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pipn_t's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Honestly, the best book I’ve read all year. I picked it up just for a reading challenge and ended out adoring it. The main character is a delightful, I love her sweetness. The writing was full of beautiful description, and it was really heartwarming to read a story with such good characters. Can’t recommend this book enough!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
ksuazo94's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Racism, Racial slurs, War, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Deportation
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Xenophobia
Minor: Slavery, Deportation, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Ableism
averyjane's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
linesiunderline's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book brought me closer to an aspect of Jewish history that I was not familiar with, and I think it’s important for young people to have a story like this, to see how far reaching Nazism was at this time.
Behar really brings us inside of Esther’s experience. She was a lovely character to come to know and spend time with. Witnessing her fall in love with Cuba was really beautiful. Also, the community she finds is wonderfully diverse and loving.
It was a little slow moving, so it won’t be for every middle grade reader, but no book is. It’s more of a contemplative read overall. Some of the secondary characters didn’t feel as well drawn to me.
There is a kindness and warmth to this book that is special, particularly given the difficult subject matter. It belongs in school libraries for sure.
Behar really brings us inside of Esther’s experience. She was a lovely character to come to know and spend time with. Witnessing her fall in love with Cuba was really beautiful. Also, the community she finds is wonderfully diverse and loving.
It was a little slow moving, so it won’t be for every middle grade reader, but no book is. It’s more of a contemplative read overall. Some of the secondary characters didn’t feel as well drawn to me.
There is a kindness and warmth to this book that is special, particularly given the difficult subject matter. It belongs in school libraries for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
bookdragon217's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
"I wonder if the first language you learn in life will always be the language of your deepest feelings, even if you learn other languages."
Thanks to @goldleafliterary and @ruthbeharauthor for the gifted signed copy and goodies in Spanish.
I read Letters From Cuba last month with #welovemglit book club. I thought it was going to be a heartwarming story and did not expect to learn so much from this middle grade novel.
The story is told in letters written by Esther, a 12 year old Jewish immigrant who comes to Cuba during WWII to help her father make money to bring their family over. I loved seeing the world through Esther's eyes because she saw the world in its purest form and never lost hope that humanity could work together despite their differences. Behar's descriptive writing helps you visualize Cuba, its' sociopolitical climate and its' diverse people and history perfectly. Although the story has a light hearted feel, it does tackle difficult themes through well written character development. It drove me to research more about this time in Cuba's history. I also appreciated that the author acknowledged Cuba's Afro-Latino history.
Some of the themes that stayed with me were:
🇨🇺 Children from low income and marginalized groups have to take on adult responsibilities to help the family.
🇨🇺 Hate comes from a place of fear and ignorance. Racist history should be acknowledged in order to move forward.
🇨🇺 Low income & immigrant families often have to resort to participating in alternative economies to survive.
🇨🇺 Immigrant identity is often erased through the adoption/assignment of new names for assimilation/citizenship.
🇨🇺 Marginalized groups project colonial thinking & ways onto other marginalized groups.
🇨🇺 African spirituality practices are part of Cuban history.
🇨🇺 Learning about another culture doesn't make you any less of your own.
🇨🇺 Jewish immigration to Cuba during the war.
🇨🇺 Capitalism and classism go hand in hand.
🇨🇺 Tolerance and honest communication can lead to mutual understanding and reconciliation.
🇨🇺 Different belief systems can arise from the same family unit.
Thanks to @goldleafliterary and @ruthbeharauthor for the gifted signed copy and goodies in Spanish.
I read Letters From Cuba last month with #welovemglit book club. I thought it was going to be a heartwarming story and did not expect to learn so much from this middle grade novel.
The story is told in letters written by Esther, a 12 year old Jewish immigrant who comes to Cuba during WWII to help her father make money to bring their family over. I loved seeing the world through Esther's eyes because she saw the world in its purest form and never lost hope that humanity could work together despite their differences. Behar's descriptive writing helps you visualize Cuba, its' sociopolitical climate and its' diverse people and history perfectly. Although the story has a light hearted feel, it does tackle difficult themes through well written character development. It drove me to research more about this time in Cuba's history. I also appreciated that the author acknowledged Cuba's Afro-Latino history.
Some of the themes that stayed with me were:
🇨🇺 Children from low income and marginalized groups have to take on adult responsibilities to help the family.
🇨🇺 Hate comes from a place of fear and ignorance. Racist history should be acknowledged in order to move forward.
🇨🇺 Low income & immigrant families often have to resort to participating in alternative economies to survive.
🇨🇺 Immigrant identity is often erased through the adoption/assignment of new names for assimilation/citizenship.
🇨🇺 Marginalized groups project colonial thinking & ways onto other marginalized groups.
🇨🇺 African spirituality practices are part of Cuban history.
🇨🇺 Learning about another culture doesn't make you any less of your own.
🇨🇺 Jewish immigration to Cuba during the war.
🇨🇺 Capitalism and classism go hand in hand.
🇨🇺 Tolerance and honest communication can lead to mutual understanding and reconciliation.
🇨🇺 Different belief systems can arise from the same family unit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
erinsbookshelves's review
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
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