Letters From Cuba by Ruth Behar

Letters From Cuba

Ruth Behar

Penguin Young Readers Group · Paperback · August 31, 2021

Pura Belpré Award Winner Ruth Behar's inspiring story of a Jewish girl who escapes Poland to make a new life in Cuba, where 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.

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Who it’s for
A family-rooted story of separation and new beginnings, told in letters balancing kindness with danger.
Themes
Family separation and reunion, Jewish life during World War II, Resilience in challenging times
Genres
Holocaust Stories, Immigration & Moving, Jewish Religious Stories

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About this book

Pura Belpré Award Winner Ruth Behar's inspiring story of a Jewish girl who escapes Poland to make a new life in Cuba, where 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.

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And she does, recording both the good--the kindness of the Cuban people and her discovery of a valuable hidden talent--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 challenging times.

Letters Across Distance

A family-rooted story of separation and new beginnings, told in letters balancing kindness with danger.

Come here for

  • Letters that make distance, family bonds, and a new life feel immediate

Expect

  • Warmth and resourcefulness alongside the shadow of rising Nazism

Where it sits

Holocaust Stories80%
Jewish Religious Stories71%
Immigration & Moving46%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Caribbean & Latin American Stories
  • Jewish Religious Stories
  • Immigration & Moving
Authors
Ruth Behar
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
August 31, 2021
Format
Paperback
Theme
Family separation and reunion · Jewish life during World War II · Resilience in challenging times
Reading lane
Caribbean & Latin American Stories