 Illustrator: Noa Denmon Today, we are celebrating the book birthday of Danilo Was Here by Musa Tamika Burgess! We sat down with Tamika to learn more about this book. Tell us about Danilo Was Here: Danilo Was Here is a timely coming-of-age story about a young boy’s fight to save his family and his dreams in the aftermath of the US military invasion of Panamá. Perfect for fans of Janae Marks, Adrianna Cuevas, and Chrystal D. Giles! Danilo Osorio Jr.’s baseball skills were once the pride of his father and entire hometown of El Chorrillo, Panamá. But that was then, and this is now Following 1989's Operation Just Cause, a US military invasion that left his neighborhood decimated, Danilo couldn’t care less about baseball or the father who abandoned him for opportunities in the States. Now Danilo’s focus is taking care of his mamá and sister and trying to save them all from needing to relocate to a refugee camp. When Danilo unintentionally catches the eye of a baseball recruiter and is offered the opportunity to visit and train in California—the same place as his father’s last known address—he is tasked with deciding to go or stay. But if playing baseball could help him find his father and secure the extra funds his family needs, Danilo is willing to travel anywhere, even to the very country responsible for destroying his home. Between his tough-as-nails baseball coach, ultracompetitive teammates, and overly enthusiastic host family, Danilo’s plans encounter some curveballs. And when his turn to bat finally comes, he’ll have to decide what and who he’s actually fighting for. What an important story to share with readers! How would you describe your main character? Why did you create your character that way? Some words that I would use to describe Danilo are determined, confident, caring, and reliable. As he navigates through the many changes he experiences, these characteristics remain, yet get stretched, twisted, and tested. This causes Danilo to push himself in new ways. It was important for me to showcase this growth because it is an example to readers that as we go through harsh things in life, we can learn not to let them negatively impact who we are. Where did you get the idea to write this particular story? Danilo Was Here was inspired by what happened during the early hours of December 20, 1989, when the United States military invaded twenty locations within the Republic of Panamá. There are several reasons why the United States claims the invasion—named “Operation Just Cause”—was necessary, the main one being to capture politician and unelected military dictator Manuel Noriega. Throughout the years, I have come to learn a lot about the invasion, and I knew I wanted to figure out a way to include this major event in Panamanian history in a novel. December 20 is a National Day of Mourning in Panamá to commemorate the lives lost. But when I learned that many students growing up in Panamá today are not taught much about the invasion, writing this story became that much more important. What was the most difficult scene to write in this story? The most difficult scene to write was when Danilo, for the first time, retells what happened the morning of the invasion. This was difficult to write for several reasons. One is that since I don’t have first-hand knowledge of this experience, with the help of research, I had to sit and think for a while about what I would have heard, seen, smelled and then how my body would react to all of that. Once the scene was written, I let it sit for a while and then reread it a few days later to see what effect it would have on me. After reading it, I felt immense sorrow for Danilo, but more so for the people who experienced this historical event. Nothing I could imagine about that day comes close to what people who lived through the invasion experienced. What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story? Similar to my purpose for writing Sincerely Sicily, Danilo Was Here was written to share Panamanian culture and the country’s history, which isn’t often represented in works of fiction. I wrote Danilo Was Here not only to share how the pain and lasting trauma of the United States invasion might have affected the children who were present but also to show how children are resilient and, with proper help, can learn the tools to overcome life- changing events and go onto prosper and thrive. Danilo demonstrates determination and an ability to press on when obstacles arise, which reminds readers to never give up on themselves. What books are on your to-be-read list?
Thank you, Tamika for sharing these wonderful insights about your brand new book, your inspiration, and your process.  Photographer: Claudia R. Balbuena Tamika Burgess (Ta-mee-Ka Bur-jess) is the middle grade fiction author of SINCERELY SICILY and DANILO WAS HERE.
Born to parents who migrated from Panamá, Tamika has always taken a particular interest in writing themes that explore her Black Latina identity. Because of her passion for spreading knowledge about her culture, Tamika writes fiction novels that feature Black Panamanian main characters. Tamika currently resides in Southern California. You can find her online at www.tamikaburgess.com Find her on social media: Twitter (X): https://x.com/TameeksB Instagram: https://x.com/TameeksB Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tameeksb?hl=en Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tameeksb.bsky.social Newsletter: https://www.tamikaburgess.com/newsletter Website: https://www.tamikaburgess.com/
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