Summer of the Mariposas

Throughout their journey the Garza sisters are reminded of the importance and beauty of their Aztec lineage. Tonantzin’s ear pendant becomes the girls’ saving grace, and the Aztec queen appears several times to protect the girls. Tonantzin espouses indigenous philosophies of environmental stewardship and community, reminding the Garza sisters that they must respect themselves, the land, and their cultural lineage. The Garza sisters later encounter a native Mexican woman named Ixtali who tells them, “We are tenders, cultivators, nurturers,” (368), which further emphasizes the importance of indigenous practices. In Part 3, the Garza sisters see the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, reminding them that their ancestors’ history and glory is always with them. Later, Ixtali tells the girls that the goddess’s gift is the sight of Tenochtitlan, a “vision to always remember who you are, where you came from, as you develop a better future” (369). It is through the Garza sisters’ engagement with their cultural heritage that they find the strength to defy to their father’s misogyny and empathize with their mother’s struggle.

Summer of the Mariposas ponders the notion of “correct” motherhood. La Llorona, the Garza sisters’ mother, and even Abuelita Remedios question their own parenting choices and repent for what they perceive as negligence.