Letters from Cuba

Letters from Cuba is the Pura Belpré Award-winning novel by Ruth Behar, inspired by her grandmother's true story — following eleven-year-old Esther, a Jewish girl who flees Poland alone to join her father in Cuba as Nazi persecution intensifies, leaving her beloved sister Malka behind and writing her everything she witnesses in a series of vivid letters. In Cuba, Esther discovers a vibrant, multicultural community of kindness and struggle, while working desperately to earn enough money to bring her family to safety before it is too late. This is an extraordinary choice for students because it illuminates the little-known history of Jewish refugees in Cuba during World War II, and tells a deeply moving story of immigration, resilience, family love, and the courage to face the unknown — through the intimate, powerful voice of a young girl determined to save the people she loves.

Publishing Details

Author : Ruth Behar

Author Nationality : Cuba

Physical Details

Type of Book: Chapter

Cover: Softcover

Pages: 288

Size: 7.9 x 5.1 inches

Year Published: 2021

Instructional Details

Reading Grade Level: 5th

Genre: Fiction

Sub-Genre: Historical Fiction

Theme: Immigration, War, Family, Social Issues, Hispanic Heritage Month