Bibliographic Information:
Suarez, A. (2002). Flight to freedom. New York: Orchard Books.
Readability Level: 6.2
Audience Level: Grades 6-9
Suggested Delivery: read aloud or small group read
Summary: "It is 1967, and Yara Garcia, 13, receives a blank diary from her father with the inscription, "For my studious daughter." He is leaving Havana for the countryside, where he is forced to work in the fields harvesting coffee since he has applied to emigrate to the U.S. The story unfolds via her entries. As the family waits for permission to leave, readers are told about the rationing of food, neighbors spying on neighbors to report disloyalties to Castro, and the humiliation of being labeled a "gusana"-a worm-a Cuban exile. Arrival in Miami is fraught with a new set of difficulties as language and cultural differences make adjustment painful. Yara's father is convinced that their stay in Florida will be temporary and short, to be endured until such time that they can return to their beloved homeland. In an afterword, Veciana-Suarez describes her firsthand experiences living in exile. Similar to titles in the "Dear America" series (Scholastic), this informative novel incorporates historical facts. The story and characters ring true in their portrayal of loss, longing, and the hope of starting a new life." -Elizabeth Fernandez, Brunswick Middle School, Greenwich, CT
Suarez, A. (2002). Flight to freedom. New York: Orchard Books.
Readability Level: 6.2
Audience Level: Grades 6-9
Suggested Delivery: read aloud or small group read
Summary: "It is 1967, and Yara Garcia, 13, receives a blank diary from her father with the inscription, "For my studious daughter." He is leaving Havana for the countryside, where he is forced to work in the fields harvesting coffee since he has applied to emigrate to the U.S. The story unfolds via her entries. As the family waits for permission to leave, readers are told about the rationing of food, neighbors spying on neighbors to report disloyalties to Castro, and the humiliation of being labeled a "gusana"-a worm-a Cuban exile. Arrival in Miami is fraught with a new set of difficulties as language and cultural differences make adjustment painful. Yara's father is convinced that their stay in Florida will be temporary and short, to be endured until such time that they can return to their beloved homeland. In an afterword, Veciana-Suarez describes her firsthand experiences living in exile. Similar to titles in the "Dear America" series (Scholastic), this informative novel incorporates historical facts. The story and characters ring true in their portrayal of loss, longing, and the hope of starting a new life." -Elizabeth Fernandez, Brunswick Middle School, Greenwich, CT
Curriculum Connections:
- Have you ever kept a diary or journal? For the next week, we are going to begin a blank diary like the one that Yara Garcia writes her story in. Write as honestly as possible. This diary is for you alone. Excerpts will only be shared in class if you volunteer to read them out loud.
- How did your experience writing in a journal compare to Yara's? What events in your life are similar to those in the book. What events are different?
- Research Fidel Castro and Cuba in 1967. Use Google Docs to create a presentation of the information you find to share with the class