A review by katherinezee
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

5.0

This middle grades novel closely mirrors the author’s childhood experiences as a young girl whose Jewish family immigrated to the States  from Cuba following the 1959 Revolution.  Nearly all of the 30,900 Jews in Cuba fled, most to the U.S. The story begins with Ruti’s struggles to adjust to the hustle and bustle of life in New York City and to fit in at a new school.  She quickly learns English and works hard to achieve academically and to make friends. Then one night after Ruti’s family were out celebrating the New Year with friends, a group of boys crash into their car, severely injuring Ruti, forcing her into a full body cast for many months. She becomes a prisoner in her own room, unable to leave her bed while her body heals.  It’s hard to imagine a story could possibly be spun from such a confined main character and setting, but between the colorful characters who come to visit and the life altering lessons Ruti learns while being a prisoner in her own home, this tale was one I hated to end. Knowing that the characters are real and the events true, made this story a fascinating window into the lives of the Cuban refugees who legally immigrated into the U.S.  The author’s voice has a lyricism and a lilt that cause the story to shimmer. 

NOTE TO MIDDLE GRADES and SECONDARY ESOL TEACHERS:  

This tale epitomizes the multicultural novel with characters who are immigrants from all parts of the globe. Religion adds another element as Ruti is not just Hispanic, but a Hispanic Jew.