Q&A with Emma Otheguy

 

 

 

Emma Otheguy is the author of the new middle grade novel Cousins in the Time of Magic. Her other books include The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Madres de Aguas of Cuba.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write Cousins in the Time of Magic, and how did you create your cast of characters?

 

A: Cousins in the Time of Magic brings together my passion for children’s books, particularly my love of magical middle-grade capers, with my expertise in history (I have a Ph.D. from New York University).

 

I want my book to capture kids’ hearts with cousin dynamics, the mystery and magic of time travel, and the action-packed adventure the cousins face as they try to return to their own time.

 

I also hope it will give them a vital education in the history of the United States and its inextricable relationship with Latin America and its people. Latinos played an essential role in the story of the United States, and knowing that history is empowering and liberating.

 

This is history that every child needs to know, and Cousins in the Time of Magic is the perfect way to learn. 

 

Q: Why did you choose 1862 as the time period your characters visited? 

 

A: The 1860s were a critical moment for republics in the Americas. The United States was in the midst of the Civil War. French emperor Napoleon III sent troops to Mexico in a recolonization attempt. The Confederacy, which was hoping for recognition from France and an ally at their southern border, was thrilled.

 

But Mexico defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo), sending a message to the world that freedom and democracy can prevail, even in the face of very serious challenges. 

 

I chose 1862 because I wanted kids to see that freedom in the United States and Latin America are interdependent. This was also the moment when the term “Latino” was emerging as a term to describe the people of many different national, racial, linguistic, and religious backgrounds who trace their roots to Latin America.

 

In the book, readers get to see kids from the 1860s grappling with the word and their own relationships to this group. 

 

Q: How did you research the novel, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?

 

A: Cousins in the Time of Magic was extensively researched. By far the most exciting part of the process was visiting Puebla, Mexico. I was lucky to travel to Mexico, stay with family there, and visit the forts where the Battle of Puebla (what we now call Cinco de Mayo) took place.

 

I also spent some time in local bookstores buying books about Cinco de Mayo that I couldn’t find in the United States. 

 

Another trip was to Richmond, Virginia, where I visited the American Civil War Museum, then drove up and down the peninsula from Richmond to Fort Monroe visiting historic sites. I got to hike through the fields and forests that my protagonists explore! 

 

But the most important part of my research was reading. Cousins in the Time of Magic includes a four-page bibliography as well as a selected reading list for kids.

 

I tried to read everything that has been written relatively recently for children about the U.S. Civil War (lots) and Cinco de Mayo (very little), and while it would be all but impossible to read everything written for adults on those topics, I did read extensively, in English and Spanish, including many travel narratives and other eyewitness accounts of the time. 

 

Q: The writer James Ponti called the book a “heartfelt adventure that’s filled with hope, history, and the importance of family.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I am truly honored! I love James Ponti’s books, as do all my nieces and nephews, and he was kind enough to offer writing advice when I was early in the process.

 

I really do intend for Cousins in the Time of Magic to offer kids hope–the hope that comes from knowing the history of our nation’s struggles for freedom, and the love and solidarity that comes from family on a magical adventure. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on the next Cousins time travel adventure–this time to the year 1930. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: I’m always happy to hear from readers and fellow writers. Subscribe to my newsletter and stay in touch!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb