Focus on Margarita Engle

In a way, most of the mission creep of my National Hispanic Heritage Month 2018 goes back to Margarita Engle.

The School Library Journal article that gave me the reading list (assuming we are not blaming the We Need Diverse Books spreadsheet that gave me the article) focused on Engle, and the changes she has seen in her regular visits back to Cuba.

https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=viva-cuba-focus-on

The recommended books included five by her. For grades 1-5 they recommended The Wild Book and Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba, as well as Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music. Then under Memoir and Poetry they recommended Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir and The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba.

That was already quite a bit, I thought, but then when I went back to the article to check my progress, I noticed that there were two other books mentioned when they were giving her background: Newberry Honor winner The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle and The Poet Slave of Cuba:A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano.

Maybe I should blame Sean Qualls; The Poet Slave of Cuba was already on my reading list after I had liked some of his work and decided that I wanted to check out more.

When I keep going like that, a compulsive need for completion might be a factor. (This is one reason I now shun collectibles.) However, I really liked Engle's work.

Most of the book I read were told in verse. It was not rhymed verse, and it was strongly narrative, so it was not really like reading poetry, but it was more impressionistic than reading a novel.

(Because I read Drum Dream Girl for something else, I am thinking more of the other books.)

Enchanted Air is her own story, but the others are historical. There are often personal connections. The Wild Book is based on Engle's grandmother's struggle with dyslexia, and other books cover events to which her family was connected even if the main characters in the books are not related.

Most of the books switch the point of view, so you gain insight into multiple characters, coming from multiple countries of origin and social rungs. They cover the history of slavery, feminism, and war in Cuba, and they do it in a way that creates a feeling and sense of it. Notes at the end often give directions for more research if it is desired.

Putting them together I have to appreciate the rich tapestry that is Cuban history. The US point of view tends to focus on Castro, even considering our involvement in other events.

Also, I appreciate Engle's voice. It ultimately ends up being one of decency, hope, and growing courage. I would not hesitate to read any of her other works.