Scan barcode
A review by ruthelibrarian
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
5.0
"The Red Umbrella" follows the story of Lucia and her brother Frankie as they see Cuba shift into Fidel's communist regime and their integration into American life once they flee. This story tugs at the heartstrings and shows an accurate picture of Cuba during the rise of the Cuban Revolution. The story shows neighbors turned spies and the dangers of speaking out about the revolution.
The America segment is great and shows the kids trying to cope with their new home as they struggle to keep contact with their parents still in Cuba. I really appreciated the subtle, but not overthetop racism/stereotypes depicted as people tried to help the children acclimate to their school.
I would recommend this title for any teen interested in historical fiction, interested in their Cuban heritage, or as a general gateway into books as this title was quite easy to read. There are Spanish words throughout the book, but they are usually repeated in English for effect, such as "Soy aqui! I am here!" when the children finally talk to their parents over the phone. There is also a glossary in the back of the book in case any of the words still don't have meaning, but Gonzalez gives a lot of context that it should be quick to pick up the use of the words.
The America segment is great and shows the kids trying to cope with their new home as they struggle to keep contact with their parents still in Cuba. I really appreciated the subtle, but not overthetop racism/stereotypes depicted as people tried to help the children acclimate to their school.
I would recommend this title for any teen interested in historical fiction, interested in their Cuban heritage, or as a general gateway into books as this title was quite easy to read. There are Spanish words throughout the book, but they are usually repeated in English for effect, such as "Soy aqui! I am here!" when the children finally talk to their parents over the phone. There is also a glossary in the back of the book in case any of the words still don't have meaning, but Gonzalez gives a lot of context that it should be quick to pick up the use of the words.