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Jumping Off to Freedom (by Anilu Bernardo)

common sense media says

Young adult fiction about life in Cuba.


parents & educators 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.

Positive messages: The hero makes a sexist remark; his girlfriend is defined entirely by her attractiveness to him.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: A few mild epithets.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Jumping Off to Freedom

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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?

What's the story?

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?

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.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Anilu Bernardo
Publisher: Arte Publico
Publication date: January 1, 1996
Number of pages: 190
Paperback price: $9.95

This review was written by Cindy Kane
 
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is 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