by Olga Herrera
Rating: 5 star rating
This is a simple but touching picture book, set during the Cuban Revolution. It follows a young girl named Lucinda who is just trying to make sense of the scary things happening around her; noise outside, tension in her home, and adults who clearly understand more than she does.
Lucinda comes across as real. She’s curious, a little scared, and keeps asking questions because she doesn’t fully understand what’s going on. Her mom (Mamá) stood out to me the most; she’s calm, steady, and keeps things going by doing everyday things like cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the home, even when everything outside is scary and uncertain. It’s her way of protecting Lucinda and giving her something normal to hold onto.
Her grandmother, abuela, is quieter and wise. She doesn’t panic. She just gives comfort in small ways, like being present and reassuring, without making a big deal out of things. Lucinda’s aunt, Tía, also helps keep her calm and makes the house feel less frightening. Together, they create this strong sense of being there together,for each other, even when the outside world feels unstable.
What I personally liked was how normal everything felt inside the house, compared to the fear outside. The moments between the characters; it’s more like small actions that show love: such as cooking, talking softly, staying close, and trying to keep Lucinda safe emotionally and physically.
The ending is gentle and hopeful. Lucinda doesn’t suddenly understand everything, but she does start to see that even in hard times, people can still take care of each other and create safety in small ways.
Overall, this story is about family during a very difficult time in history. It’s easy to read, but it stays with you because of how real the relationships feel.
Thanks to NetGalley, Charlesbridge, and Olga Herrera, author, for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
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