Summer of the Mariposas: Odyssey and Folklore Inspired Novel

Study Notes

Summer of the Mariposas is a young adult novel, steeped in magical realism.
The story mixes elements of The Odyssey along with Mexican folklore and myths.
Messages of female empowerment and bravery lie at the core of this tale.
When asked about the inspiration to write this novel, the author stated: "For a very long time, years actually, I'd been toying with the idea of retelling The Odyssey with an all-female cast. The idea of flipping the ultimate male adventure and turning it into a feminine quest with all the strengths of womanhood fascinated me."
But why stop there? my brain asked. Why not really turn this thing on its ear and make it about Hispanic girls? Better yet, why not make it about our culture? We have myths and legends and monsters and heroes and ancient deities who are just as interesting as the ones in the original text."
Suddenly it all came together for me. I knew I had to write it."
The author’s students outlined the entire adventure on their wall based on their reading of The Odyssey.
The author enjoyed playing Loteria while reading The Odyssey.
The author suggests that teachers preparing to introduce Summer of the Mariposas follow suit by first reviewing The Odyssey, either in long or short form, dependent upon grade level.

Description

Explore the themes of female empowerment, Mexican folklore, and mythical elements in Summer of the Mariposas, a young adult novel steeped in magical realism. Discover how the author's unique inspiration from The Odyssey and desire to showcase Hispanic culture led to the creation of this captivating tale.