The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle is the story of Fredrika Bremer who comes from Sweden in 1851 to live in Cuba. She is a rich woman who is searching for peace and believes she has found in Cuba. She befriends her maid, Cecilia, who misses Africa and Elena the daughter of a rich plantation owner. They form a friendship that endures the unjustices that are found living in Cuba.
Bibliography:
Engle, Margarita. "The Firefly Letters". Henry Colt and Co., 2010.
My Impressions:
Another beautiful story on our reading list. I found this to be a story of longing and lost innocence for all three characters. I love the way that Margarita Engle writes and how they would wear fireflies in their hair for decorations. The love and freindship that these share for each year is heartwarming and touching.
Reviews:
School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—This engaging title documents 50-year-old Swedish suffragette and novelist Fredrika Bremer's three-month travels around Cuba in 1851. Based in the home of a wealthy sugar planter, Bremer journeys around the country with her host's teenaged slave Cecilia, who longs for her mother and home in the Congo. Elena, the planter's privileged 12-year-old daughter, begins to accompany them on their trips into the countryside. Both Elena and Cecilia are inspired by their guest's independence, Elena to wonder if she can avoid eventual marriage and Cecilia to dream of freedom for her unborn child. Using elegant free verse and alternating among each character's point of view, Engle offers powerful glimpses into Cuban life at that time. Along the way, she comments on slavery, the rights of women, and the stark contrast between Cuba's rich and poor. The author takes some license with the real Bremer's journey; Elena is fictional, which the author is careful to point out in her author's note. She also includes a reference list for readers who want to learn more about Bremer. The easily digestible, poetic narrative makes this a perfect choice for reluctant readers, students of the women's movement, those interested in Cuba, and teens with biography assignments.—Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD
Suggested Use:
Social studies subject on slavery and how it was not just in the south of the United States but in other countries as well.
Book Cover:
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