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The Red Umbrella Review

Books like this are the ones that make you really appreciate the fact that you're an American. Even though people like to complain about how many things are wrong in this country, we do still have freedom...we do still have the power and the opportunity to make our children's lives better than our own.

In this fantastic story, the author has given us a look into her own past. Her parents were a part of Operation Pedro Pan in the 1960's, which was a U.S. plan that helped bring Cubans into America during Castro's communist revolution that sacrificed and destroyed so many hard-working families.

In this novel we meet Frankie and Lucy; siblings who are hanging out at the beach near their home in Puerto Mijares. Their lives are seemingly very simple and carefree, as they play in the waves and watch the beautiful herons soar through the clouds above. On this particular day, a loud noise appears, and the kids see the long line of army vehicles descending on their small town. Lucy, of course, isn't really too upset, seeing as that nothing ever happens in her small town. In fact, she and her friends feel as if they're a million miles away from anything to do with the so-called revolution that so many are up in arms about.

Soon the kids go home and enter an eerily dark house where Mom and Dad are huddled together at the kitchen table listening to the news on the radio. Strangely for Lucy, her parents seem to be quite upset with the news, and order her and her brother to stay inside the home until things "calm down" in the world around them. School has also been closed, and Lucy's friends seem to be all engrossed in various social organizations and going to "meetings" that her own parents are forbidding her to join. As the world begins to turn upside down, Frankie and Lucy come across a few soldiers in back of the high school...shooting and killing their father's boss from work. Another incident that scares Lucy to her very core is when she walks into town one day to pick up medicine for her brother and sees the local Doc hanging from a tree. People who were once friends become enemies, and families turn against their own, as their beliefs become immersed in the communist revolution that Castro is forcing on his people.

Desperately, her parents try to get them out of Cuba before it's too late, and end up getting them on a plane to the United States. Lucy and Frankie are offered beds in a facility in Miami, but are soon sent to live with the Baxter's in Nebraska. The Baxters' are a wonderful couple, filled with love for the two children, and soon Frankie and Lucy find their lives changed for the better. The only thing missing? They want nothing more than to see their Mom and Dad again, and the fear of their parents being stuck behind in that horrible country scares Lucy to her very core.

The title of this story comes from a wonderful item that Lucy and Frankie's mother carried with her. Although red was called the color of the revolution, their mother's umbrella was red because she believed that color was the color of strength in a world where she needed to be strong more than anything else. The kids saw this red "spot" when they looked down through the windows of the plane that was transporting them away from the only home they'd ever known. That one red "spot" in the crowd of parents giving up their children, stuck with Lucy and Frankie, and made them believe that their family - no matter what happened - would somehow find a way to be together again.

My conclusion is this...life is extremely hard sometimes, but one can only imagine the horrific difficulties, pain, and agony that good people had to go through when Castro wielded his mighty power over their heads. Readers will not only feel for Lucy and her brother, but the story will also show in no uncertain terms that being a teenager may be difficult, but not nearly as difficult as being a teenager during the 1960's, and fleeing your homeland in order to stay alive. This story will make all YA readers extremely grateful for their "everyday" problems and triumphs.

Amy Lignor, [...] Reviewer

The Red Umbrella Feature

ISBN13: 9780375861901
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Red Umbrella Overview

The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution.

In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched.

As the revolution's impact becomes more oppressive, Lucía's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States—on their own.

Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?

The Red Umbrella is a moving story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.

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Customer Reviews

A wonderful book. - M. Medrano - Leesburg, FL United States
I do not read fiction.
I read this book because it's about a moment in history of which I was a part of.
I was a "Pedro Pan" child.
I was fortunate enough to have my aunt, uncle and two cousins waiting for me at Miami International Airport the night I arrived from Cuba in 1961. I was seven years old. My mother and twelve year-old sister arrived the next day. We were very lucky to all have been reunited after one day. Many children weren't. Some never saw their parents again.
This easy reading, fictional true to life story taking place after Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959 is very well written. You get to know and love the characters and how the revolution gripped the country and changed their lives, for the worst. Their problems are real, just as they were when my mother was deciding whether she should send me out of Cuba, not knowing if she would see me again and then leaving her home, family and literally her life behind in a span of two days (not knowing if the "underground" plans would change at the last minute).
I have to admit I cried while reading this book because it brought back memories of small events and things I had completely forgotten about (example, my family in Miami waiting for hours or days to get a telephone connection to Cuba) that came back to me. Schoolmates that wore Cuban revolutionary clothes, in the PRIVATE school I attended (CIMA).
At one point I wanted to get one of those outfits. I thought it was "cool". My mother was adamantly opposed to it. I was upset, but now I understand. No different from a child wanting a Hitler Youth outfit in 1940s Germany if the parents opposed the Third Reich.
Beautifully written, this book should be welcomed at any public or private school library. Nothing objectionable, excellent fun and educational reading for both girls, boys and adults.
The "red" umbrella is very meaningful in this story. You too will cry.
I highly recommended it.
I'm looking forward to Christina's next book.

Simply Amazing! - N. Egurrola -
This book really hit home as my parents too left Cuba through Operation Pedro Pan. My father had a hard time reading the book as it so closely paralleled his own experience during this era. The book is a must read for any American it shows the best side of our great country. God bless all the families which opened their doors to these children.

A Beautiful Story - DAC - Atlanta, GA
14 yr old Lucia Alverez is excited about an unexpected break from school, thanks to Castro's revolution. Lucia's parents fear for her safety. Lucia and her younger brother Frankie can't leave the house. When Lucia and Frankie sneak out, they see their dad's boss interrogated and threatened by Castro's men. Slowly, Lucia begins to realize the Cuba, she knows and loves is changing. When Castro came into power, family and friends became enemies. Lucia and her best friend Ivette, grow apart. Ivette joins the Jovenes Rebeldes, a communist youth movement in Cuba. Lucia's parents won't let her join. I didn't instantly like Lucia. She fought her parents, and didn't understand why they were against Castro.

Somewhere along the way, I realized a 14 yr old who is forced to stay home (even if there's a good reason) will fight their parents. Also Castro's ideas looked good to Lucia because they differed from her parents. The early tension between Lucia and her parents, made it easy for me to imagine parents and children choosing different sides. If things had gone differently, Lucia could've run away and joined Jovenes Rebeldes. This was one of the books strengths. Gonzalez allows the reader to consider what if. What if Frankie hadn't gotten sick, and Lucia never passed that oak tree?

After the oak tree, Lucia has seen too much and trust her parents completely. Lucia's parents try to give the impression that they support Castro, in hopes that it will keep them safe. Its not enough. They are worried about the safety of Lucia and her younger brother, Frankie. They decide to send Lucia and Frankie to the U.S. alone. Between 1960 and 1962 ( Red Umbrella, 1961) Operation Pedro Pan was in effect. Many Cuban parents who were against Castro sent there children to the U.S. alone.

Lucia and Frankie are in Miami for a short time. The two are placed with a husband and wife in Nebraska. They keep in touch with their parents through letters and the occasional phone call. The author does of allowing the reader to feel Lucia's experiences. The Alveraz family connection and love is very strong. I thought the author could've developed certain aspects a little more. One day Lucia runs into Laura, a classmate. Her father was arrested for spreading anti -revolutionary lies. I thought Laura woud've made a good character I would've loved a conversation about Castro's ideology between Lucia and Laura.

The author used, Ivette to give a voice to Castro's belief, with letters to Lucia. They didn't feel natural to the story. It was the only time the Gonzalez faltered in blending fact with fiction.

The Red Umbrella is wonderful read. Gonzalez tells a great story. A red umbrella makes a few appearances, I especially loved the last one. The author has mastered the art of symbolism. There aren't many middle grade novels about how Castro's rule impacted Cuban families. I believe this is the first one about Operation Pedro Pan. Its a very good first.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 21, 2010 03:20:09

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010