Synopsis
Margarita is a girl from two worlds. Her heart lies in Cuba, her mother’s tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lives in Los Angeles, lonely in the noisy city. Words and images are her constant companions, friendly and comforting when the children at school are not. Then a revolution breaks out in Cuba. Margarita fears for her far-away family. When the hostility between Cuba and the United States erupts at the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Margarita’s worlds collide in the worst way possible. How can the two countries she loves hate each other so much? And will she ever get to visit her beautiful island again?- ★★★☆☆
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Mindful Muslim Review
This poignant memoir in beautifully crafted verse is a haunting depiction of the author’s two worlds: Los Angeles and Cuba in the 1960s. She speaks of how her two cultures were sometimes at odds with each other but her extended family in both countries kept her grounded. The FBI visits her family and questions their ties to Cuba, and she is mocked at school, but she remains loyal to and loves her Cuban family, roots, and traditions. Muslim immigrant children and their parents can relate to her experience of creating a life in America while holding on to her roots and homeland.
Genres: Biographical, Poetry
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
*This review applies only to ISBN number noted above.