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90 Miles To Havana (2010)

by Enrique Flores-Galbis(Favorite Author)

3.85 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1596431687 (ISBN13: 9781596431683)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Roaring Brook Press

review 1: 90 Miles to Havana is heart-wrenching tween historical fiction; the novel follows Julian’s journal from Cuba to Miami in 1961. His parents sent him and his brothers to Cuba following Cuba’s revolution (essentially switching from one dictator to another), as they cannot afford to send them all over at once. [return][return]Once in Miami, the brothers are placed in what is basically an orphanage camp. The orphans are left to fend for themselves and a very Lord of the Flies set-up ensues, with a bully named Caballo exacting firm control over all of the orphans. Most of the children are in a state of flux, waiting to be sent to foster homes or boys/girls houses in other states. When the brothers are broken up, we see Julian’s bravado come out—surprising even himse... morelf at his tenacity.[return][return]A quick read, 90 Miles to Havana tells the more poignant side of a piece of history that many have glossed over.
review 2: I would recommend this book to young adults who know some background information about Cuba. This book is set in the time period of Fidel Castro coming into power and a revolution taking place. Julian and his brothers, Alquilino and Gordo were sent to Miami from Havana, Cuba by their parents. Their parents felt it was best to send their kids to Miami while they had a chance for a better life. Once the boys arrived in Miami, they were sent to a refugee camp for kids to stay at temporarily. Julian and his brothers encountered Caballo, who was the bully of the camp. He had apathy to these brothers whom he had known back in Cuba. However, Angelita and Pepe were also sent to this camp and they were good friends of Julian and his family back home. They were able to be compatible to bring down Caballo in his glory. After doing this, Julian escaped the camp to meet up with Tomas. Tomas was also from Cuba and he was on a mission to secretly get to Cuba and rescue his family and friends. Tomas and Julian worked on a boat to make it ready to travel to Cuba to save the people. The two of them embarked the boat and headed to Havana, Cuba to save fourteen people. Throughout the book Julian, his friends, and his family run into conflicts which they all have to deal with and try to solve. If you want to find out if Tomas and Julian save the fourteen people and what happens next, then you will have to read 90 Miles to Havana. This book is more than interesting and it takes more than a few unexpected twists and turns. I thought that the book was well developed and always had me at the edge of my seat. I did not know what was going to happen throughout 90 Miles to Havana. This book was also easy to follow and understand what was going on. Julian was a young boy, who was the nervous and quiet type. He rarely voiced his opinion, but when he did no one could change his mind. His brothers, Alquilino and Gordo always thought that they were better and smarter than Julian. They also liked to pick on Julian at every opportunity they were given. Tomas was a very nice guy who was welcoming and caring to every person he encountered. I would consider this book realistic fiction because it is told from real life experiences, but the author just changed the names of the characters. I have never read a book like this before, but I really enjoyed it and overall 90 Miles to Havana was a well written, good book. less

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