Scan barcode
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
jtlars7's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
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
4.0
Nice historical fiction on a subject that will be new to many in the U.S. - Jewish refugees in Cuba before WWII. For this adult reader, the ease and simplicity with which one serious challenge after another was resolved began to feel absurd. For middle grade readers, though, maybe it’s enough to know these kinds of challenges exist- and that kindness and standing up together for what’s right can make a difference.
kaylab's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
segblue's review
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
2.75
it wasn’t a bad book i just don’t like the letter format and books from the past
besidemyshelf's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
cgandrea's review
emotional
hopeful
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? N/A
5.0
sometimesleelynnreads's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
babyskillet's review
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. As a person who has always enjoyed reading about World War II and the Holocaust, I am ashamed to say that I never knew so many people immigrated to Cuba to seek refuge. I thought this was an incredibly written story that will stick with me forever. And it is so different from the many other WWII books I have read in the past.
that_silly_ginger's review
5.0
This is one of the most wholesome and touching WWII novels I have ever read. I loved that so much attention was put into telling the stories of not just Esther and her family, but the many other immigrant stories of people in Cuba as well. The character interactions were incredibly heartwarming, and while I appreciated that the author didn't shy away from the hardships they faced, I particularly enjoyed that the book focused on family, culture, and the friendships developed along the way.