Coming Up Cuban
Rising Past Castro’s Shadow
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
From Pura Belpré Honoree and Emmy-award winning actor Sonia Manzano--best known as "Maria" from Sesame Street--comes the expansive and timeless story of four children who must carve out a path for themselves in the wake of Fidel Castro's rise to power.Fifteen-time Emmy Award winner and Pura Belpre honoree Sonia Manzano examines the impact of the 1959 Cuban Revolution on four children from very different walks of life. In the wake of a new regime in Cuba, Ana, Miguel, Zulema, and Juan learn to find a place for themselves in a world forever changed. In a tumultuous moment of history, we see the lasting affects of a revolution in Havana, the countryside, Miami, and New York. Through these snapshot stories, we are reminded that regardless of any tumultuous times, we are all forever connected in our humanity.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With insight and empathy, former Sesame Street actor Manzano (A World Together) explores the impact of Fidel Castro's rise and revolution through the eyes of four young people building new lives amid a climate of political turmoil. In separate but overlapping sections, Ana, Miguel, Zulema, and Juan offer various perspectives on the turbulent political uprising, highlighting intersectional nuances around class and race. Ana's segment concentrates on the revolution's tail end in 1959 Havana, where her father has returned from fighting for Castro. Miguel details challenges for immigrants and refugees in 1961 Miami after he is sent into care while waiting for his parents. Zulema's section, based in the Cuban countryside in 1961, delves into Castro's literacy campaign, while Juan's section considers youth radicalization in 1961 Havana through the lens of two friends. In stories that brim with love for Cuba while highlighting a difficult historical moment, Manzano employs graceful, straightforward prose, highlighting the experiences, and will, of Cuba's people as they navigate the events' fallout with alternating anguish and elation. Back matter includes a timeline of the book's events and resources. Ages 9–12.
