Every year, monarch butterflies born east of the Rockies head for Mexico's Transverse Neovolcanic Mountains, 50 forested acres of pine trees. Those born in the West go to California. Sue Halpern, the author of Migration to Solitude, takes a multileveled look at this phenomenon which some scientists have called "one of the great unsolved mysteries of animal biology." For the author, it is an adventure to ponder these insects. She writes: "By now I must have seen thousands of monarch butterflies, and still they pulled me down the street as if they had my hand firmly in the grip of theirs."
Halpern marvels at monarchs who are able on their long and arduous flight to Mexico to travel 44 miles a day on average. Of course, they face innumerable dangers from weather (too hot, too cold), logging, fires, and predators including mice and cows who like to eat them. Humans can be very destructive to monarchs and their habitats, especially when they eliminate milkweeds, an essential breeding ground.
Halpern profiles scientists and butterfly lovers who follow their migrations, tag them, and try to fathom their behavior. Biologist David Gibo tells the author that "a monarch swims through the air" — a description that is both vivid and appealing. Four Wings and a Prayer by Sue Halpern explores the ample mysteries of monarch butterflies and encourages us to be bowled over in wonder by their beauty and amazing feats of flight.
