Over thirty years ago, Algonquin Books published Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies, a bestselling historical novel which went on to become a modern literary classic. Algonquin Books is thrilled to now publish the first-ever graphic edition illustrated by Krystal Quiles: IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES: The Graphic Novel
Set during the waning days of Trujillo’s rule in the Dominican Republic, In the Time of the Butterflies (1994) was inspired by the true story of the Mirabal sisters, known as Las Mariposas, or the Butterflies, who were brutally murdered on November 25, 1960, for their part in an underground plot to overthrow the regime. The art and magic of Julia Alvarez’s storytelling first brought them to the world’s attention, and in 1999 the United Nations declared the day of their murder, November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Mirabal sisters continue to inspire readers around the world with their resilience and hope.
This magnificently illustrated edition of the 1994 novel reintroduces readers to the Mirabal sisters and renders these historical figures as they’ve never been seen before. A longtime reader of Julia Alvarez, illustrator Krystal Quiles, winner of the 2024 Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award for her illustration of The Coquíes Still Sing, has honored the literary icon’s portrayal of the sisters’ teenage years, their resistance of Trujillo’s rule, and their terror as their involvement in the revolution is revealed.
In the Time of the Butterflies reminds us that ordinary people can create extraordinary change. Now, especially with the high cost of freedom and the task of resisting oppression on all our minds, the Mirabal sisters’ story of courage and love resonates even more deeply.
Julia Alvarez left the Dominican Republic for the United States in 1960 at the age of ten. She is the author of six novels, three nonfiction books, three collections of poetry, and eleven books for children and young adults. She has taught and mentored writers in schools and communities across America and, until her retirement in 2016, was a writer in residence at Middlebury College. Her work has garnered wide recognition, including a Latina Leader Award in Literature from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the Hispanic Heritage Award in Literature, the Woman of the Year by Latina magazine, and inclusion in the New York Public Library’s program “The Hand of the Poet: Original Manuscripts by 100 Masters, from John Donne to Julia Alvarez.” In the Time of the Butterflies, with over one million copies in print, was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts for its national Big Read program, and in 2013 President Obama awarded Alvarez the National Medal of Arts in recognition of her extraordinary storytelling. In 2024, she was profiled in the American Masters documentary, “Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined,” on PBS.
Krystal Quiles is an artist and illustrator who splits her creative time between Philadelphia and New York City. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Krystal has worked in the editorial world and has illustrated children’s books, including The Coquíes Still Sing / Los Coquíes Aún Cantan, for which she received a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor. In the Time of Butterflies is her debut adapted graphic novel.
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