Cómo Decir Adiós En Cubano / How to Say Goodbye in Cuban - by Daniel Miyares (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Es el 1957. Carlos vive con su familia en Ceiba Mocha, un pueblito en el campo cubano. Le encanta jugar béisbol con su mejor amigo, Álvaro, y disparar hondas caseras con su abuelo.

Un día, ocurre un milagro: ¡el padre de Carlos, su Papi, gana la lotería! Con ese dinero impulsa un creciente negocio de muebles y traslada a la familia a una casa grande en la ciudad. Carlos detesta tener que mudarse, detesta dejar atrás al abuelo y a Álvaro, y detesta que lo llamen "campesino" en su nueva escuela.

Pero los trastornos por la mudanza y entrar en la escuela secundaria resultan ser lo de menos.
Cuando el líder rebelde Fidel Castro derroca al presidente cubano, todo el país se vuelca hacia la revolución. Y de repente, Papi desaparece. La madre de Carlos le dice que Papi se ha marchado a Estados Unidos y que pronto toda la familia se reunirá con él. Pero Carlos realmente no quiere abandonar Cuba, el único hogar que ha conocido. Además, ¿cómo llegarán a Estados Unidos cuando los soldados de Castro vigilan cada uno de sus movimientos? ¿Volverá Carlos a ver a su padre?

Este poderoso libro sobre un niño que madura en medio de una enorme agitación política narra una historia atemporal sobre la búsqueda de libertad de una familia y un nuevo lugar al que llamar hogar.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Here is the dramatic coming-of-age memoir -- told in the form of a graphic novel -- of 12-year-old Carlos (who would grow up to become the author's father), his life during the Cuban Revolution, and his family's harrowing escape to America.

The year is 1957. Carlos lives with his family in Ceiba Mocha, a small town in the Cuban countryside. He loves to play baseball with his best friend, Alvaro, and to shoot home-made slingshots with his abuelo.

One day, a miracle happens: Carlos' father, his papi, wins the lottery! He uses the money to launch his growing furniture business and to move the family to a big house in the city. Carlos hates having to move -- hates leaving Abuelo and Alvaro behind -- and hates being called country kid at his new school.

But the pains of moving and middle school turn out to be the least of his problems.

When rebel leader Fidel Castro overthrows the existing Cuban president, the entire country is thrust into revolution. Then, suddenly, Papi disappears. Carlos' mother tells him that Papi has gone to America, and that their whole family will soon join him. But Carlos really doesn't want to leave Cuba, the only home he's ever known. Besides, how will they get to America when Castro's soldiers are policing their every move? Will Carlos ever see his father again?

This powerful book about a boy coming of age amid massive political upheaval tells a timeless story of one family's quest for freedom and for a new place to call home.