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A review by pkadams
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
4.0
I'm still digesting this book as I knew next to nothing about this period in history (Castro's revolutionary Cuba) and the author gives you a lot to think about.... Lucia is a 14 year old girl living in Cuba in 1961, who loves fashion magazines, day dreaming about boys, and dances, as Castro's revolution comes to her small village. Friendships, families, and ways of life are wretchedly changed. When it is no longer safe for Lucia and her brother, her parents send them to the US as part of Operation Pedro Pan. The story fills the reader with uncertainty and fear for the characters' safety. However, Gonzalez knows she is writing for children and keeps the action and direction of the book contained so it doesn't become overwhelming. The book illuminates an interesting time in Cuban American history. I could see it being shortlisted for the Newbery.
Gonzalez does an exquisite job with describing the richness of Cuban life and its environment. By doing so Lucia's feelings of homesickness really resonated with me and evoked empathetic feelings. I loved how vivid Lucia in particular is as a character. Gonzalez also does an excellent job exploring how friendships, families, and ways of life are wretchedly changed and laying bare the bewilderment of Lucia, her friends, and family. The evolution in the friendship between Lucia and Ivette was terrific and well done. The story fills the reader with uncertainty and fear for the characters' safety. However, Gonzalez knows she is writing for children and keeps the action and direction of the book contained so it doesn't become overwhelming.
Gonzalez does an exquisite job with describing the richness of Cuban life and its environment. By doing so Lucia's feelings of homesickness really resonated with me and evoked empathetic feelings. I loved how vivid Lucia in particular is as a character. Gonzalez also does an excellent job exploring how friendships, families, and ways of life are wretchedly changed and laying bare the bewilderment of Lucia, her friends, and family. The evolution in the friendship between Lucia and Ivette was terrific and well done. The story fills the reader with uncertainty and fear for the characters' safety. However, Gonzalez knows she is writing for children and keeps the action and direction of the book contained so it doesn't become overwhelming.