's journey to return the dead man to his family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an odyssey that would rival Homer's original tale.
With the supernatural aid of ghostly La Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a road of tribulation to their long-lost grandmother's house. Along the way, they must outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious half-human barn owls, and a bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras.
Can these fantastic trials show more prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they face their final test: returning home to the real world, where goddesses and ghosts can no longer help them? show less
When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they embark on a hero's journey to return the dead man to his family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an odyssey that would rival Homer's original tale.
With the supernatural aid of ghostly La Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a road of tribulation to their long-lost grandmother's house. Along the way, they must outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious half-human barn owls, and a bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras.
Can these fantastic trials show more prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they face their final test: returning home to the real world, where goddesses and ghosts can no longer help them? show less
This was a quick, intriguing read. The book is divided up into three sections. The first deals with Odilia and her sisters discovering a dead body and deciding what to do about it. This was my least favorite section, as the sisters spent a lot of time bickering and were somewhat annoying. The fantasy aspect (the girls receive spiritual guidance from La Llorna - who inspires sympathy more than fear) was a nice touch, and paved the way for the more fantastical elements to come later.
The second section follows along the familiar hero's journey from The Odyssey. I loved the way the monsters were updated! Circe tries to turn them into to "pigs" by stuffing them with drugged sweets, the nuaga and lechuzas (Scylla and Charybdis?) were show more unsettling and scary, and the cyclops turns out to be a one-eyed chupacabras! The scene with the chupabras was frustrating, because I felt like the girls weren't learning from their past mistakes, but it actually turned into a pretty big turning point in their growth as characters.
In the third section, the girls get reunited with their abuelita, mother, and even long-lost father (for a bit). This section included a really interesting twist on the suitors from The Odyssey. Overall I found the book very enjoyable. I liked the literary and folk lore allusions, the way Spanish was woven into the dialogue and narrative, the motif of metamorphosis, and the fact that there was no romance! (At least, not for the sisters). All of the love in this book is familial, and that's something that doesn't get talked about enough in YA books. show less
The second section follows along the familiar hero's journey from The Odyssey. I loved the way the monsters were updated! Circe tries to turn them into to "pigs" by stuffing them with drugged sweets, the nuaga and lechuzas (Scylla and Charybdis?) were show more unsettling and scary, and the cyclops turns out to be a one-eyed chupacabras! The scene with the chupabras was frustrating, because I felt like the girls weren't learning from their past mistakes, but it actually turned into a pretty big turning point in their growth as characters.
In the third section, the girls get reunited with their abuelita, mother, and even long-lost father (for a bit). This section included a really interesting twist on the suitors from The Odyssey. Overall I found the book very enjoyable. I liked the literary and folk lore allusions, the way Spanish was woven into the dialogue and narrative, the motif of metamorphosis, and the fact that there was no romance! (At least, not for the sisters). All of the love in this book is familial, and that's something that doesn't get talked about enough in YA books. show less
Fanciful and inventive, this coming of age novel tells the story of five young sisters as they test the bonds of sisterhood. Their summer is turned upside down when they find the body of a dead man floating in their favorite swimming hole. Juanita suggests they take the body back to it's family and three of her sisters think it's a fantastic plan. Odilia, the oldest, objects but is soon overturned by the excitement and vigor of her sisters. Along the way they encounter many unbelievable things, things of legend that will either make or break them. With the help of the Aztec goddess they try to do right by the dead man, their family, and themselves. Full of ancient lore, family values, and heroic quests this book will entrance young show more adult readers. show less
Odilia and her four younger sisters are at their favorite summer swimming hole when they see the dead body floating in it. Juanita, one of Odilia's sisters, insists that they retrieve the man's body from the water and take it home to his family across the border in Mexico. At first Odilia is resistant, but after she is visited by Llorona, the weeping woman of legend, she agrees to help her sisters take the man back to his family, and to visit their grandmother while in Mexico. However, they face many magical dangers and delays along the way. This contemporary fantasy takes Aztec mythology and the tale of the Odyssey as its starting points for magic, and provides a sure and knowing portrait of five fractious sisters suffering from their show more father's abandonment of their family. Odilia is a smart, likable heroine whose frustration with her younger sisters is entirely understandable. Recommended for teens who are looking for a book about family troubles or who enjoy magical realism. show less
A heartfelt tale of family, specifically that of mother and daughter, and the bond between sisters, who, even though they may fight like crazy, always have each other's backs.
Recommended if you're looking for a middle grade story by an #ownvoices author, set in Texas and Mexico, blending legends like La Llorona with magical realism.
Bonus: The author shared this link to the publisher's "Mythological Glossary for Summer of the Mariposas" which shows the parallels between Summer of the Mariposas and The Odyssey. The publisher also has a teacher's guide.
Recommended if you're looking for a middle grade story by an #ownvoices author, set in Texas and Mexico, blending legends like La Llorona with magical realism.
Bonus: The author shared this link to the publisher's "Mythological Glossary for Summer of the Mariposas" which shows the parallels between Summer of the Mariposas and The Odyssey. The publisher also has a teacher's guide.
I was disappointed to see that this book didn't win at least an honor book Pura Belpre Award in 2013. McCall knowledge of what it like to grow up Hispanic shows. I love how she weaves the Aztec heritage into this story of five sisters who find a dead body and return it to Mexico and then connect with their Grandmother, who is a healer. Although the ending is perhaps too much fairy tale like with everyone living happily ever after, its such a satisfying ending that if fits into this story which involves guiding Aztec goddesses, evil monsters and witches.
I love magical realism and since this is also a 2014 Lone Star, I really wanted to love this book. However, I could NOT get past the beginning of the book -- it is just entirely too far-fetched no matter how much I tried to suspend any reality. There is no way in any kind of scenario, in any neighborhood, with any girls (especially girls under 18), that they would find a dead body and decide, "Let's dress him up in clothes and load him up in the car and drive him to Mexico!" No WAY.
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Was inspired by
The Odyssey by Homer
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2012-10-20
- People/Characters
- La Llorona; Odilia Garza; Juanita Garza; Delia Garza; Velia Garza; Pita Garza
- Important places
- Eagle Pass, Texas, USA; El Sacrificio, Coahuila, Mexico
- Epigraph
- mariposa (mah-ree-PO-sah) from the Spanish, mariposa, the apocopate Mari- (Mary in English) and posa (to rest or repose)
Butterfly. Mariposas are slender, delicate insects with four wide, colorful wings. In almost every ... (show all)culture, butterflies are associated with transformation. The Aztecs held the butterfly, papalotl, in high regard and had a special celebration to welcome the migrating monarchs in early August every year. They believed that mariposas were the cheerful souls of their loved ones, the angels of women and children, their fallen warriors, their ancestors, returning home transformed to assure them that they were well and that life, however brief, was beautiful - Dedication
- To my cinco hermanitas whom I love con tod mi corazón: Alicia, Virginia, Diamantina, Angelica, y Roxana the Garcia girls, together forever -- no matter what!
- First words
- Almost a year after our father left the house, never to be heard from again, the long, miserable drought ended in Texas.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It was at that very moment that I knew with certainty we would always be one, together forever, protecting our loved ones, braving the wind and illuminating the sky.
- Publisher's editor
- Whitman, Stacy
- Original language
- English, US
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- Members
- 280
- Popularity
- 114,619
- Reviews
- 14
- Rating
- (3.52)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 3
