The Mirabal Sisters / Las hermanas Mirabal: From Caterpillars to Butterflies / De orugas a mariposas

By Raynelda Calderon

"An example of fearless bravery in the ominous face of darkness." - Kirkus Reviews

Honorable Mention: Premio Campoy-Ada Awards.

The Mirabal sisters lived during a time when the Dominican Republic was ruled by a very harsh dictatorship. Even though they were daughters, wives, and mothers, Patria, Minerva, and Mar a Teresa went against the norm and bravely stood up to the dictatorship, getting involved in secret activities against the government. They were affectionately called "Las Mariposas (The Butterflies)" by their community, and their actions had a lasting impact on their country as they fought for freedom. They didn't live to see the results of their bravery, but their unwavering courage in fighting for justice was not affected by the uncertainty of the future. In their honor, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed every year on November 25th.

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Las hermanas Mirabal vivieron en una poca en la que la Rep blica Dominicana estaba gobernada por una dictadura muy dura. A pesar de ser hijas, esposas y madres, Patria, Minerva y Mar a Teresa desafiaron la norma y se enfrentaron valientemente a la dictadura, participando en actividades secretas contra el gobierno. Eran cari osamente llamadas "Las Mariposas" por su comunidad, y sus acciones tuvieron un impacto duradero en su pa s mientras luchaban por la libertad. Aunque no vivieron para ver los resultados de su valent a, su inquebrantable coraje en la lucha por la justicia no se vio afectado por la incertidumbre del futuro. En su honor, el D a Internacional de la Eliminaci n de la Violencia Contra la Mujer se observa todos los a os el 25 de noviembre.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1955328161
• ISBN13: 9781955328166
• Release Date: May 2024
• Publisher: Cayena Press, Inc.
• Length: 50 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Very good historical fiction

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK I have never heard of The Mirabal sisters until I read this book. They were born in the Dominican Republic when the country was under rule of a dictatorship. On November 25, 1960 the sisters lost their life, and their death has gotten international coverage. In their honor, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed annually on November 25. Though this book is for eight to ten year old children, there are issues here that I’m not sure I would want that age reading. I would suggest you read this for yourself before letting a child read it. Maybe you can read it to your children and ask any questions they may have. The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies by Raynelda A. Calderon is a very sad story. I think Calderon does a really nice job writing this story simple enough for children to understand yet she adds what needs to be added to the story to make it accurate. Maria Ocampo does a fantastic job with the beautiful illustrations inside and outside of the book. A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Mirabal Sisters

The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies is a wonderful children’s book by Raynelda A. Calderón. I admit that I do not know much about Dominican Republic history. Even though this book is geared for younger books, I very much enjoyed learning about the sisters, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa. I found learning about them and their fight for to help free themselves and the people of their country was so inspiring. What they did and how they contributed for this freedom was so admirable. The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies is beautifully illustrated by the talented artist Maria Ocampo. The pictures were a perfect addition to the book that made the story about the sisters so much more. They helped hold the attention of my young ones and it was helpful to visualized what the words on the page was saying. The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages six and ten and enjoy learning about people. This would be a great addition for a local or school library. I would love to read more about these sisters in an adult version book and hope author, Raynelda A Calderón, would consider writing one in the future. I received a soft cover copy of The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.