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: From Caterpillars to Butterflies presents a historical account of a Dominican family who served a resistance against a cruel president. The book is targeted for children 8-12 but be warned it may be disturbing or jarring to sensitive children. (Subject matter covers execution, murder, death, and fear.)

I was unfamiliar with the Mirabal sisters before reading this book. Their story is a heartbreaking one, but one that is important to tell. Although their lives ended tragically, they stood for what they believed in and sacrificed their freedoms and even their lives to make a change.

This isn’t a light read or bedtime story book, but rather an educational story. The illustrations give us a good idea of what these sisters looked like and how passionate they were. I, as an adult, learned a lot from this book and I’ve no doubt young readers will as well.

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. ( )