Thompson has a M. A. degree and is a part-time English instructor at Jefferson Community College, Watertown, New York. In the following essay, she explores the significance of the imagery and foreshadowing of Silent Wing and how they communicate the novel's theme of love and honor.

Affairs of the heart are the central focus of this historical fiction based on the true life of Jose Julian Marti, Cuba's national poet and revolutionary hero. Heroes, by definition, may seem larger than life and nearly perfect. They may appear to be fearless, confident, self-satisfied, never filled with self-doubt. Julian is a "hero" plagued by self-doubt, fear, and a never-ending list of questions. These questions revolve around ideals such as keeping one's word, honoring promises and pledges made, and being true to one's dreams no matter the personal cost.

Despite being exiled from his homeland of Cuba, Julian endeavors to...