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kvanderbeek21's review against another edition
5.0
Quick read, sobbed at the end, takes place partly in Nebraska, follows a young Cuban girl and her brother on their path to America and hopefully, someday, back to their parents
kelsyalexandra's review against another edition
4.0
interesting. i enjoyed the newspaper headlines that introduced each chapter
lyderature's review against another edition
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez is definitely one of the sweetest books I've read in a long time. Gonzalez takes a tumultuous period of time—the Communist revolution in Cuba, and turns it into a family-oriented, sweet and realistic tale about culture and home. In other words, I loved it.
Lucia Alvarez is a typical teen girl. She has a best friend to squeal over clothes with, a mother who won't let her wear make-up (even though she desperately wants too), a little brother that can be annoying at times, and a crush to daydream about. Her biggest worry was what to wear to her first dance....Fidel Castro took over her home, Cuba. Then her happy life vanishes as Communism and Socialism reign. Her family doesn't support it, they don't join in with the revolutionaries. The consequence? At worst, they're avoided. At best, they're scorned. And they're also watched, betrayed, arrested, and scorned. Once Lucia realizes that you can't trust anyone, it becomes apparent that things have gotten way too dangerous for her and her little brother. Her parents have no choice but to send them secretly away, miles away, to the United States to seek some generous hospitality, and more importantly, asylum.
I know I've already said it, but this story is so touching and heartfelt. Lucia experiences and sees things that we can only imagine, but she still remains strong and hopeful. And when she loses almost everything, she doesn't fight like the revolutionaries do. She retaliates in her own way, by making the best of her situation.
It was also really moving to see how close the Alvarezes were. Nowadays, it's hard to find such true, family love. But by depending on each other, brother to sister, sister to mother, mother to father, and the father was the foundation of them all. Everything about this story, the message, the writing, the little bits of humor, the characters, is lovable and charming.
I recommend it to any youth who's in search for a deep, historical or realistic novel. Look no more, this is it.
Lucia Alvarez is a typical teen girl. She has a best friend to squeal over clothes with, a mother who won't let her wear make-up (even though she desperately wants too), a little brother that can be annoying at times, and a crush to daydream about. Her biggest worry was what to wear to her first dance....Fidel Castro took over her home, Cuba. Then her happy life vanishes as Communism and Socialism reign. Her family doesn't support it, they don't join in with the revolutionaries. The consequence? At worst, they're avoided. At best, they're scorned. And they're also watched, betrayed, arrested, and scorned. Once Lucia realizes that you can't trust anyone, it becomes apparent that things have gotten way too dangerous for her and her little brother. Her parents have no choice but to send them secretly away, miles away, to the United States to seek some generous hospitality, and more importantly, asylum.
I know I've already said it, but this story is so touching and heartfelt. Lucia experiences and sees things that we can only imagine, but she still remains strong and hopeful. And when she loses almost everything, she doesn't fight like the revolutionaries do. She retaliates in her own way, by making the best of her situation.
It was also really moving to see how close the Alvarezes were. Nowadays, it's hard to find such true, family love. But by depending on each other, brother to sister, sister to mother, mother to father, and the father was the foundation of them all. Everything about this story, the message, the writing, the little bits of humor, the characters, is lovable and charming.
I recommend it to any youth who's in search for a deep, historical or realistic novel. Look no more, this is it.
ljohnson130's review against another edition
4.0
This is an excellent YA book about a family's move from Cuba to the U.S. during Castro's reign in the 1960s. Narrated by 14-year-old Lucia, the story starts off in Cuba when Castro has just started to rise to power to rural Nebraska as the children are trying to find their way in the U.S. The book explains the struggles that people deal with when immigrating to the U.S. in a way that anyone can find relatable. It truly opened my eyes to a lot of things that I took for granted and didn't think twice about.
markat323's review against another edition
3.0
The time is early 1960s Cuba when Castro has just taken control. The revolution has started and those who are "anti-revolution" are being punished in many different ways. The Alvarez parents chose to send their children Lucia and Frankie to the United States until the revolution ends. This is a part of history I didn't know about. Thousands of children were sent to the United States during the revolution. So, I liked reading about a time/event I knew nothing. The writing, though, seemed a little simplistic. I kept thinking it was for 4th grade but it is a teen novel. Certainly, it is a younger teen novel. I felt like it took a long time for much to happen. Lucia was believable in that as a 14 year old, the things most important to her were her friends, clothes, make-up, boys, and even her family, but she also came across a little young. It ended a bit abruptly and predictably. I liked the significance of the red umbrella (it shows up at 2 important parts in the book). I did enjoy the story but feel like the book could have been a bit more polished.
elllie's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting story about a topic I know nothing about! Lucia lives with her family in Cuba right around the time of Castro's Revolution. It starts out fun, with time off from school to hang out with friends, but soon, things get dangerous and people Lucia knows start getting imprisoned and even killed. Her parents aren't totally on board with Castro's ideas and they decide to send Lucia and her little brother to the United States in an operation now known as Operation Pedro Pan, where 14,000 unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami, Florida to escape the revolution and Castro's government.
It took me a little while to get into the story, but once I did, it flew. Gonzalez does a nice job of blending history and normal teenage situations and emotions. The red umbrella as a symbol was very well done - not too much and not too little.
Pura Belpre contender?
It took me a little while to get into the story, but once I did, it flew. Gonzalez does a nice job of blending history and normal teenage situations and emotions. The red umbrella as a symbol was very well done - not too much and not too little.
Pura Belpre contender?
sabinaleybold's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
nshemezis's review against another edition
4.0
Well I sure did finish this one quickly! I really wanted to know how it would end! I loved this story. It tells the story of the communist revolution in Cuba and how one family tries to escape from Castro's power! It's super sad at parts and super frightening, but i reccomend it!