Kim Smejkal’s love letter to dandelions in pop culture

The Dandelion Riots by Kim Smejkal follows 16-year-old Drinn who is cursed at birth because of her powers and hidden away from the world her whole life. Fleeing, she finds herself in Oblison, surrounded by others just like her – cursed girls whose lives are dangerous and wild. Refusing to accept this, the girls decide to start a rebellion.

If you’re asking why “dandelion”, we got you. We are honoured to invite the author, Kim Smejkal, to chat about the meaning behind dandelions, in both her book, and in pop culture in general.

This guest post is written by Kim Smejkal, author of The Dandelion Riots.

Many people think of dandelions as weeds: a persistent, ugly garden nuisance, an eyesore that ruins otherwise beautiful public spaces. But, as Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh is famous for saying, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”

So let’s listen to our gloomy friend Eeyore and get to know them! Because despite their weedy reputation, dandelions regularly show up in popular culture, and almost every metaphor is a positive one.

Let’s start with a book that many of you have probably read and loved. In The Hunger Games, dandelions are a powerful symbol of hope for Katniss. When she realizes she can forage for them and feed her family, her despair lifts. They are bright yellow symbols of rebirth. They are proof that the future can be beautiful.

Personally, I love dandelions, and have to agree with Katniss. To me, they are gorgeous harbingers of springtime. Bright and sunshine-yellow, growing defiantly in the face of a retreating winter. They’re one of the first flowers that feed the bees. They’re the only flower children can pluck without getting into trouble, and kids pick them by the fistful, making bouquets or weaving them into crowns. There’s something magical in all of that, isn’t there?

Their transformation is something magical too: from a sturdy, bright yellow flower to a round puff of umbrella-like seeds. We blow on the seed heads and make wishes as the seeds fly away on the breeze seeking out new adventures. It’s a ritual most of us understand: a whim that brings us back to our childhoods, to an innocent time of wishing on stars and believing in magic.

In the song Dandelion by Ruth B, she captures this whimsical feeling as she sings about someone she loves. The dandelions carry her wishes away, delivering them to her beloved like dutiful little messengers.

Dandelion symbolism isn’t just limited to books and music. Let’s look at body art. There’s a reason getting a dandelion puff as a tattoo was (and is) still so popular. The imagery is powerful and tender at the same time: something that brings to mind possibility and the fleeting unknowns of life.

Maybe you can’t be convinced that dandelions are beautiful and magical, but you have to agree that they’re tough. Dandelions thrive in unlikely places. They are resilient and strong. The word “dandelion” comes from a French phrase that translates to “teeth of the lion,” referring to the serrated leaves of the plant. Even the name is hard-core.

My newest young adult fantasy, The Dandelion Riots, is about a group of cursed girls who fight back against the witches who cursed them. These girls adopt the dandelion as a symbol for their group because they relate to everything the dandelion represents: beauty, inherent optimism, and magic. But most of all, they relate to the dandelion’s tenacity and strength. The girls in The Dandelion Riots are tired of being called weeds when they are so much more.

Now that you’ve gotten to know them, I’m sure you’ll agree with Eeyore (and me): dandelions are a marvelous flower.

P.S. I’ve made jelly out of dandelion flowers and it tastes like honey and sunshine. *chef’s kiss* Delectable.