The Firefly Letters
A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba
- Paperback
176 pages
- Release Date
11 April 2017
Summary
A powerful novel in verse about an early women’s rights pioneer and the journey to Cuba that transformed her life.
When Fredrika Bremer asked the Swedish Consulate to find her a quiet home in the Cuban countryside, she expected a rustic thatched hut, not this luxurious mansion in Matanzas, where Elena, the daughter of the house, can barely step foot outside.
The freedom to roam is something that women and girls in Cuba do not have. Yet when Fredrika sets off to learn about the…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781250110961 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1250110963 |
| Author: | Margarita Engle |
| Publisher: | St Martin's Press |
| Imprint: | St Martin's Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 176 |
| Release Date: | 11 April 2017 |
| Weight: | 156g |
| Dimensions: | 208mm x 135mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
A Pura Belpré Honor Book An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
“Like the firefly light, Engle’s poetry is a gossamer thread of subtle beauty weaving together three memorable characters who together find hope and courage. Another fine volume by a master of the novel in verse.” -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“This slim, elegant volume opens the door to discussions of slavery, women’s rights, and the economic disparity between rich and poor.” -Publishers Weekly
“Through this moving combination of historical viewpoints, Engle creates dramatic tension among the characters, especially in the story of Elena, who makes a surprising sacrifice.” -Booklist
“This engaging title documents 50-year-old Swedish suffragette and novelist Fredrika Bremer’s three-month travels around Cuba in 1851… . The easily digestible, poetic narrative makes this a perfect choice for reluctant readers, students of the women’s movement, those interested in Cuba, and teens with biography assignments.” –School Library Journal
“The author has a gift for imbuing seemingly effortless text with powerful emotions… .This uncommon story will resonate.” –The Bulletin
“The imagistic, multiple first-person narrative works handily in revealing Bremer, an alert and intelligent woman in rebellion against her background of privilege.” –The Horn Book
About The Author
Margarita Engle
Margarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She lives with her husband in northern California.
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