Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal
by Margarita Engle (Author)
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.
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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.Review quotes
A Jane Addams Award Honor Book
Green Earth Book Awards Honor Book
* "A masterful command of language and space. . . Engle blends the voices of her fictional characters, historical figures, and even the forest into a dynamic coming-of-age story not only of young adults but also of a blustering and arrogant United States."
—VOYA, 5Q 5P M J S
* "Engle's extraordinary book is a tour de force of verisimilitude and beautifully realized verse that brings to empathetic life the silver people."
—Booklist, starred review
"As always, Engle's poetry captures with sympathetic wonder and delicate beauty the plight of these disenfranchised voices; here in particular she highlights the natural beauty and love that Mateo, Anita, and Henry find and cling to in the midst of their back- and heart-breaking labor."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"In melodic verses, Engle offers the voices of three [Panama Canal] workers...Taken together, they provide an illuminating picture of the ecological sacrifices and human costs behind a historical feat generally depicted as a triumph."
—Horn Book Magazine
"This richly developed novel is an excellent addition to any collection. In this compelling story, Engle paints a picture of an often [over]-looked area and highlights the struggles of the people and the arrogance of the Americans."
—School Library Journal
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year
An NCTE Notable Book in the English Language Arts
ALSC Notable Books in the Social Sciences
CCBC Choice Fiction for Young Adults
CCBC Global Reading list
Best Multicultural Books, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
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.
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Novels in verse
Racism
Rain forests
Segregation
Panama Canal (Panama)
