Algonquin Books has announced the publication of the first-ever graphic novel edition of In the Time of the Butterflies, the iconic, bestselling historical novel written by Julia Alvarez, first published in 1994 and now illustrated by Krystal Quiles. The book will be published in hardcover and e-book editions on September 1, 2026, with Algonquin acquiring World English rights. 

Set during the waning days of Trujillo’s rule in the Dominican Republic, In the Time of the Butterflies was inspired by the real-life, three Mirabal sisters, known as Las Mariposas, or the Butterflies, who were murdered on November 25, 1960, for their part in an underground plot to overthrow the government.

The beloved novel went on to receive wide acclaim, being nominated for the 1994 National Book Critics Circle Award, adapted into a feature film in 2001 starring Salma Hayek, and selected for the National Endowment for the Arts’ reading program, The Big Read. Today, In the Time of the Butterflies has sold over a million copies in all formats and is known as a modern classic, having been incorporated into course learning in high schools and universities across the US for decades.

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. Krystal Quiles, winner of the 2024 Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award for her illustration of The Coquíes Still Sing, is a talented artist perfectly matched to adapt this classic into the graphic novel format. A longtime reader of Julia Alvarez, illustrator Krystal Quiles 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. This is a stunning rendition of a cherished novel, sure to captivate old fans and new readers discovering it for the first time.