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  • Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal

Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal

Publication Date
March 29, 2016
Genre / Grade Band
Non-fiction /  6th − 8th
Language
English
Format
Novel in Verse
Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal

Currently out of stock
Description

As the Panama Canal turns one hundred, Newbery Honor winner Margarita Engle tells the story of its creation in this powerful new YA historical novel in verse.

Publication date
March 29, 2016
Genre
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780544668706
Lexile Measure
1310
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin
BISAC categories
YAN043000 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Poetry
YAN038060 - Young Adult Nonfiction | People & Places | Caribbean & Latin America
YAN025060 - Young Adult Nonfiction | History | Central & South America
YAN009000 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Boys & Men
YAN050080 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Conservation & Protection
YAN050040 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Botany
Library of Congress categories
History
Novels in verse
Racism
Rain forests
Segregation
Panama Canal (Panama)

Kirkus

A poetic exploration of the construction of the Panama Canal.

From the animal inhabitants of the Panamanian jungle, disturbed and displaced by the construction, and the trees felled to the human workers, Engle unites disparate voices into a cohesive narrative in poems chronicling the creation of the Panama Canal. Mateo, a 14-year-old Cuban lured by promises of wealth, journeys to Panama only to discover the recruiters’ lies and a life of harsh labor. However, through his relationships with Anita, an “herb girl,” Henry, a black Jamaican worker, and Augusto, a Puerto Rican geologist, Mateo is able to find a place in his new land. The Newbery Honoree and Pura Belpré winner’s verse is characteristically elegant, and her inclusion of nonhuman voices brings home the environmental impact of the monumental project. Given this breadth, Engle’s choice to center her story on a nonblack protagonist is saddening, as the majority of the workers on the Panama Canal were black islanders. Furthermore, while Mateo and Anita—and even many of the flora and fauna characters—are represented on the cover, Henry, a prominent character and the only black given a voice, does not make an appearance—a regrettable decision.

Engle’s new offering contains moments of true poetic beauty, but these choices detract from an otherwise lovely, enlightening book. (author’s note, selected bibliography) (Historical fiction/verse. 10-14)

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9--It is 1906, and the race to build the Panama Canal is wide reaching. There is nothing 14-year-old Mateo desires more than to escape his Cuban home and his abusive, war-ravaged father. Armed only with his courage and lies that provide him passage, he heads to Panama in hopes of finding a future building the canal. What he discovers, however, is perilous work and harsh inequality. This masterfully written novel in verse brings to life every bit of Panama, from the horrible working conditions of the islanders, forced to dig the canal for next-to-nothing wages, to the lush forest and wildlife. Mateo's relationships with Henry, a Jamaican laborer; Anita, a Panamanian herb collector; and Augusto, a Puerto Rican geologist, are elegantly developed and assist in highlighting the extreme segregation and prejudice faced by those building the canal. Each poem is short but powerful, and the characters, landscapes, and quality of life are masterfully portrayed. While turmoil abounds, Mateo, Henry, Anita, and Augusto are all able to find their peace and a future in Panama. This richly developed novel is an excellent addition to any collection. In this compelling story, Engle paints a picture of an often-looked era and highlights the struggles of the people and the arrogance of the Americans.--Ellen Norton, White Oak Library District, Crest Hill, IL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Margarita Engle
Margarita Engle is a Cuban American poet and novelist who has won many awards, including a Newbery Honor and a Pura Belpré Honor. She lives in Northern California. Visit her website at www.margaritaengle.com.
Rafael López is an award-winning illustrator and muralist. He divides his time between San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and San Diego, California. Visit his website at www.rafaellopez-books.com.
Americas Award for Children & Young Adult Literature
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Winner 2015 - 2015
Jane Addams Children's Book Award
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Honor Book 2015 - 2015
Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens
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Recommended 2015 - 2015