Letters From Alain

by Enrique Pérez Díaz

The moving tale of a child coming to terms with the realities of emigration in a troubled society. Award-winning Cuban-born writer Enrique Perez Diaz creates another contemporary novel for teenage readers steeped in the burning issues of today’s world.

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2006

About the author

Born in Havana, Cuba, Enrique studies and promotes children’s literature in Cuba as President of the Cuban Children’s Writers’ Association and Vice-President of Cuba’s section of IBBY. He is the winner of many awards for his short stories and novels for children: The Golden Age, New Pines, Ismaelillo, finalist in EDEBE, and awarded with the ‘White Rose’ of the UNEAC Children’s Literature section. His work is steeped in today’s world and deals with burning issues, in a magical realist style.

Reviews

[may]

I became interested in Cuba after studying Cuban history (in particular the Cuban Missile Crisis). I heard about the wet foot, dry feet policy during this and also about those people who tried to escape from Cuba in search of a better life in Florida and beyond. I really wanted to know more about these extraordinary flights for freedom but there seemed to be little in the way of accessible information.

Then, not long ago, I stumbled across the wonderful publisher that is Aurora Metro and an English translation of a story on exactly that subject. Letters from Alain (previously Las cartas de Alain) is the story of Arturo whose best friend leaves with his mother and father by boat across the Florida Straits. Although it doesn't reference the policies of the US in detail it shows the emotional struggles associated with the escapes and it is a incredibly well written introduction to the whole issue.

I'm sure many of you who know about Cuba's history have guessed that this children's story isn't really a happy one. It's hard to read because it's rooted in deep and troubling truth. Many have lost their lives in the pursuit of a better life and the acknowledgement and realisation of this makes for hard reading.

Nonetheless, this story is one I recommend to everyone. It's a simple story but one encompassing true emotion and the hope of youth. Enrique Pérez Diaz has not shied away from heartbreaking content, however, the book is not overly explicit about Alain's fate. This really gives the reader the opportunity to dwell on the themes of hope and friendship but grief and loss too.

For me, Francisco Solé's absolutely beautiful illustrations are the final touch. They are so vivid and helped me to visualize a culture and country that I am relatively unfamiliar with.

The voyages of the Boat People are absolutely fascinating but incredibly sad too. I am pleased that this book has been translated into English because I think it will hopefully show many children and adults too that there is another side to this immigration.

[Gina]

I read this because it was on a list of books relating to Cuba, but that is much less of an issue here than dealing with grief. The author uses magical realism - letters that come and disappear - from the friend of the main character who has gone missing with his parents after an attempted escape by sea. Could compare to A Taste of Blackberries, but with more magical/mythical elements, and for slightly older children.

One thing that is a little odd is the translation seems to have been done with a British slant. Somehow the stuffiness of "lad" seems when being said under Cuba's tropical sun, but maybe that's just a US attitude.

[Noah Markewitz]

Brb crying