 | 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. |
The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
- By Margarita Engle
- Genre: Biography
Common Sense Media says
Disturbing, moving bio told in verse. Too violent for kids.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is an award-winning book of poetry about the real life of Cuban slave Juan Francisco Manzano. The main character, a child during the story's telling, is repeatedly and persistently beaten, whipped, and tortured. The level of violence and brutality in this book make it very intense and probably a better fit for teens -- though readers of any age are sure to be disturbed. Even so, it is the winner of a number of awards, including the American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, the IRA Children's Book
Award, the Pura
Belpre Author Award, and more. Teens will learn about a literary and historical figure, and also be moved by Juan's story, and how he uses his love of poetry and words to tolerate horrific conditions.
What's the story?
The first part of the life of Juan Francisco Manzano, until his escape from slavery, is told in a series of poems, from a variety of viewpoints and voices. A child prodigy, with perfect recall and amazing talent in poetry, he is treated as a performing pet by his first mistress. But when she dies, his insane new mistress abuses and tortures him horribly until he finally escapes. Includes brief bibliography, historical background, and four excerpts of Manzano's poetry.
Is it any good?
For teens, this is a serviceable introduction to an all-but-forgotten literary and historical figure, and the tale of survival and defiance has moments of uplift. This will inspire readers to think: Why did Juan persist in
reading and writing when it invariably brought him beatings? How did
his abilities sustain him? Teens may also be interested in finding out about his life, or those of other slave poets, such as George Moses Horton, Jupiter Hammon, and
Phyllis Wheatley.
Unfortunately, readers may find that the free verse leaves some aspects of the story unclear, such as how Juan ends up with the Marquesa after being granted his freedom. Authors of similar works (see Your Own, Sylvia by Stephanie Hemphill, for example) solve that problem by the use of footnotes and/or endnotes. No such luck here -- the historical note only picks up after the story ends. Also, Manzano lived in Cuba in the early 1800s, and it's likely that most young readers will know little about that society -- it would have been useful if the note had given some context.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the level of violence in this book. It is very disturbing -- is it made more so by the fact that it actually happened to a real child? Or does the fact that it is in the past make it easier to handle?
Is reading about violence different than seeing it in a movie or experiencing it in a video game?
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AGE
Good for 10 and up
very realistic. but for somewhat mature audiences
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| Author: | Margarita Engle |
| Illustrator: | Sean Qualls |
| Book type: | Non-Fiction |
| Genre: | Biography |
| Publisher: | Henry Holt & Company, Inc. |
| Publication date: | April 1, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 183 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 10 |
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