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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Much of what I know of Cuba involves a lot of romanticism about Communist Socialism without really knowing anything about the history or present circumstance of the country. This book about the political change in the 60's gives a very different view on life in Cuba, and dispelled a lot of my romanticized ideas.
Loved learning about Cuban culture and had no idea so many Cuban children had been shipped to the US when Castro took power. Very interesting.
Really great story, and really eye-opening. I know very little about Cuba, since its revolution happened at a time that is considered too recent to be a big part of high school history classes, and I had never heard of this exodus. So many comparisons to Holocaust children's and YA books could be made about this book. So interesting.
Interesting time period, a bit pro-capitalist in a few early chapters. Would let kids read with some added historical context.
This book is magnificent! As an immigrant myself I can relate in so many levels to this book…sadly the political situation since my home country Venezuela is under the regimen of someone who admires and friendship with Castro. We have “missions” working for “the people” we have the faces of Che and Castro painted throughout low income neighborhoods…sadly we have a lot of similar things.
Now on a brighter subject Lucia and Frankie’s struggle with English reminds me so much of my own everyday struggle! I don’t want to give away too much but it definitely had me laughing out loud!
I really enjoyed “The Red Umbrella” and I hope everyone pick up a copy and learn there is much more in a culture than Salsa and Spanish….there are people fighting, people struggling, people trying to make a difference, trying to be accepted and trying to have a better future.
Now on a brighter subject Lucia and Frankie’s struggle with English reminds me so much of my own everyday struggle! I don’t want to give away too much but it definitely had me laughing out loud!
I really enjoyed “The Red Umbrella” and I hope everyone pick up a copy and learn there is much more in a culture than Salsa and Spanish….there are people fighting, people struggling, people trying to make a difference, trying to be accepted and trying to have a better future.
Popsugar23: #21 - A book set in the decade you were born
(1960s)
(1960s)
Excellent book depicting the difficulties fo refugees coming to this country from Cuba in the 1960's. THis book has a happy ending, but I doubt that all families did at that time.
I enjoyed reading about a little-known aspect of the Cuba-US relationship, but felt it lacked a bit of complexity. Additionally, while I felt it was aimed at an older elementary audience, some parts of it seemed better suited or at least more easily understood by young teens. All in all, not bad.
This was a very touching and poignant book about Lucy and her family. Set in 1960s Cuba.
Summary:
The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan'an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution. In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucia Alvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched. As the revolution's impact becomes more oppressive, Lucia's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States'on their own. Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucia struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life' Will she ever see her home or her parents again' And if she does, will she still be the same girl' The Red Umbrella is a moving story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.
Summary:
The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan'an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution. In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucia Alvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched. As the revolution's impact becomes more oppressive, Lucia's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States'on their own. Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucia struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life' Will she ever see her home or her parents again' And if she does, will she still be the same girl' The Red Umbrella is a moving story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.
Lucia lives an idyllic life in Cuba. All she thinks about is her quinca, her friends and if Manuel will dance with her. Then Castro comes to power and everything changes. People start getting arrested, her parents become afraid, school is cancelled. Finally her parents decide to send her and her brother to America. They first go to Miami where they live in camps, then they are sent to live with the Baxters in Nebraska. Lucia and Frankie have to adjust to life in America, they have to learn English, they have to learn to live without their parents.
This is a wonderful book about a part of history I knew nothing about. I had never heard about the Pedro Pan Project. I had no idea 14000 Cuban children were sent to the United States when Castro came to power. I can't imagine the heartache and fear that the kids must have felt to leave everything they know behind and move to another country without knowing if they will even see their parents again. The afterward of the book states that the majority of the kids were reunited with their parents but some never saw them again.
At the beginning of this book Lucia is a your typical spoiled teenager who really only thinks of herself. She is not aware of what is going on around her and doesn't have a care in the world. As the book progresses she matures a lot and becomes someone who looks out for others and has an awareness of the world and what goes on. I think the book is a pretty realistic portrayal of what happened in Cuba, but it is shown in a kid friendly way. The violence is hinted at and shown but it is not thrown in the reader's faces or graphic. This was not a pleasant time in Cuba and that is not covered up, but this is also a children's book and that is taken into account which I appreciate.
The one thing I think is glossed over is the transition to America. Lucia and Frankie do have a very difficult time when they are in the camps in Miami, but there time in Nebraska seems almost too easy. They don't have language problems or problems fitting in at school or making friends. I would think that there would be more issues being the only Cuban/Latino people in the middle of Nebraska at a time when there are probably only white people in the town. I find it hard to believe that the kids were that accepting of them. I think it reads great for a kids book, but I don't find it that realistic. Still I think this was a wonderful book and I recommend it.
This is a wonderful book about a part of history I knew nothing about. I had never heard about the Pedro Pan Project. I had no idea 14000 Cuban children were sent to the United States when Castro came to power. I can't imagine the heartache and fear that the kids must have felt to leave everything they know behind and move to another country without knowing if they will even see their parents again. The afterward of the book states that the majority of the kids were reunited with their parents but some never saw them again.
At the beginning of this book Lucia is a your typical spoiled teenager who really only thinks of herself. She is not aware of what is going on around her and doesn't have a care in the world. As the book progresses she matures a lot and becomes someone who looks out for others and has an awareness of the world and what goes on. I think the book is a pretty realistic portrayal of what happened in Cuba, but it is shown in a kid friendly way. The violence is hinted at and shown but it is not thrown in the reader's faces or graphic. This was not a pleasant time in Cuba and that is not covered up, but this is also a children's book and that is taken into account which I appreciate.
The one thing I think is glossed over is the transition to America. Lucia and Frankie do have a very difficult time when they are in the camps in Miami, but there time in Nebraska seems almost too easy. They don't have language problems or problems fitting in at school or making friends. I would think that there would be more issues being the only Cuban/Latino people in the middle of Nebraska at a time when there are probably only white people in the town. I find it hard to believe that the kids were that accepting of them. I think it reads great for a kids book, but I don't find it that realistic. Still I think this was a wonderful book and I recommend it.