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Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. HTML:Pura Belpré Award Winner Ruth Behar's inspiring story of a young Jewish girl who escapes Poland to make a new life in Cuba, while she works to rescue the rest of her family The situation is getting dire for Jews in Poland on the eve of World War II. Esther's father has fled to Cuba, and she is the first one to join him. It's heartbreaking to be separated from her beloved sister, so Esther promises to write down everything that happens until they're reunited. And she does, recording both the goodâ??the kindness of the Cuban people and her discovery of a valuable hidden talentâ??and the bad: the fact that Nazism has found a foothold even in Cuba. Esther's evocative letters are full of her appreciation for life and reveal a resourceful, determined girl with a rare ability to bring people together, all the while striving to get the rest of their family out of Poland before it's too late. Based on Ruth Behar's family history, this compelling story celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the most challengin… (more)
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Esther lives in Poland with his mother, grandmother, and four siblings. Her father lives in Cuba, trying to make money to pay for his family's passage to
Esther's life in Cuba brings her friends because of her positive and welcoming attitude. She helps her dad peddle goods in order to make money. She quickly discovers that he isn't very good at peddling. She actually talks to people and can get people to smile and buy. People like her and give her things. She gets material and makes a dress; she also makes dresses for people who have helped her. At twelve years old, she's very good. She even makes her own designs that people love. She ends up selling her dresses thanks to a Jewish friend in Havana. Because she shares and invites people to share her life as well, she makes friends. She doesn't judge people by their religion or color; so, when she invites people over, there is a diversity of people. They learn that people of all faiths, cultures, and color can enjoy each others' company and help one another. Her father also opens his eyes and minds to others instead of judging them or dismissing them because they are different from him. Because of her sewing talent, her beliefs, and her dad's help, Esther strives to make enough money to bring the family over sooner.
I enjoyed the novel. It's told through a series of letters from Esther to her sister in Poland. Sometimes the letters can stretch the imagination because it tells information that wouldn't be in an actual letter. Esther's optimistic attitude helps keep her from despair. Situations are getting worse in Europe as Hitler gains more power and abuses the Jews. Esther and her dad need to get the family to Cuba before they can't travel anymore due to the danger. You'll enjoy the novel, learning about all the people who have been abused because of faith, culture, and/or color. By supporting one another, hate cannot grow. It's a good lesson and a good book.
Esther is a 11-year old Polish Jewish girl who lives with her grandmother, mother and