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bellatora's review against another edition
5.0
This was an extremely heartwarming book. It is definitely a middle-grade read, but this is one of those rare ones that don’t bother me with its simplicity. It’s like [b:The Wednesday Wars|556136|The Wednesday Wars|Gary D. Schmidt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175775828s/556136.jpg|2586820] in that regard.
I’ve never read a book about Cuba and I never really understood the big kerfuffle about Castro. He’s a dictator, yes, but he’s not like a Mugabe. But now I understand why people fled. I like that Lucia is a very ordinary girl in very extraordinary circumstances and she is able to rise to the occasion. I like that Frankie was so darn adorable and such a little brother. I like the Baxters are kind of that classic farm couple (Mrs. Baxter babbles a lot, Mr. Baxter is a stoic) and are warm-hearted, generous people. I like that Lucia’s new school life revolves around boys and friendship and mean girls and schoolwork and giggling. If this was a different YA, there would be more focus on that, but really that’s just one part of Lucia’s journey.
The book went super quickly and I was never bored or annoyed about the simplicity of the language. The characters aren’t [a:Mary Doria Russell|4007|Mary Doria Russell|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1236919634p2/4007.jpg]-complex but they all felt whole and completely real. And I will admit to tearing up at the end What?!? I’m a marshmallow.
I’ve never read a book about Cuba and I never really understood the big kerfuffle about Castro. He’s a dictator, yes, but he’s not like a Mugabe. But now I understand why people fled. I like that Lucia is a very ordinary girl in very extraordinary circumstances and she is able to rise to the occasion. I like that Frankie was so darn adorable and such a little brother. I like the Baxters are kind of that classic farm couple (Mrs. Baxter babbles a lot, Mr. Baxter is a stoic) and are warm-hearted, generous people. I like that Lucia’s new school life revolves around boys and friendship and mean girls and schoolwork and giggling. If this was a different YA, there would be more focus on that, but really that’s just one part of Lucia’s journey.
The book went super quickly and I was never bored or annoyed about the simplicity of the language. The characters aren’t [a:Mary Doria Russell|4007|Mary Doria Russell|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1236919634p2/4007.jpg]-complex but they all felt whole and completely real. And I will admit to tearing up at the end
Spoiler
when Lucia and Frankie are reunited with their parents.abookdork's review against another edition
4.0
If it had not been for the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, I wouldn't have picked up this book and I would have missed out on a great book! I hadn't heard about Operation Pedro Pan and I honestly didn't know much about Fidel Castro's revolution, so I really enjoyed learning about this period in history. I love how Lucia is just your average teenage girl making her very relatable. You can see yourself in her situation thinking about boys, gossiping with your friends and then all of a sudden seeing horrors you thought happened in other parts of the world. The safe streets you walk down every day now have troops with guns. Your friends are moving out of their parents house to support the revolution and you aren't allowed out of your house because your parents fear for you safety.
This book had many parts that were heartbreaking, but it was also uplifting and even funny at times. I really enjoyed reading about the time Lucia and her brother spent in Nebraska. Even though they were away from their parents, they were able to make the best of a bad situation. It was also interesting to see how Lucia's family morphed throughout the book. She started with a very typical family; a mother, father, and brother who loved each other very much, but all this changed when her parents realized they must send their children away for their safety.
This book is all about hope in tough situations and finding family where you least expect it. I really enjoyed how Gonzalez was able to tell a sad story without it being overwhelmingly depressing. I feel like she really balanced the good with the bad. Many children had to be seperated from their families during this part of Cuba's history, but Gonzalez was able to highlight the amazing story of how these children were successfully brought to America with the hopes of starting a new life where their. parents could one day join them.
This book had many parts that were heartbreaking, but it was also uplifting and even funny at times. I really enjoyed reading about the time Lucia and her brother spent in Nebraska. Even though they were away from their parents, they were able to make the best of a bad situation. It was also interesting to see how Lucia's family morphed throughout the book. She started with a very typical family; a mother, father, and brother who loved each other very much, but all this changed when her parents realized they must send their children away for their safety.
This book is all about hope in tough situations and finding family where you least expect it. I really enjoyed how Gonzalez was able to tell a sad story without it being overwhelmingly depressing. I feel like she really balanced the good with the bad. Many children had to be seperated from their families during this part of Cuba's history, but Gonzalez was able to highlight the amazing story of how these children were successfully brought to America with the hopes of starting a new life where their. parents could one day join them.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
It's 1961 and Fidel Castro has taken over Cuba. At first the Revolution is fun - Lucia and her younger brother Frankie get a vacation from school because the private schools have been closed. Lucia's planning on shopping and hanging out with her best friend Ivette. But her parents won't let her go out. And they won't let her join the youth movement of the revolution like many of Lucia's friends. And soon Lucia starts to see the darker side of the revolution. When the danger becomes too great, Lucia's parents send her and Frankie by themselves to America, just like thousands of other Cuban children who are part of what eventually becomes known as Operation Pedro Pan. All by themselves in a strange country where they barely speak the language... Everything's changing for Lucia and Frankie... will life ever go back to normal? Will they ever see Cuba - or their parents - again?
Lush descriptions of Cuba and Lucia's life there made me feel like i was right there beside her. Even though Lucia and Frankie don't leave Cuba until halfway through the book, I never felt like the plot was moving too slowly. This is a great look into an event that many children won't be familiar with and it's a fantastic debut. Highly recommended.
Lush descriptions of Cuba and Lucia's life there made me feel like i was right there beside her. Even though Lucia and Frankie don't leave Cuba until halfway through the book, I never felt like the plot was moving too slowly. This is a great look into an event that many children won't be familiar with and it's a fantastic debut. Highly recommended.
shoelessmama's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting as I had never read a book about this time period in Cuba before. Would like something a little meatier if I tackle it again. Very sweet- a little too sweet for my tastes but worth the read.
jenndazzle's review against another edition
5.0
Might not be the target age to read this, but I’m not mad about it
autismreading_mom's review against another edition
4.0
It was a good book but I thought it could really show the what the book was about.
captainroz's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
bougainvillea's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this, but the second half was not as good as the first half. The depiction of Cuba in the early days of the Castro regime was really well done with lots of nuance and complexity. The depiction of Nebraska had no nuance at all. Everything and everyone was perfect. This is the US in the 1960's. Things were far from perfect.
People "drop their shoulders" a lot in this book. I'm not sure what that means.
People "drop their shoulders" a lot in this book. I'm not sure what that means.
jshettel's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this historical fiction novel about Operation Pedro Pan in Cuba.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
A fascinating look at a period of history that was mostly unfamiliar to me - the lives of children who were sent from Cuba to live in the US after the revolution. Since the story starts in Cuba, the reader gets a great sense of contrast between the two worlds, and the characters are sympathetic. It also gives a glimpse into the way propaganda can shape a person's impressions of a country or political movement. The historical setting is vivid, and the characters realistic in their faults and strengths. It's a pity it doesn't have a more tween-friendly cover, since I can see this appealing to girls, especially, who like historical fiction and stories dealing with everyday life for teens.