Review by Booklist Review
Based on the experiences of Miyares' father, this visually beautiful book documents Fidel Castro's rebellion from the perspective of 12-year-old Carlos and his family. Carlos is already struggling with change, after his father wins the lottery and moves them away from their countryside home, when Castro's rebellion rolls down from the mountains across Cuba. Suddenly, Carlos goes from worrying about fitting in at a new school to fearing police at his door to accuse his family of being traitors. Miyares beautifully renders Carlos' home and experiences in ink and watercolors with warm tropical tones and inky shadows that recall the work of Raul Colón. The panels are richly detailed down to trinkets on bookshelves, fully bringing Carlos' day-to-day reality to life. In contrast, pages with simple black ink on white paper report Castro's movements, starting with his return from exile, and run parallel to the family's experience. Misunderstanding and frustration grow between Carlos, who witnesses the unrest and just wants to understand, and the adults who only want to keep him safe. Gun violence and death are depicted on the page. This excellent companion to Alan Gratz's Refugee (2017) explores the struggle faced by refugees when the homes they've always known are no longer safe and they're forced to abandon deeply loved places, as well as the ways we can carry our homes with us in our hearts.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--In his first work for older readers, Miyares centers this middle grade graphic memoir around his father Carlos's experiences as a 12-year-old during the political unrest caused by the 1962 Cuban Revolution. The story alternates between a slice-of-life account of a Cuban farming family adjusting to life in the city after Carlos's father wins the lottery, interspersed with snapshots of key events from the Cuban Revolution. The pages that highlight the historical events are full-page, while the images following Carlos's life are paneled, creating an important distinction between the two narratives. The stunning art is rendered in watercolor and ink, with murky blues and browns in especially harrowing scenes and pops of orange and pink that inspire hope throughout. Even though the dialogue sometimes feels forced and awkward, the child perspective during distressing moments still rings true. While not all readers will be able to connect with the dangerous upheaval depicted in the volume, most kids will understand Carlos's tenuous relationship with his father and his difficult transition from the country to the city, leaving his grandfather and best friend behind. Carlos's family has tan skin, and his best friend has brown skin. VERDICT A strong purchase for graphic memoir shelves, refugee stories collections, and curricular tie-ins for studies on the Cold War and Latin American history.--Shelley M. Diaz
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In the late 1950s, a boy's life is turned upside down by the Cuban Revolution. In this touching graphic memoir, Miyares depicts his father Carlos' childhood before and during dictator Fidel Castro's ascent to power. Affectionate interactions between Carlos and his mamá and abuelo and vibrant shades of green and blue portray the joy Carlos felt growing up in rural Ceiba Mocha. So, when his hardworking papi won the lottery and relocated the family to the city to launch his dream of owning a woodshop and selling furniture, the move was a huge adjustment for nature-loving Carlos. At school, kids teased him for being a "country kid," but nothing compared to the fear Carlos experienced when the government was overthrown. Miyares intersperses brief, digestible political updates in black-and-white throughout, forming a stark contrast to the vivid color palette of Carlos' daily life. Suddenly, men with guns seized Papi's business. Food was rationed. Neighbors spied on each other to see who didn't support the revolution--and they had their eye on Papi. Rumors abounded that those who opposed communism or Castro were being shot. Worst of all, one day Papi disappeared. But even when things were at their bleakest, Carlos and his family found hope in the possibility of making one more move--to America and freedom. The expressive art in this powerful work has a nostalgic feeling while also conveying emotional immediacy. A heartfelt, suspenseful story about family and resilience. (author's note)(Graphic memoir. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
