A Flicker of Hope, Cynthia Harmony
A Flicker of Hope, Cynthia Harmony
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A Flicker of Hope
A Story of Migration

Author: Cynthia Harmony

Narrator: Victoria Villarreal

Unabridged: 9 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/27/2024

Synopsis

A heartwarming tale of a girl waiting for her beloved Papá to return when the monarchs fly south to their home in Mexico.

Lucía loves to watch the monarchs' migration from her home in Mexico with Papá. But this year, the monarchs' journey north holds extra weight; Papá is heading north, too, to look for work. He promises her that when "the weather turns cold and the monarcas return, our winged ancestors will guide me home." So while he spends the summer months harvesting produce on faraway farms, Lucía watches the skies for signs of the monarchs'—and her papá's—return. 

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.

National Council of Teachers of English - Charlotte Huck Outstanding Fiction for Children Honor Book Award 2025 National Science Teaching Association Outstanding Science Trade Book
American Library Association Notable Children's Book 2025
A Kirkus Best Picture Books of the Year 2024
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2024
Chicago Public Library Best Books 2024

About The Author

Cynthia Harmony is an educational psychologist who has created exhibits and bilingual learning materials for children and science museums. Originally from Mexico City, Cynthia is a children's author and translator.You can follow her at CynthiaHarmony.com.Devon Holzwarth grew up in Panama with the jungle as her garden and parrots and iguanas as pets. Devon earned her BFA in 2000 from the Rhode Island School of Design, focusing on screen printing and painting. Childhood memories and her collection of vintage children's books strongly inspire her work. She currently lives in Aachen, Germany, with her husband, two kids, and beloved old hound dog.You can follow her at DevonHolzwarth.com.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm

Absolutely beautiful!......more

Goodreads review by Jyoti

In this parallel story of humans and monarchs, Harmony and Holzwarth have created an ode to the Monarch Migration and the migration of farm workers to faraway lands. Filled with beautiful, lyrical language that evokes love, nature, tradition and new beginnings, the story follows a little girl as she......more

Goodreads review by Cathy

Cynthia Harmony has crafted a beautiful, lyrical story about a father who leaves his Mexican home and family as spring arrives. He travels north to look for work in the agricultural fields in the United States. At the same time, the monarch butterflies migrate north in search of milkweed blooms to h......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie

A Flicker of Hope by Cynthia Harmony is a breath-taking picture book filled with lyrical words and stunning images that bring the book to life and flood readers with emotion. Told in beautiful prose that includes English and Spanish, readers take parallel journeys of migration: one with Lucia and he......more

Goodreads review by Desiree

The juxtaposition of a fathers migratory pattern and the migratory pattern of monarch butterflies was so poignant. The time away from family is gorgeously illustrated as readers watch the seasons change and watch the little girl mark time waiting for her father to come home.......more

Quotes

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

★ “Rarely have the big ideas of family, tradition, labor, ecosystems, and interdependence been presented in such a loving and approachable way."—Booklist, starred review

"A treasure."—BCCB

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