Quick Take:
Grades I’d recommend it for: 7th and 8th
Concepts worth covering: conflict, theme, characterization, setting, dialogue, point of view, imagery and description
Big picture topics: family relationships, ways we show love for others, the history of Cuba, growing up, tough choices, responsibility
Summary:
The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl’s journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Panâan organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro’s revolution.
In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Luia Ãlvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched.
As the revolution’s impact becomes more oppressive, Luia’s parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States on their own.
Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, LucÃa struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?
The Red Umbrella is a moving story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home. Learn More or Purchase The Red Umbrella
My Take:
Though the novel starts of a bit slow, taking its time to fully develop its characters and setting, “The Red Umbrella” is a worthy read for lovers of historical fiction. The novel’s detailed descriptions and character arcs are excellent for close study and analysis and the text would be a great introduction to tracking (and then writing about) internal conflicts and/or how a character changes over time. Many of the minor characters are developed enough to track for changes over time, as well, giving many options for learners at all levels.
The accurate portrayal of the experiences that many children went through in America after escaping Cuba is both engaging and eye-opening. Many students may never have considered just how startling and different life in a new place might be and will be curious to find out more about Lucia and her brother. That being said, there are many universal experiences that students will find familiar- from first crushes to the nervous energy of the first day of school.
The low lexile (590L) of the novel should be taken into consideration when determining where and when to include the text in the course of a year. The length and content of the novel, as well as the historical background knowledge students may need, suggests placing the text in the upper middle grades, to me. The content and language of the novel stays appropriate to middle grades throughout. The novel is a worthwhile read for older students, as well, though it may not be complex enough to warrant a full unit. I think it would be a wonderful companion text for a US History class, too!
Quote from the text:
“The revolution may have taken over a lot of things, but it doesn’t own a color. For me, red is the symbol of strength, and that’s all it will ever represent.”
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