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A review by katherinezee
Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
MY BOOK REVIEW:
ACROSS SO MANY SEAS
By Ruth Behar. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This unforgettable YA historical novel traces the lives of four young girls in the same ancestral line as the authorc across nearly six centuries from the Spanish Inquisition of 1492 across the Mediterranean Sea to Turkey, then to Cuba and finally the U.S. I had never known about the forced exile of the Sephardic Jews by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella—Yes, the same monarchs who supported Christopher Columbus! Skipping from 1492 to 1923, the story of 12-year-old Reina, is adapted from the author’s own abuela's story. She is exiled from her family to Cuba where she is to marry a man pre-arranged by her family. The story then continues with Reina’s daughter Alegra followed by her granddaughter Paloma. The reader will learn much about this little known Sephardic culture, its food, music, lilting language (Ladino=Judeo Spanish), colorful stories and traditions. Who better to tell the story than this author, Ruth Behar, whose Sephardic blood runs through her veins. The story shines with the resilience and hope of these four young women who must each summon up the courage and fortitude to face their journeys alone.
NOTE TO TEACHERS:
Highly recommended for grades 7-12.
Themes: Hero’s Journey, Sephardic culture, Judaism, Spain, Turkey, Cuban Revolution, exile, Operation Pedro Pan
ACROSS SO MANY SEAS
By Ruth Behar. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This unforgettable YA historical novel traces the lives of four young girls in the same ancestral line as the authorc across nearly six centuries from the Spanish Inquisition of 1492 across the Mediterranean Sea to Turkey, then to Cuba and finally the U.S. I had never known about the forced exile of the Sephardic Jews by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella—Yes, the same monarchs who supported Christopher Columbus! Skipping from 1492 to 1923, the story of 12-year-old Reina, is adapted from the author’s own abuela's story. She is exiled from her family to Cuba where she is to marry a man pre-arranged by her family. The story then continues with Reina’s daughter Alegra followed by her granddaughter Paloma. The reader will learn much about this little known Sephardic culture, its food, music, lilting language (Ladino=Judeo Spanish), colorful stories and traditions. Who better to tell the story than this author, Ruth Behar, whose Sephardic blood runs through her veins. The story shines with the resilience and hope of these four young women who must each summon up the courage and fortitude to face their journeys alone.
NOTE TO TEACHERS:
Highly recommended for grades 7-12.
Themes: Hero’s Journey, Sephardic culture, Judaism, Spain, Turkey, Cuban Revolution, exile, Operation Pedro Pan