I've got a good one for you today, folks. I'm thrilled to be a part of the the COMING UP CUBAN by Sonia Manzano Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my review below and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: Sonia Manzano
Pub. Date: August 2, 2022
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 320
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
From Pura Belpré Honoree and Emmy-award winning actor Sonia Manzano--best known as "Maria" from Sesame Street--comes the expansive and timeless story of four children who must carve out a path for themselves in the wake of Fidel Castro's rise to power.
Fifteen-time
Emmy Award winner and Pura Belpre honoree Sonia Manzano examines the impact of
the 1959 Cuban Revolution on four children from very different walks of life.
In the wake of a new regime in Cuba, Ana, Miguel, Zulema, and Juan learn to
find a place for themselves in a world forever changed. In a tumultuous moment
of history, we see the lasting effects of a revolution in Havana, the
countryside, Miami, and New York. Through these snapshot stories, we are
reminded that regardless of any tumultuous times, we are all forever connected
in our humanity.
My Review: Coming Up Cuban takes a look at Fidel Castro's rise to power through the eyes of four young Cubans and their families. Through multiple novellas, each centering on a different protagonist, Sonia Manzano offers various perspectives on a turbulent political uprising, allowing her to highlight the nuances of the situation while also breaking down complex ideas for middle grade readers. Filled with love, both for Cuba as well as its resilient peoples, Coming Up Cuban is a story full of joy and heartache that celebrates the vibrancy of Caribbean culture while educating readers on a crucial historical moment.
Coming Up Cuban keeps its politics centered on its target audience -- 9-12 year olds. Through their eyes, we see Cuba's transformation, demonstrating how political upheavals can effect every corner of a country. In this way, the book doesn't focus on fighting and war, but the aftereffects -- refugees scrambling to leave the country, schools closing, forced surrendering of property, new government initiatives, etc. The book also features a cast of characters from differing backgrounds -- poor to upper middle class -- that offer various perspectives on Castro's takeover -- from those who hate Castro and his changes (which seems to be the dominant opinion), to people who praise him, to people that agree with parts of his revolution but not all, etc. In this way, most perspectives are held on equal ground, with few "right" or "wrong" perspectives pushed to the forefront, allowing readers to form their own opinions on Castro's rule. This equalization of perspectives did have a limit. Every character seemed to hold America in high regard, as a land to escape to, full of compassionate people who were alluded to be outright saviors a few times. The only 'negative' opinion of the US came from older characters who did not want to immigrate, mostly due to a love of Cuba and an unwillingness to change. This felt a little propagandist to me, as the US was a long-term colonizer of Cuba after Spain and largely controlled the country until the revolution, so it feels disingenuous to paint the US only as saviour, when their involvement was just as nuanced as Fidel's. Considering the book has no problem showing multiple perspectives on the politics within Cuba, it would have been easy to add some diversity on the perspective toward America as well.
The book features four novellas, each focusing on a different character at different points during Fidel's early reign. The characters all know each other and so their stories overlap, thus building an overarching narrative while also allowing the story to branch in very different directions. Each novella focuses on a different aspect of Fidel's reign to educate readers while entertaining - Ana's section focuses on the revolution and sets the story, Migeul's section focuses on refugee and immigration struggles, Zulema's section focuses on literacy, and Juan's section focuses on radicalization. The novellas use simple but striking interpersonal conflicts to hook readers in and keep them emotionally invested in each novella.
Manzano's writing style is simple but elegant; no word is wasted. Everything given page space enhances the themes, plot, or characterization very deliberately, creating a satisfying read for those who wish to analyze the text on a deeper level. Yet the writing style is also incredibly accessible for its target audience. Manzano carefully utilizes simple language without simplifying the concepts explored, which shows her mastery of communication. The book balances darkness with some levity by injecting childlike silliness into the mix of uncertainty, giving the book an endearing quality at its core. The silliness also helps hooks young readers into the larger political story by promising some fun along the way.
All in all, 5/5 stars. Coming Up Cuban is a silly and heartfelt story filled with hope that pushes young readers to think, learn and empathize. Definitely worth adding to your shelves and sharing with your young ones. I chuckled, teared up, and enjoyed every moment of this Caribbean adventure intended for readers a third my age.
About Sonia Manzano:
.JPG)
SONIA
MANZANO is a
groundbreaking Latina educator, executive television producer, and
award-winning children's book author. A first-generation mainland Puerto Rican,
she has affected the lives of millions of parents and children since she
was offered the opportunity to play “Maria” on Sesame Street (which she
continued to do for 44 years, from 1971-2015). Manzano has received 15
Emmys for writing television scripts, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Award, the Hispanic Heritage Award for Education, and a Lifetime
Achievement Award from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. People magazine
named Sonia one of America's most influential Hispanics. Her critically
acclaimed children's books include The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano,
which won a Pura Belpré Honor Award, and the stunning young adult memoir Becoming
Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx. Currently she is working on
Alma's Way, an animated series with Fred Rogers Productions that
will air on PBS. Manzano resides in New York City with her husband
Richard Reagan, whom she married in 1986, and their daughter Gabriela.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of COMING UP CUBAN, US Only.
Ends August 9th midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
|
7/18/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
|
|
7/19/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
|
|
7/20/2022 |
IG Post |
|
|
7/21/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
|
|
7/22/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
|
|
7/23/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
Week Two:
|
7/24/2022 |
Excerpt |
|
|
7/25/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
|
|
7/26/2022 |
IG Review |
|
|
7/27/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
7/28/2022 |
IG Review |
|
|
7/29/2022 |
IG Post |
|
|
7/30/2022 |
Review |
Week Three:
|
7/31/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
8/1/2022 |
Review |
|
|
8/2/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
8/3/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
8/4/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
8/5/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
No comments:
Post a Comment