Bibliography Engle, Margarita. 2006. The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. Ill. by Sean Qualls. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9780805077063 Review & Critical Analysis This lyrical biography of the poet slave of Cuba, Juan Francisco Manzano, gives the reader a glimpse into his life and the struggles of Cuban slaves in nineteenth century. Through verse, Engle is able to effectively create the world that Manzano lived in full of emotion, color, struggle, and hope. The free verse poems in this title are haunting and powerful. Each poem conveys so much emotion, it is overwhelming at times (in a good way). Engle is able to transport the reader back to the nineteenth century to see and feel the same things as Manzano. The poems cover the perspectives of multiple characters, including Manzano’s mother and father, Doña Beatriz (his original owner), La Marquesa de Prado Ameno (the woman who inherits him), Don Nicolás (La Marquesa’s kind son), and the Overseer. Through these characters, Manzano’s story comes full circle, shedding light on the struggles of Cuban slaves. Slavery is not an experience most readers will have faced. This book, however, has the power to transport the reader into nineteenth century Cuba and lead you through the experiences of Manzano with a lasting emotional effect. The history of Cuba and its struggles with freedom will resonate with middle grade and young adult readers, as they read about Manzano’s incredible intelligence and talent, and how it was suppressed by his cruel owners. Even with all of the emotional and physical pain he endured, Manzano never let his voice be silenced. This is a testament for readers to the personal strength, endurance, and love Manzano had for his art. The poems are very consistent, even with the change in character/perspective. The poems are sequenced to tell the story of Manzano’s life from his childhood to his escape to Havana and freedom. The book does not finish his story, encouraging the reader to research and find out more. Engle includes a historical note at the end of the book with further information about Manzano, why she was inspired to write this book, and a few examples of his poetry, both in Spanish and translated into English. The historical information and poetry examples complete the picture of Manzano’s life, and leaves a lasting emotional and social impact on the reader. The illustrations, by Sean Qualls, complete the story of Manzano’s life through their brilliant depiction of emotion, suffering, and hope. The black and white artwork scattered throughout the book complements the story and brings the image of Manzano and the other characters to life. The historical/biographical information presented in this book is both compelling and unnerving. Before reading this book, I had no background information about slavery in Cuba. I was overwhelmed with emotion while reading about the way Manzano was treated by his owners. The stories of the brutal beatings, punishments, and treatment he endured are disturbing and incredibly sad, yet there is hope in the way that Manzano endured, continuing to create poetry and teach himself to write. Manzano’s endurance and eventual freedom stands as a testament to human strength and endurance. This is a book that I hope to share with students for years to come, especially when tied to social studies and biographical studies. Spotlight Poem Juan Almost free more or less just imagine: I am not allowed to go out alone or step into the kitchen where maids and cooks speak of indecent things but in all other ways I am free more or less I tidy his chair, his desk, his books I give him a haven where he can study I long to write so I use my new coins to buy quills and fine paper for tracing his words Secretly I practice penmanship syllables symbols letters that scatter strange, wondrous meanings across the wide world I even copy the titles of paintings until I am caught then I pull out some sewing and begin to mend At night when everyone else is asleep I take a stub of candle and copy the intricate verses of poets whose long noble names are enclosed in thick books I write and rewrite and recite every dream along with a few simple rhymes of my own This poem, found on pages 131-132, is told from Juan Francisco Manzano’s perspective about his “almost” freedom. This poem takes place when Manzano is living with and working for Don Nicolás who treats him with kindness and fairness, unlike his previous owners. During this time, Manzano begins to read and write more poetry feeling his almost freedom, knowing that he can create without the fear of punishment. I would introduce this poem to students in conjunction with a biographical study of poets. In the history of poets and poetry, there has been much persecution and fear over the power words have to create change (and rebellions). I would read this poem to students and discuss with them what it means for Juan to be “Almost free / more or less.” This is a great poem and topic to help students connect to the struggles of African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. After reading and discussing, I would read a poetry excerpt from Brown Girl Dreaming, an autobiographical verse novel by Jacqueline Woodson. After reading I would have students break into groups and compare the emotions of both poems. How are the characters similar and how are they different? How can you compare their situations? Leading students to make connections between similar struggles of different characters in different time periods can create a unique opportunity for learning about the history of oppression and social struggles.
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AuthoRMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own. Archives
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