THE FIREFLY LETTERS: A SUFFRAGETTE'S JOURNEY TO CUBA by Margarita Engle

Bibliography:   

Engle, Margarita. 2010. THE FIREFLY LETTERS: A SUFFRAGETTE’S JOURNEY TO CUBA.  New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co., LLC.  ISBN 0805090826 

Plot Summary:   

Readers hear through four individual's stories how their lives were affected by slavery in Cuba during the 1850’s.  The reader experiences heart-breaking betrayals through the eyes of Cecilia, who is traded by her father for a stolen cow.  Seven years pass when the reader is introduced to Elena, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner.  This same family is the owner of Cecilia.  Cecilia, though still very young, is married and now pregnant.  Frederika brings new life into the story with her unconventional thinking and hope for a free future for Cecilia’s unborn child.   

Critical Analysis:   

With each newly titled page, Engle gives the reader new insight into the lives and the hearts of each of the four characters they are following in the story.   It is heart-wrenching to find out this poetic masterpiece is based on true historical letters and diaries.  Readers will enjoy the story told through verse, rather than being told in an original fiction style.  The verse style seems to allow the reader to get to the heart of the story, cutting out all of the unnecessary words.  Each word is carefully picked by the author to carry the weight of this sad story.  There is hope for change through the sacrifices of others for one sweet slave.

Reviews:   

·        Pura Belpre 2011 Author Honor

·        Jane Addams Award

·        ALSC Notable Children’s Book

·        Kirkus:  “…effectively alternates the voices of the three protagonists … and demonstrates how each character affects the others, all learning a measure of freedom.”

·        Booklist:  “Through this moving combination of historical viewpoints, Engle creates dramatic tension among the characters, especially in the story of Elena, who makes a surprising sacrifice.” 

Connections:  Age Level:  10 and up 

·        First Person Narrative

o   Point out features of this type of point of view as it is modeled for readers.

·        Pre-Reading: 

o   Discuss our rights today.

o   Discuss past topics about people’s struggles with rights to activate background knowledge about prior lessons if taught (Woman voting, African-American’s rights, etc.)

·        During Reading:

o   Students will make notes about rights that they notice characters in the book do not have.

o   Create a timeline of events seen in the story from beginning to end to track the reading and its details.

o   Create a character analysis sheet for each character and add details to it as new facts arise. 

·        After Reading:

o   Student will choose one of the rights that they noticed the characters did not have in the book and research how that became a right today. 

o   Create a Graffiti Board depicting the events seen throughout the story using the timeline as a guide.

o   Create a Heart Map for one of the characters depicting their characteristics, details about them, and things that are important to them.