Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla

August 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 This novel is a sweeping love letter to Cuba, a country that hundreds of thousands of its people never saw again following the Revolution. Drawing from the experiences of her family and other exiles, Diaz offers a story following two cousins, Victoria and Jackie, who are both forced to emigrate from Cuba and start a new life in the U.S. with their families. The hardship they face as refugees is a common story among Cubans in exile, but this timely story is told with middle-grade and tween readers in mind. Though the girls shouldn't have to worry about anything beyond enjoying their childhood, Victoria and Jackie find the strength in each other to step up and do whatever is necessary to support their family. Since the tale takes place in the 1960s, readers also get a glimpse of what race relations in the U.S. were like at the time, as well as attitudes toward Russians and other groups. Whether as a novel in itself or a framework for understanding a place and time in history, this is a moving, poignant read.

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Starred review from July 15, 2023
Twelve-year-old Victoria is forced to leave her beloved Cuba, not knowing if she will ever be able to return after communist dictator Fidel Castro takes control of the island. It was a perfect summer on the family finca, or farm, but things start changing quickly: News from outside the island is blocked, and protesters are arrested. Victoria's father decides he must act fast; as an engineer, Papi knows he and other professionals are being stopped from leaving the country. Forced to abandon everything of value, Victoria, her parents, and siblings make it to Miami in October 1960; little do they know that they won't be returning home soon, and life in America is not going to be easy. This is a story of heartbreak that Cuban refugees know well. As Victoria's family navigates a new culture, where they face misinformed and hostile people, language barriers, and limited job opportunities, Jackie, her beloved cousin left behind in Cuba, witnesses a rise in terror. She ultimately makes the brave choice to leave on her own, through Operation Peter Pan. This accessible story, based on Diaz's family's experiences, rings true--the details, including people's names, food, Spanish words, and more, have an authentically Cuban feel. The main characters are racially diverse, like so many Cuban families. Readers will be able to relate to the coming-of-age elements while learning about an important and difficult part of Cuba's history. An evocative and transportive read. (glossary, author's note) (Historical fiction. 9-13)

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September 18, 2023
For as long as they’ve been alive, 12-year-old Cuban cousins Victoria and Jackie have never been far apart—they live in the same building with their immediate families, and spend their summers at Papalfonso and Mamalara’s farm. But it seems that their carefree days together are coming to an end; when Fidel Castro rises to power in 1960, people Victoria has known all her life begin fleeing the island. Protesters are being arrested en masse, and Victoria’s father, who opposes Castro’s regime, worries that they might be next. Victoria and her parents soon leave for Miami, believing they’ll be able to return to Cuba in a few weeks. Meanwhile, amid rising tensions and violence, Jackie must decide whether she should leave, too—without her parents or younger brother. Employing the cousins’ alternating perspectives, Diaz (Santiago’s Road Home) weaves a compelling tale that sensitively depicts the struggles many Cuban migrants faced during this period, including financial hardship, losing loved ones, and racist bullying at school. Inspired by her own family’s experiences, as discussed in an author’s note, Diaz delivers a well-researched story that serves as a compassionate introduction to this underdiscussed part of American and Cuban history. A glossary concludes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kristin Ostby, Greenhouse Literary.

Starred review from September 29, 2023

Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old Victoria Pino del Mar would love to spend the rest of her life living on Papalfonso's finca, where she could spend her days enjoying the beauty of nature, horseback riding, and delicious fruits. Papalfonso promised Victoria that his land would one day be hers, but that was two years ago, when Papalfonso was still alive. Now in 1960, Victoria is boarding a plane to Miami, leaving behind family members, including her best friend and cousin Jackie, as Fidel Castro's Cuba becomes an even more uncertain and dangerous place. Victoria and Jackie narrate the chapters, showing the differing viewpoints of the girls as Victoria navigates a new and different city and takes on more responsibilities to care for her family, and Jackie sees the world change around her as school becomes a dangerous place and the future is even more uncertain. When Jackie finally joins Victoria, they work together to try to get the rest of their family to Miami. Readers will become part of each family's dynamic and witness as the protagonists come face to face with hardships such as bullying, loss, and the unraveling of Cuba in the 1960s. VERDICT Heartfelt and beautifully written, this middle grade novel is perfect for fans of Margarita Engle and of impactful historical fiction.-Selenia Paz

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November 1, 2023
Fleeing Fidel Castro's Cuba in 1960, Victoria's family is sure they will be in Miami for only a few weeks -- a few months, max -- until the United States helps topple Castro's regime. Still, soon-to-be-thirteen-year-old Victoria is devastated to leave her home country and her "prima hermana," Jackie, behind. Diaz alternates focus between the cousins to describe this fraught moment in history. For Victoria, life in America is not easy, and she has to take on adult responsibilities to help feed her family. When communication with Cuba is almost completely cut, Jackie fears that Victoria has forgotten her. Jackie is eventually sent to live in Miami through Operation Peter Pan, and the girls struggle to deal with the challenges of their new reality -- which, it increasingly becomes clear, will be permanent -- as well as navigating the social landscape of junior high. Using personal interactions among Victoria, Jackie, and their new peers, Diaz does not shy away from addressing intertwined issues of the time period, including school integration, Cold War anti-Russian prejudice, and racial and gender dynamics within the family. The book's ending, if somewhat far-fetched, allows for a happy, hopeful reunion in Miami with Jackie's parents and baby brother and the girls' grandmother. An author's note and extensive Spanish glossary are appended. Spanish-language edition, Hasta siempre Cuba, mi isla, forthcoming (12/23). Monica de los Reyes

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