Illustration ©2015 by Rafael López, from Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle.
Reproduced with the permission of publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
After more than half a century of embargo and estrangement, the United States and Cuba are reopening the long-locked diplomatic and economic doors between countries only 90 miles apart. As the two countries redefine what links them, interest piques for American teachers and students eager to learn about their neighbor nation. For anyone not ready to join the rising tide of visiting Americans, the following books and websites aid in building a knowledge bridge.
Cuban American author Margarita Engle has regularly returned to her mother’s homeland since 1991. After an April visit in 2015, she noted, “This year was the first time since childhood that I was able to find transportation for hiking and bird-watching in the mountains.” Engle is prolific, with many award-winning books that draw on her heritage and focus on history and nature. Among her noteworthy titles, The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom (2008) and The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano (2006, both Holt) delve into rarely recognized figures in the island’s history.
While materials to further academic studies and promote pleasure reading for students in grades K–12 are updating, this list covers long-held and recently released titles. Cuban authors are included, but as restrictions on both sides are lifting slowly, access to their translated and bilingual work is limited [petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/end-book-embargo-against-cuba]. Fiction and literature titles outnumber nonfiction choices here, which reflects availability. So, pack an imaginary suitcase and take your students to Cuba.
Novels, Short Stories, & Folktales
Memoir & Poetry
CALCINES, Eduardo F. Leaving Glorytown: One Boy’s Struggle Under Cuba. Farrar. 2009. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780374343941. Gr 7-10–Eduardo was only three when the Communist revolution changed Cuba. His childhood memories include his parents’ growing dissatisfaction, their application to go to the United States, and the bullying he faced because his family was emigrating. The anger that grew out of incidents such as his uncle’s sudden arrest is communicated, but his love of family is equally strong. Audio version available from Listening Library. EIRE, Carlos. Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy. Free Pr. 2003. pap. $16. ISBN 9780743246415. Gr 10 Up–Eire recalls his childhood in pre- and post-revolution Havana, with occasional references to his life after the airlift that brought him to the United States. Often ironic, frequently poetic, this intriguing personal account includes the author’s dreams and fears and a view of a unique family in 1950s Cuba. A National Book Award winner, it’s a good discussion starter. ENGLE, Margarita. Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir. illus. by Edel Rogdriguez. S. & S./Atheneum. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481435222; ebk $10.99. ISBN 9781481435246. Gr 6-10–Engle shares memories of childhood visits to Cuba, the U.S. embargo that barred family travel to visit relatives, and daily life growing up in Los Angeles. Told through uncomplicated but emotionally resonant verse, this reflection includes the story of how the author’s Cuban mother met her American dad. ENGLE, Margarita. The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba. Holt. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780805090826. Gr 8 Up–Lyrical poems, skillfully woven together, introduce three women: the pioneering Swedish feminist Fredrika Bremer, the enslaved Afro-Cuban who served as her translator, and the fictional daughter of a slave owner. Based on an actual journey into Cuba’s countryside in 1851, this sensitive commentary on the rights of women and slaves works well as a dramatic reading. HERRERA, Georgina. Always Rebellious/Cimarroneando. tr. by María Rodríguez-Alcalá, Juanamaría Cordones-Cook, & Alexander Cordones-Cook Cubanabooks. 2014. pap. $17.95. ISBN 9780982786062. Gr 9 Up–Almost three dozen deeply felt but verbally straightforward poems by an Afro-Cuban woman touch on faith and self-esteem—one honoring Rosa Parks. Each poem is presented in Spanish with its English translation on the opposite page, and all are enhanced by the accompanying subtitled DVD, which features a Spanish-language interview with the poet.History, Culture, & Guides
BAKER, Christopher P. Cuba. (National Geographic Traveler). National Geographic. 2012. pap. $22.95. ISBN 9781426209543. Gr 6 Up–Well illustrated with color photos and maps, this traveler’s guidebook offers a concisely written introduction to Cuba’s history, culture, and geography. Brief but broadly inclusive lists of important sights illuminate the country’s places of interest. Students might create travel posters of Cuba’s highlights to delve more deeply. KENT, Deborah. Cuba. (Enchantment of the World). Children’s Pr. 2015. lib. ed. $40. ISBN 9780531216941. Gr 5-9–Covering current and past history, nature, government, and culture, this up-to-date overview of a country in transition presents a balanced portrait of Cuba. With a generous dose of full- and half-page color photographs, a time line, and four pages of fast facts, this is a report-friendly book. MAX, Trish. Reaching for the Sun: Kids in Cuba. Millbrook. 2002. lib ed. $26.60. ISBN 9780761322610. Gr 4-6–Through the viewpoint of 10-year-old Angie, readers travel from Los Angeles to Cuba with elementary-school children and mentors to join Cuban children and put together a one-time-only stage show. Along the way, the students visit historic sites, make friends, and learn about one another’s similarities and differences. Illustrated with photographs. SENKER, Cath. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Heinemann. 2013. lib.ed. $35. ISBN 9781432976378; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781432976446. Gr 7 Up–In October 1962, President Kennedy confronted the Soviet Union when it established ballistic missile bases in Cuba. This compact book details the tension, solution, and background information while shedding light on a turning point in U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations. First-person and news accounts also cover the Bay of Pigs invasion and world events during this period.Digital picks
For Teachers
About Cuba! K–12 Lessons, Resources. gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/editor/cuba-lessons-resources. Teachers.net Gazette. (Accessed 2/22/16). Links to teaching resources for grades K–12 include a mix of videos, lessons plans, and articles, as well as a detailed account of Cuba’s history. A few will also interest students preparing reports. Lesson Plan Library: U.S.-Cuba Relations. discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free lesson-plans/us-cuba-relations.cfm. Discovery Education. (Assessed 2/22/16). Intended for grades 9–12, this lesson plan designed for two class periods introduces historical events from the late-19th century through 1999 that link the United States and Cuba. Includes objectives, important dates, a list of materials, and discussion questions.For Students
Cuba. britannica.com/place/Cuba. Encyclopaedia Britannica. (Assessed 2/22/16). Gr 5-9– Detailed information on the land, people, economy, government, cultural life, and history of Cuba is included in this encyclopedia article, along with links to images, videos, and an audio of the national anthem. CUBA. kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/cuba/#cuba-matanzas.jpg. National Geographic Kids. (Accessed 2/22/16). Gr 3-6 –Along with brief paragraphs describing topography, government, culture, nature, and history, readers will find excellent images of coins, the flag, and a city street. A good source of useful fast facts. Cuba Profile–Timeline. bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19576144. BBC. (Assessed 2/22/16). Gr 5 Up –Up-to-date and extensive, this list of important dates starts with Columbus landing on the island in 1492 and ends with 2015 improvements in U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations. Entries include details on the wars for independence, the Communist revolution, and other political and historical events. The World Factbook: Cuba. cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html. Central Intelligence Agency. (Assessed 2/22/16). Gr 9 Up–An extensive list of statistical details about the Cuban people, government, geography, and more is provided along with brief summaries of Cuba’s history and economy.We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing
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