Her entry begins:
I usually read four books at a time, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. Right now, I’m re-reading Legacies, by Heberto Padilla. These poems represent one of the more amazing eras of Cuban literary tradition, written during an era of censorship, yet filled with...[read on]About Lion Island, from the publisher:
In a haunting yet hopeful novel in verse, award-winning author Margarita Engle tells the story of Antonio Chuffat, a young man of African, Chinese, and Cuban descent who became a champion of civil rights.Visit Margarita Engle's website.
Asia, Africa, Europe—Antonio Chuffat’s ancestors clashed and blended on the beautiful island of Cuba. Yet for most Cubans in the nineteenth century,life is anything but beautiful. The country is fighting for freedom from Spain. Enslaved Africans and nearly-enslaved Chinese indentured servants are forced to work long, backbreaking hours in the fields.
So Antonio feels lucky to have found a good job as a messenger, where his richly blended cultural background is an asset. Through his work he meets Wing, a young Chinese fruit seller who barely escaped the anti-Asian riots in San Francisco, and his sister Fan, a talented singer. With injustice all around them, the three friends are determined that violence will not be the only way to gain liberty.
Coffee with a Canine: Margarita Engle & Maggi and Chance.
My Book, The Movie: The Lightning Dreamer.
My Book, The Movie: Mountain Dog.
The Page 69 Test: Silver People.
The Page 99 Test: Enchanted Air.
The Page 69 Test: Lion Island.
Writers Read: Margarita Engle.
--Marshal Zeringue
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