Coming Up Cuban by Sonia Manzano

 

Publisher: Scholastic

On Sale Date: August 2 2022

Pages: 320

I reviewed a review copy from the publisher through Edelweiss

In Coming Up Cuban by Pura Belpré Honoree and Emmy-award winning actor Sonia Manzano well known as "Maria" from Sesame Street, the reader gets to know four Cuban teens, living in Cuba, in and after 1959, when Fidel Castro's revolution had a big impact on everyone's lives.

Ana, Miguel, Zulema, and Juan learn to find a place for themselves in a world forever changed.

Ana's father has been away fighting on Castro's behalf, and when he returns, she barely recognizes him. His face has changed, and his behaviour also, as he seems only good in what Castro is doing, not what Ana thinks is right. When he writes a letter that criticizes the Revolution, he is send to jail, and when a bomb in the local town square goes off, Ana and her mother flee and live with a relative in New York City, where Ana's live makes a new start.

Zulema lives in the countryside of Cuba. One day, they hear that teachers are sent by the government to the countryside, the Castro government demands that the teachers are to put up in the home of families, and the families are demanded to follow the classes the teachers give. Zulema has never learned to read and has never been to school, and on one side she wants the teachers to learn her to read, but on the other side she and her family are conflicted; how can the government teachers push her and her family around like bosses, while also telling them that everyone is now equal under Castro's rule?

Juan, an Afro Cuban boy whose parents went to the US but were killed in a traffic accident there, is being raised by his grandfather, who runs a fruit cart. His health is failing, and Juan worries about his future. His best friend Paco is heavily invested in being a pionero, and whole heartedly supports Castro, but Juan isn't sure about the violence he is seeing that is justified by the Revolution.

These are three of the four children in this book. All of the four stories are absolutely moving and beautiffully written. And all of the stories are based on real events that children from Cuba has to undergo under Castro's rule. Well known is operation Peter Pan, where Miquel, another character in this book, has to take part in, as he is send to live in the USA without his parents, who he misses,  terribly. He lands in a children's home led by a pastor, with other boys from Cuba, and he is afraid he will be sent to a foster home.

I have never read many books about this topic, that is based on Cuban history, and Sonia Manzano does a magnificent job making this a very understandable and accessible story young readers. All though this is a rather serious topic, it never becomes a heavy read. The characters are realistic, which is another great asset of this outstanding book. So without further ado, this is a great read about an original topic that is unlike any other book, and with that I mean that this is truly a very original book and I recommend it!!