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wordnerd153's review against another edition
3.0
Inspiring biography about a man most young readers are probably unaware of.
libscote's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is an important book. It explains Cubans fight for freedom through Jose Marti, a poet and freedom fighter. This book is told in verse, both English and Spanish. It cover his whole life.
Honestly, it wasn't my favorite, but I don't think it was made to please me, white lady in her early thirties. I enjoy learning about new figures do that was fun.
Honestly, it wasn't my favorite, but I don't think it was made to please me, white lady in her early thirties. I enjoy learning about new figures do that was fun.
tashrow's review
5.0
This picture book in both Spanish and English verse tells the story of José Martí. Martí spent his entire life working to end slavery in Cuba after witnessing the brutality first hand. At the time, Spain ruled Cuba and a war of independence started in 1868. Martí wrote against the Spanish government and was jailed and put to hard labor. At 17-years-old he was sent away from Cuba. He continued to fight for Cuba’s independence and settled in New York. He would travel into the Catskill Mountains to see the nature that he missed from Cuba. Martí eventually returned to Cuba and helped fight in the battles against the Spanish, dying on the battlefield before freedom was realized. His words live on: it was his words and songs that helped drive the Cubans to fight for freedom and to continue fighting.
The verse contains excerpts from Martí’s works, allowing readers to read his words directly. The verse from the author and from Martí work beautifully together, flowing into one river of words that tell the story of Cuban freedom. The afterword and author’s notes add information to the verse, giving more dates and information on the war for freedom in Cuba and on Martí’s life. This picture book biography takes a complex subject and makes it accessible for young readers, demonstrating how a young-person’s passion can ignite a nation.
The illustrations move from Cuba to New York to the Catskills, capturing scenes of daily life, lush greenery, and battles. There is a sense of energy to all of the illustrations, that matches that of the verse as it speaks to the drive that Martí had to speak out for Cuba’s independence.
A great picture book biography that adroitly pairs English and Spanish on the page. Appropriate for ages 7-9.
The verse contains excerpts from Martí’s works, allowing readers to read his words directly. The verse from the author and from Martí work beautifully together, flowing into one river of words that tell the story of Cuban freedom. The afterword and author’s notes add information to the verse, giving more dates and information on the war for freedom in Cuba and on Martí’s life. This picture book biography takes a complex subject and makes it accessible for young readers, demonstrating how a young-person’s passion can ignite a nation.
The illustrations move from Cuba to New York to the Catskills, capturing scenes of daily life, lush greenery, and battles. There is a sense of energy to all of the illustrations, that matches that of the verse as it speaks to the drive that Martí had to speak out for Cuba’s independence.
A great picture book biography that adroitly pairs English and Spanish on the page. Appropriate for ages 7-9.
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