Letters from Cuba

In 1938, Esther, 11, travels alone from her small Jewish village in Poland to join her father in a small Cuban town, vowing to help earn enough money to pay for the rest of their family--her grandmother, mother, and four younger siblings--to join them. Inspired by her own grandmother's life, Behar (Lucky Broken Girl) crafts a series of loving letters from Esther to her sister, describing the perilous journey and Esther's first year in Cuba. Esther's optimism, determination, and unconventionality allow her to adapt quickly; while her father remains as true to his faith as possible, Esther explores her world and, thanks to a highly developed skill learned from her mother, succeeds far beyond expectations. Esther's new friendships with both Cubans and fellow immigrants set the stage for encounters with numerous benevolent minor characters and one who embodies the period's terrors. Global issues such as Hitler's rise, anti-Semitism, slavery, and worker protests are neatly woven into Esther's narrative. Despite a telescoped time frame and an underdeveloped supporting cast, Behar's appreciative descriptions of Cuba and Esther's close, protective bonds with her father and sister make for an engaging read. Ages 10-up. (Aug.)

Gr 3-7—Pura Belpré Award winner Behar's newest story is based on her own grandmother's immigration journey. Eleven-year-old Esther bravely travels to Cuba from Poland to help her father earn enough money for the rest of their family to join them, including her mother, grandmother, three brothers, and cherished sister Malka. The narrative is told in a series of letters from Esther to Malka, chronicling her journey across the sea and her experiences in this new homeland. As a means to earn money for her family's travel arrangements, Esther puts her sewing skills to good use by making custom dresses for many islanders. Throughout the story, readers learn that many Jewish people are arriving in Cuba, trying to escape the Jewish persecution in Europe, despite Nazi sympathy infiltrating the island. Readers dive into the story headfirst as they get to know Esther, her family, and her newfound friends. Esther's first-person descriptions of people and the island craft a vivid experience of Cuba's sights, sounds, and culinary delights. VERDICT Readers will not want to part with this story of resilience. A World War II refugee tale that spotlights dedicated hard work. A must-have for public, elementary, and middle school libraries.—Kristin Unruh, Siersma Elem. Sch., Warren, MI