The Firefly Crown

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The Firefly Crown is infused with Filipino folklore, including the mambabarang, sorcerers who use insects to channel their magic. In Yumi’s world, the mambabarang make up a complex community of ranked sorcerers who have specialized relationships with insects and differing abilities.

Invite students to draw inspiration from the novel’s insect-based magic system to imagine their own magical relationship with a particular insect species. Have each student choose an insect to research, learning about its appearance, habitat, behaviors, life cycle, and unique adaptations. Encourage them to use their insect’s real-life characteristics as inspiration to shape and define what their own magical relationship with the species looks like.

Have students share their insect magic by creating “Frequently Asked Questions” about their chosen insect to help others who are just beginning to develop their insect magic. Their FAQs should include research about the real insect, an illustration, and answers to questions about things like how best to communicate with that species and what kinds of magical encounters, partnerships, and challenges to expect. Build buzz about the book, bugs, and students’ insect magic with a display of completed FAQs!

Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing

• Why does Yumi have doubts about being a Cricket? What is Yumi’s real passion? What is she willing to do to follow her dreams?
• Though Yumi’s mother warns her that “the imperial city is no place for Crickets like us,” why does Yumi want to go to Tinanglawan? Why do some people believe Crickets like Yumi do not belong in Tinanglawan? How does Yumi challenge those beliefs?
• Who decides which kinds of magic are valued more than others? Who benefits from this system, and who gets left out?
• Why is Yumi surprised that Kaiya and Talim think of themselves as her friends even though they just met? What qualities do people look for when they are making new friends? Would you want to be friends with Yumi? Why or why not?
• How does Yumi learn to value the part of herself she once felt embarrassed about? How does accepting who she is help Yumi find where she belongs?

Related Resources

Teachers Notes for The Firefly Crown from Bloomsbury

Bugs from Start with a Book

Six-Legged Science: Unlocking the Secrets of the Insect World from Museum of the Earth