The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba

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The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 385 ratings · 130 reviews

The freedom to roam is something that women and girls in Cuba do not have. Yet when Fredrika Bremer visits from Sweden in 1851 to learn about the people of this magical island, she is accompanied by Cecilia, a young slave who longs for her lost home in Africa. Soon Elena, the wealthy daughter of the house, sneaks out to join them. As the three women explore the lush countr...more

Hardcover, 160 pages

Published March 16th 2010 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

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Jul 22, 2011 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Carol, Julie M.

Shelves: cool-covers, age-high-school, age-middle-school, diversity

Picked this up because of the cover -- so glad I did! Beautiful verse novel about the Swedish suffragette Frederika Bremer's three-month stay in Cuba in 1851. The poems' voices switch between Frederika, Elena (the daughter of the magistrate who is hosting Frederika), Cecilia (the young slave of the magistrate who translates for Frederika), and Beni (Cecilia's husband). I liked this book for its ability to show the beauty of Cuba alongside the ugliness of slavery, all in simple, image-heavy poems...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Breanna Haynes rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: multicultural, poetry, historical-fiction, young-adult

The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle is a poetry book that takes place in Cuba in the 1850s. It is about three women, Cecilia, Elena, and Fredrika. Elena is a wealthy girl that lives with her family in a beautiful home. Cecilia is a slave for Elena’s family that came from Africa when she was a young girl. Fredrika is a feminist writer from Europe that came to Cuba to see how beautiful it is and to write about it. She is staying with Elena’s family while she visits. This book is about these thr...more

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Mar 14, 2012 L12_luisespinoza Espinoza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: poetry

This powerful, Pura-Belpre Honor book tells the story of the 1800's women's rights advocate Fredrika Bremer's visit to Cuba in 1851. The novel is written in verse and alternates through the chapters providing four different points of views; those of Fredrika, Cecilia, Elena, and Beni.

Cecilia is a young, 15 year old slave, owned by Elena's father, brought from Africa at a very young age, and who is now married and expecting a baby. She is also used as a translator (having been taught English) and...more This powerful, Pura-Belpre Honor book tells the story of the 1800's women's rights advocate Fredrika Bremer's visit to Cuba in 1851. The novel is written in verse and alternates through the chapters providing four different points of views; those of Fredrika, Cecilia, Elena, and Beni.

Cecilia is a young, 15 year old slave, owned by Elena's father, brought from Africa at a very young age, and who is now married and expecting a baby. She is also used as a translator (having been taught English) and works as a translator for Fredrika during her visit to Cuba. Elena is a twelve year old daughter of the plantation owner where Fredrika is staying. Beni is a skilled horseman who works as the plantation owner's carriage driver. He also happens to be Cecilia's husband. During the course of the book, you sense Cecilia's longing to go back to her home country of Africa but feels that she's trapped in her new life in Cuba. As she states, "the huts of the freed slaves make me think of my lost home...If I had known that my father would trade me for a stolen cow, I would have run away." Ironically, Elena feels this same entrapment through her wealthy class life where she's not able to go outside whenever and wherever she pleases (women at that time were not allowed to roam outside freely). She states of Fredrika and Cecilia's travels throughout the countryside, "How I wish that I could go out with them...In a moment of hesitant courage I ask Mama to let me venture outdoors...but she scolds me for wishing to have muddy shoes and a chance to run faster and faster in circles...". However, as the story evolves, Cecilia and Elena end up developing a friendship that wasn't there before and it leads to a powerful and moving act of kindness.

The details in the story accentuate the emotions that run through the book and author Margarita Engle manages to portray the complex social issues of slavery with so few words. This book, meant for readers grades 5-up, can be an excellent source to add to multicultural and social issue units (more specifically, to Cuba's struggle for freedom). Another excellent book that can complement this book's theme is "The Surrender Tree", by the same author (Margarita Engle). This is a definite must-have to your multicultural collection.(less)

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Mar 12, 2012 Esther Storrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: latino-a-literature

The Firefly Letters is a story in verse written by Margarita Engle. Based on the diaries and letters of Swedish feminist Frederika Bremer, it tells the story of her visit to Cuba in the mid 1850s, and her relationship with Cecilia, a young African slave who serves as her translator. Cecilia and Frederika become friends, and they are soon joined by young Elena, who is the fictional daughter of the wealthy family who hosts Frederika and owns Cecilia. As the book unfolds, Frederika is shocked and d...more The Firefly Letters is a story in verse written by Margarita Engle. Based on the diaries and letters of Swedish feminist Frederika Bremer, it tells the story of her visit to Cuba in the mid 1850s, and her relationship with Cecilia, a young African slave who serves as her translator. Cecilia and Frederika become friends, and they are soon joined by young Elena, who is the fictional daughter of the wealthy family who hosts Frederika and owns Cecilia. As the book unfolds, Frederika is shocked and disturbed by the realities of slavery, including the sight of slave boats carrying chained African children secretly coming ashore in the middle of the night, and she gives Elena and Cecilia a taste of the freedom denied all women at that time.

The book is a quick read, and by telling the story in verse, Engle is able to carefully choose the right words to powerfully communicate her message. At times, this works beautifully, as when Cecilia recalls
If I had known
that my father would trade me
for a stolen cow,
I would have run away
into the forest
to live in a nest
made of dreams
and green leaves.
At other times, the poems lack any subtlety. For example, after spending several weeks with Federika, Cecilia comments
Without even trying to be a teacher
Frederika is teaching us,
showing how to see things in new ways
instead of always thinking
the same old tired thoughts
that have been passed along by strangers
day after day, year after year
without any spirit of amazement
or wonder.
Because the book is based on Bremer’s own diaries and letters, one can presume that it accurately describes Cuban life in the mid-1800s. However, this view of Cuba is filtered through Bremer’s experience and biases. Then Engle adds her own interpretation, so that should be considered. One particular point to encourage readers to think about is the character of Elena. Bremer wrote about Cecilia in her letters, but Engle created Elena for this book. Would a person like Elena really have existed? Would she have done what she did to help Cecilia and her unborn child? What would the consequences of her choices been?

I had never heard of Frederika Bremer before reading this book, and I was interested to hear how she influenced the fight for women’s rights, especially in Sweden. I also liked how this book shows the experience of an enslaved African in a Caribbean country. Often we think of African slaves in the United States, and use the phrase African-American to include all people of African descent. However, many Africans were taken to countries that were colonized by Spain, and their cultural heritage deserves to be considered differently.(less)

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Mar 09, 2012 Kelsie Murray added it

It is about this swedish feminist named Fredrika Bremer’s who visits Cuba in 1851 and the people she got to know there. She met Elena, the daughter of a wealthy family, and Cecilia, a 15 year old slave who is pregnant. Cecilia had to deal with slavery on a daily basis, and recently also the thoguht her baby will be born soon.

No, I couldn’t relate to any of them because I didn’t have to deal with slavery and I have never been to Cuba. No, I have never felt or done some of the things they have b...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recap:
Fredricka Bremer - Swedish suffragette, novelist, and humanitarian - traveled to Cuba in the hope of discovering a modern-day Eden. Instead, she found an island of contrasts: sparkling, tropical waters carrying boats full of children in chains; lush, vibrant landscapes that Cuban women were not free to explore, or even learn about.

Together with Cecelia, the slave girl who was her interpreter, and Elena, her wealthy host's daughter, Fredrika tells the tale of the Cuba that she experienced -...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Marcy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I could not stop reading this young adult book which is meant for adults to read as well. Three women and one man write their reflections of Cuba with the sharp contrast of the beauty of nature and land with the life of rich Cuban girls, and the slaves who were brought over illegally to Cuba in chains from Africa.

Frederika is the writer who escaped from her "prison" of Swedish life where writing was not ladylike to roam the world and expose the plight of women and slavery in Cuba.

Cecelia is the...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Celeste rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books, poetry

Margarita Engleweaves the story of nineteenth century Swedish feminist Frederika Bremer's visit to Cuba into narrative poetry aimed at young readers. The book alternates between poems written from the perspective of Frederika, Elena, the daughter of her wealthy hosts, Cecilia, their young slave, and occasionally Cecilia's husband Beni. The poems speak of the sorrows of slavery and patriarchy as both Cecilia and Elena lament their lack of freedom.

I think Engle draws too easy a comparison between...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story in verse is based on the 19th century travel diaries of Fredrika Bremer, daughter
of a wealthy Swedish family who chafes under her parents' strictures regarding behavior and physical appearance. Preferring to write and draw, she rebels against the ballet lessons and tiny food portions meant to keep her figure slim and attractive to prospective husbands. Knowing that to follow her dream of independence means the end of her relationship with her family, she strikes out on her own, visiti...more This story in verse is based on the 19th century travel diaries of Fredrika Bremer, daughter
of a wealthy Swedish family who chafes under her parents' strictures regarding behavior and physical appearance. Preferring to write and draw, she rebels against the ballet lessons and tiny food portions meant to keep her figure slim and attractive to prospective husbands. Knowing that to follow her dream of independence means the end of her relationship with her family, she strikes out on her own, visiting America and then Cuba. While she loves the warm sunny island life, she is horrified by the slavery. She will become one of the first advocates for women's rights.

Cecilia is only 8 when her Congolese father trades her to a slaver for a cow. She has repressed the memory of her trip across the Atlantic, but now, at 15, she belongs to a wealthy Cuban family who values her for her ability to translate English to Spanish. She still remembers her mother's wail as she was led away to the slaver's ship. Now, married and pregnant, she has little hope for the baby that will be born into slavery.

Elena is the 12-year-old daughter of the Cuban plantation family who owns Cecilia and who will be hosting Fredrika when she visits the island. Elena cannot imagine what it must be like to travel independently, as she herself is seldom allowed to leave her house, and then not without her mother in attendance. She spends her days in her room, embroidering endless lengths of linen and silk for her hope chest, and watching enviously from her window as Fredrika and Cecilia enjoy the fireflies in the evenings outside. Her future holds little for her beyond an early marriage to a man of her father's choosing.

Fredrika sweeps into the lives of Cecilia and Elena, shaking the status quo. Her stories of her travels inspire Elena; she takes Cecilia with her as companion and translator during her stay, and boldly goes off to the rural countryside to live in a hut among the “freed slaves.” Timid Elena becomes emboldened enough to sneak out at night and join the firefly watching. Together, they hatch a plan to help Cecilia's unborn baby. Fredrika will leave the island knowing she hasn't stopped the slave trade, but she has created a ripple that may widen. Elena may no longer be the timid creature she was before Fredrika's visit. And Cecilia lives with hope for the first time.

The three women take turns telling this story, revealing to the reader their gradual growth. Although the two younger girls may seem quite different on the surface, they are, in truth, both looked upon as objects by the men who “own” them, through slavery or marriage. Fredrika helps both of them see this truth.(less)

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Jun 21, 2011 Josiah rated it 2 of 5 stars

One thing that you can always count on author Margarita Engle for is the delicate grace of her poetic verse, invariably so smooth and dreamlike. How exceptional is it to find such a talented poet who also brings awareness to little-known corners of history through her novels, illuminating the lives of unsung historical heroes who might very well never have gained the notoriety they deserve without an author like Margarita Engle to tell their stories to the world?

In 1851, pioneering novelist Fr...more One thing that you can always count on author Margarita Engle for is the delicate grace of her poetic verse, invariably so smooth and dreamlike. How exceptional is it to find such a talented poet who also brings awareness to little-known corners of history through her novels, illuminating the lives of unsung historical heroes who might very well never have gained the notoriety they deserve without an author like Margarita Engle to tell their stories to the world?

In 1851, pioneering novelist Fredrika Bremer of Sweden traveled to the Caribbean nation of Cuba, where she was able to observe in close quarters that the lush island habitat of eternal summer was not as glorious as imagined back in Sweden. The specter of slavery darkened the island like an ever-present storm cloud, and while Cuban children learned about freedom for all people in their schools, black children illegally brought to Cuba by slave traders were ruthlessly bought and sold right outside of those same institutions of learning. Fredrika observed the troubles of Cuba firsthand as she never could have done while in Sweden, and she longed in her heart to bring true freedom to this beautiful island, and release it from its bondage to the demons of slavery.

Fredrika was also a staunch advocate of gaining voting rights for female citizens, an issue that she greatly affected in Sweden during the course of her life. By the early 1860s, women in Sweden had been granted partial voting rights, in no small part because of Fredrika and her persuasiveness as a writer. Fredrika was the kind of person who backed up her beliefs with action, helping to care for the poor and downtrodden all of her life, and her three months in Cuba are still commemorated today by a plaque in her honor that can be found in Havana.

The Firefly Letters is, by its nature, a book of majestic phrase and almost magical use of words. Real people from history interact with compelling fictional characters to tell a story that is equal parts historical and fictional, with much to learn from the way that these two elements of the narrative intersect. Fredrika Bremer may not have expelled all of the world's evils during her sixty-four years on this earth, but she did accomplish much good, and helped light the way for those who came after her to fight for freedom wherever—and in whatever way—it may be in jeopardy.

The Firefly Letters is a good story with an important message. I would probably give it two and a half stars. (less)

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Apr 17, 2011 Carmen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, poetry, historical-fiction

In sparse but powerful verse, Engle presents 19th century Cuba through the eyes of Frederika Bremer (Swedish civil rights activist, 1801-1865), Cecilia (an African slave whom Frederika befriended in Cuba), Elena (the daughter of Cecilia's owner), and Beni (Cecilia's husband). It includes an historical note about Bremer's life as well as an author's note that explains which parts of The Firefly Letters are based in fact and which come from the author's imagination.

It is difficult to describe The...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Rosalia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, historical-fiction, young-adult, pura-belpre-award

Fredrika Bremer was a Swedish suffragete that traveled the world writing books. She spent three months in Cuba and while she thought the country was beautiful, she felt it's beauty was very marred by slavery. The story's narration alternates between Fredrika, her translator Cecelia who is a slave and Elena the daughter of the Cecelia's owner.

The story is told in free verse and is absolutely beautiful and lyrical sounding. I think that this really brings home stark contrast of a beautiful countr...more

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Jan 12, 2011 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenbooks

Setting and Theme: Slavery in Cuba in the mid-1800’s and also the lack of freedom for women in Cuban aristocratic society. Based upon the true story of a Swedish feminist pioneer named Frederika Bremer, who traveled to Cuba. She came to Cuba with the hope that it was some kind of “promised land,” but was horrified by the use of slaves and the oppression of women. She loved the country, however, especially when she escaped the aristocratic society and traveled to the country and met native Cubans...more Setting and Theme: Slavery in Cuba in the mid-1800’s and also the lack of freedom for women in Cuban aristocratic society. Based upon the true story of a Swedish feminist pioneer named Frederika Bremer, who traveled to Cuba. She came to Cuba with the hope that it was some kind of “promised land,” but was horrified by the use of slaves and the oppression of women. She loved the country, however, especially when she escaped the aristocratic society and traveled to the country and met native Cubans along with her slave translator, Cecilia.
Writing: Narrative is written in prose poem form (similar to “Out of the Dust”) although it is often more prose than poetry. The narrative flows well and is told in alternating voices by each central character in the story. The writing, unfortunately, does not really use the power of poetic imagery to make the story more dramatic. It really is a very gentle, simple narrative. That subtlety can often work to make a horrifying story more powerful, but I don’t really think it works that way here. The narrative really is too understated, in my opinion. I found myself wishing for some startling and unexpected imagery to “beef up” what is a very compelling storyline.
Story and Characters: The reader is introduced to Bremer and fictional characters of Elena, daughter of a Cuban aristocrat and Cecilia, an African slave working in the household. There is a lovely contrast/comparison between Elena and Cecilia, both suffering under different types of enslavement, although Cecilia’s is by far the most horrific. She has been married to a man she doesn’t love and torn from her family in Africa to slavery in Cuba. The ending, which relies upon Elena to use her money to free Cecilia’s soon to be born child, seemed rather pat to me. Elena’s gesture reflects her growing rebellion against her gilded cage existence, but the true heroine in this story is Cecilia, whose resigned despair at her fate is truly tragic. I didn’t like that “Lady Bountiful” Elena’s voice ended the story. I wanted to hear from Cecilia.
I found it lacking in powerful writing, although the story is fascinating and the contrast between actual slavery and “society’s slavery” of 19th century women is really interesting and certainly could make for some interesting discussion.(less)

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Oct 26, 2010 The Rusty Key added it

Reviewed by Rusty Key Writer: Jordan B. Nielsen

Recommended for: Ages ten and up for themes of violence and slavery. Good for anyone who needs to write a quick book report.

One Word Summary: Thin

It tends to bother me when someone, speaking about a book or a movie, says “You know what they should have done was…”. There isn’t much point in hashing over how something could have been better than it was, except to try to make yourself sound smarter than the work’s creator, however that’s exactly what I...more Reviewed by Rusty Key Writer: Jordan B. Nielsen

Recommended for: Ages ten and up for themes of violence and slavery. Good for anyone who needs to write a quick book report.

One Word Summary: Thin

It tends to bother me when someone, speaking about a book or a movie, says “You know what they should have done was…”. There isn’t much point in hashing over how something could have been better than it was, except to try to make yourself sound smarter than the work’s creator, however that’s exactly what I’m about to do.

The Firefly Letters, with its magical-realist cover and ethereal name, attempts to straddle an awkward divide between the poetic and the grimly real that it doesn’t quite manage to bridge, in this whisper-thin, suggestion of a story. Based on actual events and some discovered letters, the book takes the reader to 1850s Cuba, following three women, two of whom were real, one imagined. Fredrika Bremer, a Swedish suffragist, comes to live with a wealthy family on the lush island, and is confronted by the duality of its vibrant cultural beauty and the ugliness of its gruesome slave trade. The narrative switches point of view from Fredrika to Cecilia, a sick, pregnant slave who tends to and befriends Fredrika, and again to Elena, a fictional daughter of the house, shut away to embroider handkerchiefs until she’s sold to a husband.

Fantastic and provocative subject matter, great ideas for characters, and yet, nothing is developed, nothing materializes from the story besides the notion that, well, slavery is terrible and wrong. And here-in lies the ‘What she should have done’: this was clearly a choice. Just by looking at the pages you can see that brevity is the stylistic choice, the diary entries written like stanzas of poetry, five or six words per line, each chapter no longer than two pages of these compact little blocks. The entries feel like thoughts scribbled down before the character runs out to do something more interesting that you aren’t told about. There is a lot of repetition of this image that Engle has constructed, of fireflies trapped in a jar left to twinkle and starve to death in the hands of witless children. A fitting metaphor, but I wanted to see and learn more of the characters, I wanted to be thrown into scenes with them, and was less interested in dwelling in this poetic musing which takes up so many of the books few pages.

The three women interest me, and perhaps that’s a great testament to Engle’s strength as a writer, that she can still intrigue you while giving you so little, but as I turned the last page I felt like an opportunity for a truly outstanding book had been missed. A plot never forms, the characters aren’t given much in the way of depth of substance: though you sense these things are present, they never come to fruition. I’m hard pressed to even say what took place in this book, aside from Fredrika and Cecilia buying fireflies from the children to set them free, and Elena’s wonderment at Fredrika’s audacity and freedom. The writing is strong, and the foundation in superb, but in the end, I won’t remember much from this story.

For more reviews from The Rusty Key, visit us at www.therustykey.com
(less)

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Jun 09, 2012 A_Cathi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fic, poetry

Margarita Engle does a beautiful job of offering insights on three women from extremely different world - yet how they all figure they want the same thing - freedom. "The Firefly Letters" takes place in Cuba and is a poetic journey growth for: Cecilia, a young pregnant slave longing for days of long ago when she was free, Elena, a twelve year old wealthy (yet, imprisoned in her own home) girl, and Fredrika, the world traveler who believes that men and women are equal!
The insights received by ea...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Maureen Milton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: seniors, intermediates

Written in a series of poems with the alternating voices of Frederika, a Swedish feminist visiting Cuba, Elena, her more oppressed social equal host in Cuba, & Cecilia, Elena's slave & translator, with an occaisional verse from Beni, Cecilia's husband, this story in verse chronicles Frederika's visit to Cuba in 1851. I agree with other reviewers that the writing is lovely & evocative, but ithe story does tend to romantacize poverty & to conflate the social oppression of wealthy w...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Ed added it

Shelves: poetry

Engle, Margarita. (2010). The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba. New York: Holt. 160 pp. ISBN 978-0-8050-9082-6 (Hard Cover); $16.99.

Swedish suffragist Fredrika Bremer visits Cuba and helps transform the life of Cuban slave, Cecilia. Elena is a privileged Cuban girl whose family owns slaves, including Cecilia. Bremer visits Cecilia’s family and requires the services of Cecilia to do the translating necessary for her work. In three very distinct voices readers learn of Bremer’s gro...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Jaynann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-420

REQUIRED CATEGORY: POETRY
This book of poems was an extremely quick read, but a worthwhile one. It gives a glimpse into 1851 Cuba. The book is told from three different persectives in verse which is a bit confusing at first, but adds a richness to the book overall. The book follows Celcilia a black slave working for a weathly family, Elena the rich daughter of Cecilia's owner, and Fredrika a Swedish pro-women's rights traveler who has come to see what Cuba's all about. Cecilia and Fredrika connec...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Q_Ayana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mc_literature, historical_fiction, pura-belpre

Through free verse poetry, author Margarita Engle creatively entwines the lives of three distinct women – Fredrika (a free-spirited Swedish suffragist), Cecilia (a teenage slave and translator from Congo), and Elena (the daughter of a wealthy slave owner). When Fredrika comes to live with Elena’s family in their Cuban mansion, her strength and drive for freedom and rights illuminates like fireflies, and spreads to Cecilia and Elena who each venture out on a hopeful search of freedom. The story i...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Cambrai rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 420-shelf

The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle
Rating: ***
Bookshelves: ENGL 420
Status: Read in September
Review:

POETRY CATEGORY
Engle uses poetry to tell the story of Swedish women’s rights activist Fredrika Bremer visiting Cuba during the 19th century. Accompanied by the slave Cecilia and landowner’s daughter Elena, she discovers the dual lives of the island: rich Cuban landowners whose women do not have the freedom to travel (Elena sits in her house all day, preparing th...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Ginta Harrigan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, poetry

“The Firefly Letters” is a book of poems written by Margarita Engle.

The poems are set in Cuba in the 1800s. The poems are from four different characters – Cecelia, the African slave whose father traded her for a stolen cow; Elena, the twelve year-old daughter of a wealthy slave owner; Frederika, the Swedish visitor who stays with Elena and her parents; and Beni, Cecilia’s husband who wed her through an arranged marriage.

The writing is well done. Ms. Engle does well keeping true to each characte...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Amanda Cone rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ls5385

I read The Firefly Letters which despite its title is not written in letter form at all. It is written in free verse poetry. I thought it was beautifully written but not a book that should be classified as a biography. The author's notes clarify the true parts of the novel but I didn't see how it was necessary to invent an entire character for a biography. It is one thing to create a description for a biography that while based on reality may have a couple inaccuracies and another thing entirely...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Jesse rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: verse

I'm working my way through Margarita Engle's body of work and I have to say that The Firefly Letters A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba is one of my favorites. The voices of the three women portrayed in this novel in verse are vibrant and as luminescent as the fireflies. My personal favorite was Cecilia, the African slave, purchased and then sold to a Cuban Master. About fourteen years old she is married to a stranger and expecting her first child, who will be born a slave. The novel's comparisons...more

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Nov 13, 2010 Sarah Cofer added it

Shelves: childrens-non-fiction, poetry-prose

I loved this book! I had not heard of Fredrika Bremer and always love a good story about any one of my foremothers fighting the good fight for equal rights for women and, in Ms. Bremmer's case, slaves. I really love the mirroring of the fireflies with the slaves. It was interesting to think of all the fireflies Cecelia and Fredrika were trying to save, but unable to do so. When Cecilia goes out to the country, she finally feels free just like the fireflies who fly free without children catching...more

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Jun 15, 2012 A_Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: poetry, historical-fiction, realistic-fiction

The views of three young ladies from the mid 1800's may be different in many ways but they all hold one thing in common, they all want freedom in their own ways. Although, the writing style of this is poetic and it is realistic I found it a little difficult to follow because each page was the voice of the other and in my head it was just bouncing from one voice to the other so mentally I had to keep track as to which person was saying what. For instance, when the pregnant slave girl, Cecilia spo...more

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Jun 28, 2010 Kris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-newbery-reads

I'm not the ideal reader for this book. I'm not a huge fan of free verse (or is it blank verse?--see?) and I just kept thinking that this book was just like Tropical Secrets. For the Newbery that doesn't matter, but I guess I want something more--I want to be surprised. I want to see that it's a cool book & then I want the next level. And I didn't feel like this book did that--except w/ Elena's decision at the end--but even that was heavily foreshadowed. I have mixed feelings about the plot...more

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Mar 22, 2011 Amy Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Firefly Letters is such a unique book. The story is historical fiction and told in prose poetry. Narrators alternate between four main characters, Fredrika, Elena, Cecilia, and Beni. Fredrika Bremer, a suffragist from Sweden, spends three months in Cuba exploring the country with the assistance of Cecilia. Ceclilia is an African born slave of a wealthy family who was taught English and often acted as a translator.
Fredrika spends those three months wandering the countryside, writing and drawi...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Leslie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile, young-adult, chapter-book-8-11, concenter-ish, historical-incl-aspects, middle-school-11-14, lit-with-a-big-l

"The Firefly Letters ends on a note of hopefulness. And yet there is a tremulousness. The ease of a happy effortless ending without sacrifice is not promised. But in the giving of one’s self to a cause finds accomplishment…and a gift of freedom—however small. Each finds purpose, and finds she/he is able to choose.

As the story closes, this novel in verse, I was drawn to think about the rescuing of the fireflies.

[Cecilia:]

Even though we can never help them all,

I feel my mind flying and glowing

...more

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May 16, 2010 Jack Granath rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: poetry

This book is great. The poet uses her signature interlocking interior monologues to tell another liberating historical fiction about Cuba. This one concerns the early feminist Fredrika Bremer of Sweden and her travels on "this island of winter sun." Her visit will change the lives of Elena, the reined-in daughter of her wealthy host, and Cecilia, an African slave who acts as translator.

It's a beautiful book and, for young readers, a great gateway to poetry.

The only negative I can come up with is...more

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May 07, 2010 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: feminists, cubans, people who hate slavery

Shelves: teen-historical-fiction, teen-coming-of-age-girl

I imagine author Margarita Engle would have had a hard time selling this cuban, feminist, historical fiction, novel in verse to her publisher, if she hadn't just received a Newberry Honor. Lucky for us, she did. Unluckily for us, it may be cataloged in the poetry section, so it's a little harder for readers (teens or adults) to find. Find it, and help teens find it. Engle masterfully relates the flavor of Cuba, the impact of one of the world's first feminists, Fredericka Bremer, and the tragedy...more

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Mrs. Gallagher's ...: Katya's Book in Verse Review	1	7	May 01, 2013 03:41pm

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“My mind soars
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title link	preview: The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba
avg rating	preview: The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba Goodreads rating: 3.84 (385 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7144221-the-firefly-letters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316737726l/7144221.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7144221-the-firefly-letters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle[/url]

The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba

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