About a Book - The Surrender Tree

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, by Margarita Engle

Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist Margarita Engle describes this book as a "history in verse." The story takes place during in Cuba during the nation's struggle for independence in the second half of the 19th century.

The main character is based on a real historical figure - legendary healer Rosario Castellanos Castellanos (known as Rosa la Bayamesa). Rosa is a freed slave - although not recognized as free by the Spanish government, and so she is persecuted as a runaway. She hides out in a cave in the forest, using her knowledge of traditional medicine to heal injured rebels, runaway slaves, and Spanish soldiers alike. She does not turn anyone away.

The story is told in short poems from different perspectives including that of Rosa, her husband Jose, her young apprentice Sylvia, a slave catcher nicknamed Lieutenant Death, and others. The Surrender Tree is a beautiful book. The characters are compelling and the descriptions of Cuba's natural landscape, and its flora and fauna, are full of wonder. There are very real and desperate injustices remembered in this story, but the depiction of such heroes as Rosa la Bayamesa leaves the reader hopeful.

This winner of the Pura Belpre Award and Newbery Honor Award is highly recommended!

About a Book - The Green Glass Sea

The Green Glass Sea tells of two girls: Dewey and Suze. Dewey loves to invent and build things - things like radios, robots, and other "gizmos". Like most people in town, Suze thinks Dewey is really strange, but when Dewey's father goes away and she has to move in with Suze's family, the two form an unlikely but strong friendship. Sounds like an ordinary enough story....

But, it isn't ordinary after all. The Green Glass Sea takes place in a town called Los Alamos in the 1940s, during World War II. Los Alamos was a secret place in the middle of the desert, where some of the most brilliant scientists from all over the country were sent to live with their families and work on a top secret mission - to build and test the atomic bomb. This is where Dewey and Suze live their story, and even they don't realize the nature of the project their parents are working on and how it will change the world.

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction, this is a fascinating novel which will provoke much thought and discussion. This is also a Reading Olympics pick for Fall 2008, so get an early start!