The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano (by Margarita Engle)

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.