Cuba in My Pocket
by Adrianna Cuevas (Author)
By the author of 2021 Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, a sweeping, emotional middle grade historical novel about a twelve-year-old boy who leaves his family in Cuba to immigrate to the U.S. by himself, based on the author's family history.
"I don't remember. Tell me everything, Pepito. Tell me about Cuba."
When the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 solidifies Castro's power in Cuba, twelve-year-old Cumba's family makes the difficult decision to send him to Florida alone. Faced with the prospect of living in another country by himself, Cumba tries to remember the sound of his father's clarinet, the smell of his mother's lavender perfume.
Life in the United States presents a whole new set of challenges. Lost in a sea of English speakers, Cumba has to navigate a new city, a new school, and new freedom all on his own. With each day, Cumba feels more confident in his new surroundings, but he continues to wonder: Will his family ever be whole again? Or will they remain just out of reach, ninety miles across the sea?
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Review quotes
Cuba in My Pocket is an authentic and moving portrayal of a tragic era in Cuban history, told with empathy and hope. — Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor-winning author and Young People's Poet Laureate Emeritus
Adrianna Cuevas has written a book that is a beautiful gift to the memory of her father, filled with love and a great respect for the culture and folklore of Cuba. The travails of Cumba Fernandez, a young Cuban wrenched into exile, will make all readers want to root for him, as he finds courage he didn't know he had, dares to be hopeful when his heart is broken, and learns to always carry Cuba in his pocket.
— Ruth Behar, author of Pura Belpré Award-Winning book, Lucky Broken Girl, and Sydney Taylor Notable book, Letters from Cuba
"A harrowing and important read. Cuevas explores an often-hidden moment in Cuban American history with heart, compassion, and authenticity." — Ernesto Cisneros, author of Pura Belpré Award-Winning book Efrén Divided
Cuba in My Pocket is beautifully told and vividly realized. Cuevas thoughtfully explores the agonizing loss of home and family and what it means to try and hold onto both from across the sea. Cumba's journey is specific, deeply personal, and a love letter to the freedom to dream. Heartbreaking but stubbornly hopeful, I will carry this story with me forever. — Nina Moreno, author of Don't Date Rosa Santos
NYPL Best Book of 2020
A 2020 Evanston Public Library Great Books for Kids A marvelous, magical mystery that deftly blends family, friends and folklore. — David Bowles, author of Pura Belpré Honor Book and Walter Dean Myers Honor Book They Call Me Güero
Mystery, adventure, humor, friendship, and...talking animals—The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez has it all! Readers will love this funny, fast-paced, heartwarming story. — Celia C. Pérez, author of the Pura Belpre Honor book The First Rule of Punk A charming and vibrant debut fantasy. — Kirkus Reviews Readers will devour this fast-paced adventure as they root for Nestor and his ragtag bunch of friends and animal allies . . . In a unique take on South and Central American folklore, Cuevas brings to life an earthly type of twisted magic that transcends spells and transfiguration, extending into the feelings of belonging and finding a true home. — Booklist
With this heartwarming debut, Cuevas draws upon Central American legends and her Cuban heritage to flesh out Nestor's experiences . . . crafting a tense, satisfying tale of magic, family, and finding one's true home. — Publisher's Weekly Cuevas crafts a riveting story based on folktales from Panama and Costa Rica. — School Library Journal
JUV016150 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | United States - 20th Century
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
Families
Cuba
Cuban Americans
1959-1990
