A review by ms_aprilvincent
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

3.0

Lucia's family comes under attack when they refuse to abide by expectations in Fidel Castro's new Cuba. Lucia herself is horrified at how quickly neighbor turns against neighbor, friend against friend, as the government encourages its citizens to spy and tattle.
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Meanwhile, Lucia's just trying to be a normal teenager, okay?
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When the family is directly targeted, Lucia's parents send her and her brother Frankie to America as part of a refugee operation called Pedro Pan. They wind up on a Nebraska farm, struggling to perfect their language skills, navigating their new schools, and missing their parents.
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This is a middle grade book, and that is definitely reflected in the writing. All of the emotions are heightened--and I get it, because teenagers feel things in extremes, but it seemed overdone to me.
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Even so, I think this is a good way to introduce younger readers to Cuba's history, and to the ways that oppressive governments can use their power to mold the collective mind of its citizenry. It think that's especially important NOW.
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I'd give this to a teenager to read, but I wish I could find other fiction about this era to read as well.