The tension builds early in the novel titled
I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín. Celeste Marconi is a girl who has been named after the sky and has an idyllic life in Valparaíso, Chile. She lives in a multi-generational home and often daydreams on the roof of their steep home overlooking the harbor. But daydreams soon turn to nightmares as large military ships begin appearing in the harbor and children and adults begin disappearing from Celeste's school. As the government is about to be overthrown by a cold-hearted military, educated and creative people like Celeste's parents need to go into hiding to survive. Celeste is sent to Maine to live with her aunt. In one night, Celeste's colorful, vibrant world is traded for a bleak world of grays and whites. After a long adjustment period, Celeste becomes friends with a Korean girl who is also being tutored at the back of the classroom in English. Celeste learns that Kim's family are also refugees who have fled from political unrest. Celeste eventually gets to return to her home and become part of rebuilding process her beloved country must undertake. This book was the 2015
Pura Belpré winner for a chapter book. Readers that love this book should also be directed to this year's winner,
Enchanted Air.
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