Evamar

by Margarita Engle

From award-winning author Margarita Engle comes an enthralling and heartrending novel in verse about first love, hidden cultures, and ancestral connections that follows a teen’s journey to uncover her late grandmother’s roots in Cuba.

Just before she was transformed
into an invisible spirit
my grandmother whispered her last wishes
into my

Sprinkle my ashes in a patch of girasoles,
wait patiently, harvest the seeds,
fly to la isla, find el jardín,
plant las semillas.
Then and only then—
read my diaries.

Evamar has arrived in Cuba with her abuela’s ashes and her mother’s Don’t talk politics, boil the tap water before you drink, y por favor absolutamente, don’t fall in love. But then she meets Río, a captivating drummer whose music and presence she can’t ignore.

Río bears his own scars, separated from his family in the United States. As their bond deepens, Evamar discovers an ancestral treasure that could change her future—and the lives of millions of Caribbeans.

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Margarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She lives with her husband in northern California.

Reviews

[Eden]

DNF @12%

I could not tell you a single side character’s name. In my opinion, the novel-in-verse format doesn’t work for the story the author is trying to tell. I was just confused and didn’t care enough to try and figure out what was going on.

[MrsReganReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novel in verse set in Cuba. I loved the grandmothers story, the mythology woven in, and the discussion about ‘extinct’ languages. Dog-eared a few pages with great language!
The romance didn’t hit for me, and the end was too rushed, and I wanted more of the family angle - but a solid overall story.

[yours in yellow 💛 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

What a sorrowfully beautiful book! Just from the first few pages, I immediately thought, “This is already so incredibly powerful.” 🫶

No history class I’ve ever taken was as educational as EVAMAR was on Cuban history and the Taíno (which only speaks to the matter of foreign occupation explored throughout the book). It was absolutely compelling, impactful, and insightful!

I may not be Cuban, but as someone from the Philippines, so much of Evamar’s sentiments hit close to home. She was able to translate feelings into words that I wouldn’t have been able to—a sense of homesickness for people & a place, the impression of belonging or lack thereof, and this flood of guilt knowing that your people live in inhospitable conditions compared to your life in the US. Engle handled these sensitive themes gracefully. <3

This was my first time reading a novel in verse, and I’m very happy that it was EVAMAR! The poetry was uncomplicated yet full of depth, allowing us to follow along the story easily. I especially love how the audience is given some freedom to interpret what happens and exactly how it happens beyond what’s explicitly written! I look forward to reading more novels in verse because of how lovely this one was 🤗

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the opportunity to read this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review! #SimonTeenInfluencer #EvamarBook

Yours in Yellow,
T 💛

[Halcyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evamar is a very well-thought out novel, written in a beautifully poetic way, telling the story of a girl uncovering her ancestral roots in Cuba. She goes on a journey to spread her grandmother’s ashes, connect with her culture, and meet a boy.

This was a very different read for me, in the aspect of the story and the way it was written. It’s very poetic, but written like journal entries (which means there’s no dialogue between any of the characters).

I don’t think I would’ve picked up this book if I wasn’t given an eARC, but it’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it! Overall, I thought it was a heartwarming and inspirational read.

Thanks, Simon Teen, for the eARC!

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evermar is a beautifully written novel in verse that I flew through in one sitting. The format made it incredibly accessible while still packing an emotional punch.
I really appreciated how thoughtfully it explored grief, healing, and the importance of preserving language and cultural identity. Those themes felt authentic and added so much heart to the story.
It was sweet, but I wish the relationship had been given more time to develop so I could feel more invested in it.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, meaningful read that blends beautiful prose with important conversations, and I'm glad I picked it up.

[Lauren Bayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful use of verse imagery, but the switching in POVs was not at all balanced and did the narrative no favors. It's an interesting topic for sure, though the constant switching meant that no issue (nor romance) was explored in depth. Alas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[yashelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read this year. And when I say beautiful, I mean the writing style, the gorgeous choice of words, and the entire story itself. I can’t even describe the feeling I had while reading it. Truly breathtaking.

[Cheyenne Mcdonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the story or what part of the story I understood, I think it being written in verses, takes a way from the beauty.

It was really hard trying to grasp what was going on because I couldn’t focus on how it was written.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This takes place in Cuba, when Evamar travels there to help memorialize and honor her late grandmother. Like other books by this author, I enjoy learning about different times and places through her storytelling.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Copy...Beautiful verse imagery and weaving that involves three languages to paint the narrative.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

[Lisa]

RTC

[⟢₊ Ana ⟣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was a solid read! It’s beautifully written in verse and very easy to get through. It discusses some topics that are incredibly important to learn about, like grief and the importance of preserving language and cultural identity.

I would definitely recommend it, especially to a YA audience. My only complaint is that I wish the romance had a bit more depth!!

It does discuss a few heavy topics as well, so make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in🩶

Thank you to the publisher, for the ARC!!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Full of adventure, cultural insights, sweet romance and so much more.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If only Cuba and the United States/
would stop thinking of each other as enemies”
🇨🇺
After her grandmother’s death, Evamar travels to Cuba carrying her abuela’s ashes and a final set of mysterious instructions tied to hidden diaries and sunflower seeds. While navigating family history and the complexities of life in Cuba, she meets Río, a talented drummer with struggles of his own. As their connection grows, Evamar uncovers a powerful ancestral secret that could shape both her future and the future of the Caribbean.
🇨🇺
So 👏 much 👏 Spanish! As well as other languages too! I cannot wait to get this YA novel-in-verse into my high school library. A fantastic story about first love, grief, family traditions, and the importance of preserving language and cultural identity. Emotional, lyrical, and full of heart. This book by @engle.margarita releases July 28!

CW: war, abandonment, grief, death, immigration, homelessness, poverty, classism

If found the romance to not include enough depth or connection between the characters. I would market this more as a bildungsroman than a YA romance.