Status
Collection
Publication
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Family & Relationships. Juvenile Nonfiction. Multi-Cultural. HTML: The author of My Name Is Maria Isabel offers an inspiring look at her childhood in Cuba in this collection that includes Where the Flame Trees Bloom, Under the Royal Palms, five new stories, and more. These true autobiographical tales from renowned Hispanic author and educator Alma Flor Ada are filled with family love and traditions, secrets and deep friendships, and a gorgeous, moving picture of the island of Cuba, where Alma Flor grew up. Told through the eyes of a child, a whole world comes to life in these pages: the blind great-grandmother who never went to school but whose wisdom and generosity overflowed to those around her; the hired hand Samone, whose love for music overcame all difficulties; the beloved dance teacher who helped sustain young Alma Flor through a miserable year in school; her dear and daring Uncle Medardo, who bravely flew airplanes; and more. Heartwarming, poignant, and often humorous, this wonderful collection encourages readers to discover the stories in their own lives-and to celebrate the joys and struggles we all share, no matter where or when we grew up. Featuring the classic and award-winning books Where the Flame Trees Bloom and Under the Royal Palms, Island Treasures also includes a new collection, Days at La Quinta Simoni, many new family photographs, and a Spanish-to-English glossary..… (more)
Local notes
Gr 4–6—In this memoir collection, Ada vividly recounts childhood stories, painting pictures with words that allow readers to almost taste Cuban foods, smell her grandmother's talcum, and feel the red clay used to make pottery. Ada presents five original vignettes in the section "Days at La Quinta Simoni," which is sandwiched between her classic Where the Flame Trees Bloom (1994) and her award-winning Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba (1998, both S. & S.). Ada adopts the tone of an older adult fondly sharing childhood memories with a beloved child—the reader. She weaves life lessons and Cuban customs and values throughout her recollections of eccentric relatives and community members and incorporates descriptions of childhood joys, tragedies, and humorous anecdotes. Although most Spanish terms are translated or defined within the text, a glossary aids those new to the language. VERDICT A lovely addition to memoir collections.—Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, IL Copyright 2015 Reed Business Information.