 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Jumping Off to Freedom
- By Anilu Bernardo
- Genre: Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Young adult fiction about life in Cuba.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the writing and characterization aren't the strong points here; it's all about the adventure.
What's the story?
When fifteen-year-old David Leal is mistakenly arrested and interrogated because a friend used his bicycle to commit a crime, David's father, Miguel, decides the time has come to leave Cuba. In exchange for supplies for their homemade raft, Miguel agrees to let a simple-minded dockworker named Luis come on the journey.
But when the day comes for them to "jump off," a friend of Luis's called Toro bullies his way onto the raft too. As Miguel falls ill, relations among hotheaded David, ill-tempered Toro, and frightened Luis become dangerously strained. The perils of the journey and their dwindling supplies force them to work together, and a gradual fellowship builds among them as they safely navigate their way to Florida.
Is it any good?
There's a great story in this book if the author's lapses in writing can be overlooked. She tends to flatly state her points with unnecessary asides, the dialogue can be awkward, and a subplot about how Toro was involved in David's friend's crime feels contrived. A wandering point of view doesn't add anything to the understanding of the characters. Bernardo also has a taste for hackneyed phrases.
But once readers wade through these flaws, there's a perspective on the plight of the Cuban boat people that no news stories can provide. The shortages that they face in Cuba are evoked clearly: no food, no power, no jobs, no freedom. The dangerous journey is also carefully described, and the moment when they see the lights of Miami is thrilling. This fills a need for young adult fiction about life in Cuba and about the boat people.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about refugees. Why do the boat people leave? What do you think would happen to them if they stayed? Do you think the journey is worth the risk?
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| Author: | Anilu Bernardo |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Publisher: | Arte Publico |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1996 |
| Number of pages: | 190 |
| Paperback price: | $9.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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