Letters From Cuba by Ruth Behar
Late 1930's were perilous times in Europe. The Nazi party was ascending to power and invading surrounding nations. Twelve-year-old Esther’s family is Polish and Jewish. They face a future filled with uncertainty and fear. Bravely Esther leaves her mother, siblings, and grandmother to join her father in Cuba. The plan: father and daughter will secure funds for the entire family to escape the dire conditions in their homeland and emigrate to Cuba. Through a series of letters to her sister, Esther describes her life in this new country. Her correspondence is infused with sensory descriptions: luscious tropical fruit, beautiful countryside, eloquent Spanish language, and the poetry of José Matí. She tells of heartbreaking setbacks and small triumphs. |