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Description
In this poetic memoir, Margarita Engle recounts growing up as a Cuban-American child during the Cold War, split between her mother's lush tropical island of Cuba and her father's life in Los Angeles. She navigates feelings of loneliness and displacement in Los Angeles, finding solace in books and words while longing for the summers she spends in Cuba. The memoir explores her experience of belonging fully to two cultures while living in two different worlds during a time of political tension.
Quick Summary
Flying dreams become a magical escape in this poetic memoir where a young Cuban American girl uses her imagination to rise above the Cold War politics keeping her family split between two countries. Kids will be swept away by the beautiful verse that turns real historical moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis into something personal and less scary, all wrapped around the universal longing to fly free. If your kid loves emotionally rich verse memoirs like "Brown Girl Dreaming" or stories about cultural identity such as "Esperanza Rising," this Newbery Honor winner will feel like finding a kindred spirit. This book is ideal for fourth through sixth graders who enjoy stories that mix history, heart, and a touch of aerial wonder.