Why I wrote Maravillosa Maria 💖

*Nuestra Chispa es Bella*

Growing up bilingual and bicultural, I often felt like I was walking between two worlds — the culture I inherited and the country I love. But instead of feeling divided, I grew up believing something deeply: these two worlds don’t compete. They complete me.

In my effort to combat the “othering” of nonwhite Americans, I created Maravillosa Maria as a joyful celebration of what it means to belong to more than one culture. For too long, many of us who are children of immigrants — or immigrants ourselves — have been treated as though our cultures make us “less American.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Having two cultures doesn’t dilute our American identity — it strengthens it.

Being multicultural is, and has always been, part of the American story. From the beginning, hyphenated Americans have embraced their roots proudly: Mexican-American.

Irish-American. German-American.

I'm Salvadoran-American; The hyphen isn’t a divider. It’s a bridge.

It represents a heritage carried with honor, and a country embraced with love.

Every community, every migration story, and every blended identity has added richness to this nation’s tapestry. Our food, our music, our languages, our traditions — they all shine brighter because so many different cultures call this place home.

And yet, children still grow up hearing messages that imply they have to choose. Choose one language. Choose one culture. Choose one identity.

Maravillosa Maria was born to push back against that idea.

I wanted to give children — especially bicultural, bilingual, first-generation kids — a character who mirrors their world. A character who isn’t “caught between” cultures but empowered by them. A girl who dances between English and Spanish with ease, who celebrates her heritage, and who lights up every room with the confidence that her cultures are something to treasure, not hide.

Maria’s sparkle is the sparkle so many of us carry: the sparkle of our ancestors’ resilience, the sparkle of our families’ sacrifices, the sparkle of navigating two cultures with pride and joy.

And I wrote her story because I want every child who sees themselves in Maria to know:

You are not “less than.” You are more. Nosotros somos MAS. More capable. More powerful. More beautiful because of every culture we embody.

This country is strongest when ALL of its people are seen, uplifted, and represented.

My hope is that Maravillosa Maria adds one more bright voice to that celebration — and reminds us all that the American identity has room for every story, every language, and every beautiful blend of who we are.

No child should ever feel they must choose between cultures to be accepted.

They deserve to shine in all of them.

Thank you for reading, thank you for supporting, and thank you for letting Maria shine in your home.

Y recuerda, tu CHISPA es bella.

- Sandy Torres