Letters from Cuba

by Ruth Behar

Pura Belpré Award Winner Ruth Behar's inspiring story of a young Jewish girl who escapes Poland to make a new life in Cuba, while she works to rescue the rest of her family

The situation is getting dire for Jews in Poland on the eve of World War II. Esther's father has fled to Cuba, and she is the first one to join him. It's heartbreaking to be separated from her beloved sister, so Esther promises to write down everything that happens until they're reunited. And she does, recording both the good--the kindness of the Cuban people and her discovery of a valuable hidden talent--and the bad: the fact that Nazism has found a foothold even in Cuba. Esther's evocative letters are full of her appreciation for life and reveal a resourceful, determined girl with a rare ability to bring people together, all the while striving to get the rest of their family out of Poland before it's too late.

Based on Ruth Behar's family history, this compelling story celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the most challenging times.

• ISBN10: 0525516476
• ISBN13: 9780525516477
• Publish Date: 25 August 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 272
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525516477

Reviews

[Nicole Lynn]

Initial thoughts:
This story definitely started off slow but picked up by the middle. I think I’ve been reading too many fast-paced, adventure/suspense novels so my pacing may be off. By the time I finished and now that I’m reflecting I don’t think the story was necessarily slow so much as it felt more like an experience than a story. I’m not quite sure if I’m explaining this right lol. Idk it was like watching an experience come to life through someone else’s eyes. The author did a wonderful job of making me feel like I was there and experiencing what Esther was experiencing.

I didn’t know that Jewish people fled to Cuba as a place of refuge. It is definitely a blank spot in my knowledge of history & what I was taught in school. I think so many schools just focus on The Diary of Ann Frank or Number the Stars so we don’t get too many varying experiences. Letters From Cuba changes that. Behar shows a story I knew nothing of and immerses you in that story. I loved seeing the different cultures and religions showcased in this story and I loved how the people came together & became friends & supported each other despite having different religions and cultures. I loved how Behar tried her best to convey these different cultures & religions. I also enjoyed how she touched on the antisemitism & the struggle of the Jewish people and the looming threat of Nazi Germany and Nazisim.

Overall this was a fantastic story. More of a review to come!