 | How to say goodbye in Cuban Author: Miyares, Daniel | |
| Price: $11.47 | ||
Summary:
Here is the dramatic coming-of-age memoir--told in the form of a graphic novel--of 12-year-old Carlos (who would grow up to become the author's father), his life during the Cuban Revolution, and his family's harrowing escape to America. In graphic novel format.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (08/15/25)
School Library Journal (07/01/25)
Booklist (+) (12/01/25)
The Hornbook (+) (00/11/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/01/2025 *Starred 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. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
