very realistic. but for somewhat mature audiences
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The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 13. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Award-winning, but brutal, confusing bio in poems.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–16
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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What Parents Need to Know
About The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
Parents need to know that the main character, a child, is repeatedly and persistently beaten, whipped, and tortured. The level of violence and brutality in this book make it inappropriate for children below middle school, and deeply disturbing to readers of any age.
Read our full review by Matt Berman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the nature of genius. Why did Juan persist in reading and writing when it invariably brought him beatings? How did his abilities sustain him? Young readers may want to know more about Juan Francisco Manzano. See below for a Web site containing his poetry and autobiography. They may also be interested in finding out about other slave poets, such as George Moses Horton, Jupiter Hammon, and Phyllis Wheatley.
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
Good for 10 and up
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