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Jumping off to freedom -
Anilú Bernardo.
Houston, TX : Pinata Books, 1996.
198 p. ; 23 cm.
Annotations:
- Courage and desperation lead fifteen-year-old David and his father to flee Cuba's repressive regime and seek freedom by taking to the sea on a raft headed for Miami.
Horn Book Guide:
- 1996 Fiction Rating 4, Recommended, with minor flaws.
Reading Measurement Programs:
Accelerated Reader
Interest Level Middle Grade
Book Level 5.1
Accelerated Reader Points 6
Reviews:
- Anne O'Malley (Booklist, May 1, 1996 (Vol. 92, No. 17))
Tired of living in deprivation and fear in Cuba, David's father, Miguel, takes the bold step of building a raft and secretly setting off on a perilous journey to Florida with his teenage son and another escapee, Luis, who helps with the raft preparation. From the moment of their departure--when an unexpected fourth passenger, Toro, bullies his way aboard--until they sight U.S. land many days later, disaster looms or strikes in one form or another: the border guard, sharks, a ferocious storm that devastates their food rations, Miguel's physical breakdown, Luis' mental breakdown, and a potential rescue ship that spurns the hapless rafters. David and Toro barely maintain enough strength to skipper the raft to safety, their deep mutual mistrust gradually breaking down as they learn to depend on each other by the end. The writing style may be as choppy as the sea at times, and readers may wonder about these boat people's seamless arrival in the Florida Keys, but survival-story fans and readers looking for breathtaking action will not be disappointed. Category: Older Readers. 1996, Arte Publico/Pinata, $14.95 and $7.95. Gr. 7-10.Tim Whitney (Children's Literature)
Under the stifling dictatorship in Cuba, food is limited, distrust of the government and among neighbors is high, and one is guilty until proven innocent. This harsh life causes fifteen-year-old David Leal and his father to decide to escape to a better way of life and to "jump off" the island in a raft bound for Florida. On their journey the two must endure storms, sharks, seasickness, hunger, thirst, and the troubles brought on by two uncontrollable traveling companions. By the end of the journey, David must place his trust in an enemy and take on more responsibility, as his ailing father becomes unable to do so. This adventure story for young adults keeps the reader guessing until the end to see if the travelers will make it safely to the coast of Florida. 1996, Piņata Books, $14.95 and $7.95. Ages 13 up.Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1996)
Fifteen-year-old David and his father are joined by a compatriot and an unwanted passenger as they flee Cuba by raft. Their journey across the Gulf of Mexico to Florida includes both the harrowing adventure of sailing through storms and shark-infested waters and the conflict caused by the clashing personalities of the four men. The amateurishly written prose is overblown and contains undue shifts in viewpoint. Category: Fiction. 1996, Piņata, 200pp.. Ages 14 to 18. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws. Subjects:
- Cubans--Florida--Juvenile fiction.
Cubans--Florida--Fiction.
Refugees--Fiction.
| Language | Call Number | LCCN | Dewey Decimal | ISBN/ISSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (eng) | PZ7.B455137 Ju 1996 |
95037667 |
[Fic] |
1558850872 (cloth : alk. paper) 1558850880 (paper : alk. paper) 9781558850873 9781558850880 |