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The Surrender Tree

 

(Picture from Goodreads.com)

1.       Bibliography

      Engle, Margarita. 2008. THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 978-0-329-70900-6

2.       Plot Summary

THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM is a historical novel written for young adults. The story is based on a famous figure in Cuban history name Rosario Castellanos Castellanos, and follows her journey from childhood to becoming an adult. Rosa is a freed slave who becomes a nurse in hiding as she helps the mambi rebels fight for independence from Spain in mid-nineteenth-century Cuba. In this story, Engle tells of the hardships of slavery, the fight for independence, and the dignity of freedom.

Rosa is followed by a man called Lieutenant Death. He fears and dislikes Rosa and refers to her as “little witch.” Rosa marries a man named Jose Francisco Varona, and together they dedicate themselves to healing the wounded slaves. During this time, Lieutenant Death is wounded and healed by Rosa.

While in hiding, all Cuban peasants are ordered to leave their farms and enter reconcentration camps or suffer death. Silvia, a young girl, refuses and finds Rosa and Jose. They take her in and train her to be a nurse as well.

 The title of the novel, The Surrender Tree refers to a ceremonial spot, a literal tree under which representatives of the Spanish Empire relinquished control of Cuba to the indigenous population; they were farmers, merchants, freed slaves, warriors, and doctors.

3.       Critical Analysis

Margarita Engle’s novel in verse THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM, is poetic and easy to understand. Since the novel is in verse there is a rhythmic and lyrical cadence to the lines, but it does not rhyme. 

Many themes are addressed in the book such as the hardships of slavery, the fight for independence, and the dignity of freedom.

While the book’s focus is on Rosa, there are other perspectives that the reader sees as well such as her husband Jose, a young refugee that escapes from the reconcentration camp named Silvia, and a man known as the Lieutenant of Death that is hunting Rosa. This use of multiple perspectives gives the reader insight to all that is happening surrounding Rosa and the circumstances during Cuba’s three wars for independence from Spain.

The book is based on actual events and real people, Engle does include a note stating that the day-to-day events were made up and there were a couple characters that were completely fictional to enhance the story. Otherwise, what you read, and feel is real.

4.       Reviews/ Awards
*A 2009 Newbery Honor Book
*Winner of the 2009 Pura Belpré Medal for Narrative
*Winner of the 2009 Bank Street - Claudia Lewis Award
*A 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year

“A powerful narrative in free verse . . . haunting.” ―The Horn Book

“Hauntingly beautiful, revealing pieces of Cuba's troubled past through the poetry of hidden moments.” ―School Library Journal

“Young readers will come away inspired by these portraits of courageous ordinary people.” ―Kirkus Reviews

5.       Connections

*Students could try writing poems that create a story from multiple perspectives

*Short research project could be done from questions the students had about the Cuban wars using informational texts and sources.

*Other books with Cuban protagonists, ranging from childhood, middle school, high school, and YA. https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/cuba/

 

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