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Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck
Quebrado has been traded from pirate ship to ship in the Caribbean Sea for as long as he can remember. The sailors he toils under call him el quebrado--half islander, half outsider, a broken one. Now the pirate captain Bernardino de Talavera uses Quebrado as a translator to help navigate the worlds and words between his mother's Taíno Indian language and his father's Spanish.
But when a hurricane sinks the ship and most of its crew, it is Quebrado who escapes to safety. He learns how to live on land again, among people who treat him well. And it is he who must decide the fate of his former captors.
But when a hurricane sinks the ship and most of its crew, it is Quebrado who escapes to safety. He learns how to live on land again, among people who treat him well. And it is he who must decide the fate of his former captors.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2011
About the author
Margarita Engle
63 books344 followersMargarita 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
February 28, 2023
Albeit that the sense of historical place works well and also engagingly enough in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck, well, because in Maria Engle's blank verse texts there are never really ANY specific calendar dates being mentioned, the to and for me equally important and necessary sense of historical time does have the annoying and frustrating tendency to become more than a trifle confusing and problematic (since Engle actually seems to just assume that us readers should somehow already be well aware of prior to even commencing with the main textual body of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck that the temporal setting is supposed to be around 1510 A.D.). And sure, if you actually remember to read the Historical Setting section prior to commencing with Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck, you would (or at least you should) of course be cognizant of the latter, you would/should realise that the events, that the scenarios described in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck do in fact take place in the early years of the 16th century.
But yes indeed, if you do decide to eschew reading the historical setting blurb, if you start your reading of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck with young Quebrado's musings, there is really nothing in his words (or actually in the words of any of the other characters encountered in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck) that clearly demonstrate a specific state of when, and yes, I certainly have been left wondering about the specific time frame of and for Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck. For while I do know that the time being described is clearly very much early, honestly, nowhere in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck am I being given nearly enough details regarding time to in any way and specifically satisfy me (and therefore, much of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck actually seems to feel pretty annoyingly and strangely temporally removed, and Maria Engle's blank verse poems, they feel as though I am reading above and beyond time, and well, for a piece of writing that is clearly meant to be historical fiction, that kind of a feeling and a sensation whilst reading is certainly and definitely rather frustrating at best).
Combined with the fact that I have also and equally simply not really all that much enjoyed Maria Engle's general writing style in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck, that the constant switching from one character's point of view to another's, that the blank verse poetry of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck just is not all that personally pleasurable and also tends to feel rather distancing and distracting, I can and will only consider but a two star maximum ranking for Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck (since yes, my entire reading experience has in fact and actually been been pretty well intensely disappointing). And really, the only reason why Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck is still receiving a two and not a one star rating from me is because I do in fact very much appreciate the supplemental information, and that Maria Engle has included not only an author's and a historical note but also appreciated secondary sources to further explore and study. But yes, me saying that the supplemental information section of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck has in fact and in my opinion been the most readable and the most interesting part of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck, this certainly does tell how much Maria Engle's blank verse narrative has simply not really resonated with me on a reading pleasure level.
But yes indeed, if you do decide to eschew reading the historical setting blurb, if you start your reading of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck with young Quebrado's musings, there is really nothing in his words (or actually in the words of any of the other characters encountered in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck) that clearly demonstrate a specific state of when, and yes, I certainly have been left wondering about the specific time frame of and for Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck. For while I do know that the time being described is clearly very much early, honestly, nowhere in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck am I being given nearly enough details regarding time to in any way and specifically satisfy me (and therefore, much of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck actually seems to feel pretty annoyingly and strangely temporally removed, and Maria Engle's blank verse poems, they feel as though I am reading above and beyond time, and well, for a piece of writing that is clearly meant to be historical fiction, that kind of a feeling and a sensation whilst reading is certainly and definitely rather frustrating at best).
Combined with the fact that I have also and equally simply not really all that much enjoyed Maria Engle's general writing style in Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck, that the constant switching from one character's point of view to another's, that the blank verse poetry of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck just is not all that personally pleasurable and also tends to feel rather distancing and distracting, I can and will only consider but a two star maximum ranking for Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck (since yes, my entire reading experience has in fact and actually been been pretty well intensely disappointing). And really, the only reason why Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck is still receiving a two and not a one star rating from me is because I do in fact very much appreciate the supplemental information, and that Maria Engle has included not only an author's and a historical note but also appreciated secondary sources to further explore and study. But yes, me saying that the supplemental information section of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck has in fact and in my opinion been the most readable and the most interesting part of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck, this certainly does tell how much Maria Engle's blank verse narrative has simply not really resonated with me on a reading pleasure level.
July 18, 2011
A gorgeously written account of the first Carribean pirate shipwreck in the 1500s. Our hero, Quebrado, is a slave of Taino Indian and Spanish ancestry. He belongs to no one, a child of two worlds, of two languages. He is a slave on the famous Vernardino de Talavera's pirate ship, the first of its kind in the Caribbean Sea, and a very important hostage is on board with them, Alonso de Ojeda.
The story is based on actual events, though Quebrado himself is fictional.
After the shipwreck, Quedbrado is taken in by local natives where he befriends young star crossed lovers Caucubu and Narido and their native families. Here, he begins to belong and live as one of them, his old life coming back, before he was a slave. But fate has a mind of her own as Bernardino de Talavera and Alonso de Ojeda also survived the shipwreck, and find Quedbrado and his new friends.
The five characters' voices are strong, swimming in emotion and lyricism. I felt the rocking of the hurricane, the shipwreck, Quebrado's thoughts. No wonder the book's setting is near water. The prose flows gently, waving up and over catching you and pulling you in.
I read it in one sitting and had to re-read this powerful book. (I already have plans to buy it. This is definitely a book to keep on the shelf, recommend it to friends, and pull off the bookcase for a delightful journey.) The magic is there. The strong themes of hope, forgiveness and survival propel this story forward.
It's amazing to read in the author's note she is a descendant of the indigenous Cubans, like her characters in this book, who survived after years of genocide.
Do yourself a favor. Get this book. Relax for an hour or two one afternoon and be swept away in a world of pirates, natives and one boy who had the strength to not lose hope.
The story is based on actual events, though Quebrado himself is fictional.
After the shipwreck, Quedbrado is taken in by local natives where he befriends young star crossed lovers Caucubu and Narido and their native families. Here, he begins to belong and live as one of them, his old life coming back, before he was a slave. But fate has a mind of her own as Bernardino de Talavera and Alonso de Ojeda also survived the shipwreck, and find Quedbrado and his new friends.
The five characters' voices are strong, swimming in emotion and lyricism. I felt the rocking of the hurricane, the shipwreck, Quebrado's thoughts. No wonder the book's setting is near water. The prose flows gently, waving up and over catching you and pulling you in.
I read it in one sitting and had to re-read this powerful book. (I already have plans to buy it. This is definitely a book to keep on the shelf, recommend it to friends, and pull off the bookcase for a delightful journey.) The magic is there. The strong themes of hope, forgiveness and survival propel this story forward.
It's amazing to read in the author's note she is a descendant of the indigenous Cubans, like her characters in this book, who survived after years of genocide.
Do yourself a favor. Get this book. Relax for an hour or two one afternoon and be swept away in a world of pirates, natives and one boy who had the strength to not lose hope.
July 25, 2021
A young biracial slave boy, forced under the cruel hand of a pirate captain and his half-crazed first mate, must serve as translator and tradesman to the varying ports and locals.
A fierce Hurricane destroys the pirates' ship and the boy escapes to land, hiding among a local sea-god worshipping community. He befriends a fisherman, who is in love with the chiefs' daughter, but who must be forced into an arranged marriage. When the boy must face off against his captors, holding their fate in his hands, will he chose compassion or a fate worse than his own treatment?
Told in alternating perspectives between the boy, the seemingly selfish captain, the feverish and hallucinating first mate, the fisherman, and the chief's daughter, Margarita Engle (#OwnVoices Cuban author of Slave Boy of Cuba, one of my favorite Pura Belpre winners) brings action, adventure, romance, compassion, culture, danger, hurt and heart amongst these characters in verse style poetry.
A fantastic story that opens up both the mind and the heart!
A fierce Hurricane destroys the pirates' ship and the boy escapes to land, hiding among a local sea-god worshipping community. He befriends a fisherman, who is in love with the chiefs' daughter, but who must be forced into an arranged marriage. When the boy must face off against his captors, holding their fate in his hands, will he chose compassion or a fate worse than his own treatment?
Told in alternating perspectives between the boy, the seemingly selfish captain, the feverish and hallucinating first mate, the fisherman, and the chief's daughter, Margarita Engle (#OwnVoices Cuban author of Slave Boy of Cuba, one of my favorite Pura Belpre winners) brings action, adventure, romance, compassion, culture, danger, hurt and heart amongst these characters in verse style poetry.
A fantastic story that opens up both the mind and the heart!
July 20, 2017
3.5
An excellent introduction to poetry in verse. Poetry in verse is not my favourite style of as I prefer ones that have some sort of rhythm or rhyme, yet, for the story that Engle was trying to tell, verse was the only style that would fit.
Hurricane Dancers tells the story of a young boy working as a slave on a ship whose name Quebrado meaning "broken one" as his heritage is mixed since he comes from a Native mother and a Spanish father. Alone since he was very young, Quebrado does not know what kindness nor love nor family nor belonging is. That is until, a hurricane causes the first pirate shipwreck to happen.
Amidst the storm a chance of a new life is presented to Quebrado but he is not the sole survivor and he must face his past in order to create a steady future.
It's a really lovely story and I highly recommend it.
An excellent introduction to poetry in verse. Poetry in verse is not my favourite style of as I prefer ones that have some sort of rhythm or rhyme, yet, for the story that Engle was trying to tell, verse was the only style that would fit.
Hurricane Dancers tells the story of a young boy working as a slave on a ship whose name Quebrado meaning "broken one" as his heritage is mixed since he comes from a Native mother and a Spanish father. Alone since he was very young, Quebrado does not know what kindness nor love nor family nor belonging is. That is until, a hurricane causes the first pirate shipwreck to happen.
Amidst the storm a chance of a new life is presented to Quebrado but he is not the sole survivor and he must face his past in order to create a steady future.
It's a really lovely story and I highly recommend it.
September 5, 2016
I read this book the very same day I received it in the mail. The cover is beautiful, but the content is even more beautiful. This book is destined to become a classic. This book should be shared over and over, and passed from generation to generation.
I think that I will go read it again!
I think that I will go read it again!
December 1, 2014
I read this short book on the way back from my family's house this Thanksgiving.
I was surprised to find that it was told in verse--a quick flip-through would have shown me this, but this was one of the Free Book Day selections I had to grab before someone else did. Still, I was impressed with how much I was able to imagine and visualize with only a handful of words. Adjectives were used sparingly but with great effect.
I think the subtitle actually sells the book short: I picked this up mostly because it looked like it was going to be about pirates, when really it's about a young Spanish-Caribbean boy trying to find his way in a world that sees him as "broken" (the meaning of his name) because he doesn't fit neatly into place. We don't even see a single act of piracy: a "Historical Setting" note in the prelims tells us in (very) brief who the main European players are and how they got there so that we can get straight to Quebrado. While I would have been just as interested in the book without the mention of pirates, it is true that the word caught my eye, so I guess the titling move worked.
The historical note in the back was great--just what I would have wanted if I'd read this book when it was age-appropriate reading. It was also fun to learn that the Narido and Caucubu story was a Caribbean folk tale that the author incorporated. I was very satisfied with the outcome of the story for the main character (even if my own knowledge of history knows there are storm clouds on the horizon).
Very short and simple, it's hard to imagine a book like this being published by an author without such a great track record (five different awards with a total of eight between three of the books). Would that every author of something short and sweet had this opportunity!
Quote Roundup
12 - When the prisoner sees my power
over a slave boy, he understands
that I would show even less mercy
to a grown man.
I guess this is an Ojeda-specific demonstration, because as far as I know slaves in the Americas were treated as less than human by everyone--so mistreating Quebrado seems less like a threat than the status quo. Not that most kids reading this book would know that.
29 - Shredded sails
and tangled ropes
form a swaying web
of smoky nooses.
Fantastic imagery.
59 - [Men] capture tree-spirits,
and turn them into wooden ships
that serve as floating cages.
More beautiful imagery, this time to describe the horrific slave ships. As the story goes along, there are other tree-spirit boats that I can appreciate far more--the Spanish ship of captured spirits (human and tree) is all the more terrifying in contrast to Narido's tree-spirit canoe.
100 - Villagers blame me for all
that has happened.
Okay, this one kind of came out of left field. I know we need to get the plot moving, but a little more build-up might have been in order here.
I was surprised to find that it was told in verse--a quick flip-through would have shown me this, but this was one of the Free Book Day selections I had to grab before someone else did. Still, I was impressed with how much I was able to imagine and visualize with only a handful of words. Adjectives were used sparingly but with great effect.
I think the subtitle actually sells the book short: I picked this up mostly because it looked like it was going to be about pirates, when really it's about a young Spanish-Caribbean boy trying to find his way in a world that sees him as "broken" (the meaning of his name) because he doesn't fit neatly into place. We don't even see a single act of piracy: a "Historical Setting" note in the prelims tells us in (very) brief who the main European players are and how they got there so that we can get straight to Quebrado. While I would have been just as interested in the book without the mention of pirates, it is true that the word caught my eye, so I guess the titling move worked.
The historical note in the back was great--just what I would have wanted if I'd read this book when it was age-appropriate reading. It was also fun to learn that the Narido and Caucubu story was a Caribbean folk tale that the author incorporated. I was very satisfied with the outcome of the story for the main character (even if my own knowledge of history knows there are storm clouds on the horizon).
Very short and simple, it's hard to imagine a book like this being published by an author without such a great track record (five different awards with a total of eight between three of the books). Would that every author of something short and sweet had this opportunity!
Quote Roundup
12 - When the prisoner sees my power
over a slave boy, he understands
that I would show even less mercy
to a grown man.
I guess this is an Ojeda-specific demonstration, because as far as I know slaves in the Americas were treated as less than human by everyone--so mistreating Quebrado seems less like a threat than the status quo. Not that most kids reading this book would know that.
29 - Shredded sails
and tangled ropes
form a swaying web
of smoky nooses.
Fantastic imagery.
59 - [Men] capture tree-spirits,
and turn them into wooden ships
that serve as floating cages.
More beautiful imagery, this time to describe the horrific slave ships. As the story goes along, there are other tree-spirit boats that I can appreciate far more--the Spanish ship of captured spirits (human and tree) is all the more terrifying in contrast to Narido's tree-spirit canoe.
100 - Villagers blame me for all
that has happened.
Okay, this one kind of came out of left field. I know we need to get the plot moving, but a little more build-up might have been in order here.
April 5, 2014
The poetic narrative in this book is admirable but I was easily confused by all the different storylines and characters with strange names.
No one talks to each other in this story.
No action except what is presented through stream of consciousness by each individual character. Drawings of each character next to their name at the top of the page would've made it easier to follow.
This becomes redundant, all these first person internal narratives presenting a thin tale of slavery, shipwreck, and some closure for the protagonist with a Romeo and Juliet story thrown in just to keep the reader turning pages. It's a quick read since it's written entirely in verse.
This exciting adventure story presented in such an obscure and lyrical format is why I can only give this book two stars and recommend it for all middle grade readers and up. It would've made a great novel.
No one talks to each other in this story.
No action except what is presented through stream of consciousness by each individual character. Drawings of each character next to their name at the top of the page would've made it easier to follow.
This becomes redundant, all these first person internal narratives presenting a thin tale of slavery, shipwreck, and some closure for the protagonist with a Romeo and Juliet story thrown in just to keep the reader turning pages. It's a quick read since it's written entirely in verse.
This exciting adventure story presented in such an obscure and lyrical format is why I can only give this book two stars and recommend it for all middle grade readers and up. It would've made a great novel.
May 12, 2022
It is the story of how a slave gained freedom and how he shed his past.
It was written beautifully and the different POVs helped understand each person's feelings and thoughts. I loved the easy flowing pattern of the poetry and the simplistic way of writing.
5 stars
It was written beautifully and the different POVs helped understand each person's feelings and thoughts. I loved the easy flowing pattern of the poetry and the simplistic way of writing.
5 stars
March 12, 2023
"Sailors call me a boy of broken dreams,
but I think of myself as a place--a strange place
dreamed by the sea,
belonging nowhere,
half floating island
and half
wandering wind."
This is the story of a boy named Quebrado, kidnapped by Spanish pirates and kept as a slave. His father had been a Spanish deserter and abandoned Quebrado among the Tiano Indians. His ability to speak and understand multiple languages helps to keep him alive as he faces abusive pirates, brutal conquistadors, and then massive hurricanes. He finds refuge on Cuba (the only Carribbean island still free of Spanish control at the time) and the people think he is a wandering spirit of the forest and the sky. When the pirates and conquistadors are wrecked on their doorstep, the boy emerges from the forest to sing for them the story of his life and to encourage them to protect themselves and their people from the conquistadors but also to show mercy to the sailors rather than to kill them and become like them.
Overall, I really liked this story. There was so much to love within the pages. My only complaint is that some of the points of view randomly scattered throughout the story sometimes distracted from Quebrado's story and didn't feel like they were necessary or belonged. But the young boy's story was beautifully woven for the most part and a lovely combination of Cuban lore/legend and a young child's struggle to survive between slavery, abandonment, and a lonely jungle wilderness.
but I think of myself as a place--a strange place
dreamed by the sea,
belonging nowhere,
half floating island
and half
wandering wind."
This is the story of a boy named Quebrado, kidnapped by Spanish pirates and kept as a slave. His father had been a Spanish deserter and abandoned Quebrado among the Tiano Indians. His ability to speak and understand multiple languages helps to keep him alive as he faces abusive pirates, brutal conquistadors, and then massive hurricanes. He finds refuge on Cuba (the only Carribbean island still free of Spanish control at the time) and the people think he is a wandering spirit of the forest and the sky. When the pirates and conquistadors are wrecked on their doorstep, the boy emerges from the forest to sing for them the story of his life and to encourage them to protect themselves and their people from the conquistadors but also to show mercy to the sailors rather than to kill them and become like them.
Overall, I really liked this story. There was so much to love within the pages. My only complaint is that some of the points of view randomly scattered throughout the story sometimes distracted from Quebrado's story and didn't feel like they were necessary or belonged. But the young boy's story was beautifully woven for the most part and a lovely combination of Cuban lore/legend and a young child's struggle to survive between slavery, abandonment, and a lonely jungle wilderness.
March 30, 2021
Sadly, I found this book underwhelming.
I've read poetry in verse (narrative poetry) before, but Hurricane Dancers (sadly) read a bit flat to me. I think it was because of the alternating narratives between Quebrado, Talavera & Ojeda (and Narido and Cucubu). The book's voice seemed to suffer by changing and switching perspectives every other page. I would have much rather stayed with Quebrado and maybe gotten one or two poems from Talavera & Ojeda at the very end.
I did enjoy reading the Author's Note on history, though. In my copy, it was at the end of the book, but should absolutely be read FIRST. FYI.
2.5 stars
I've read poetry in verse (narrative poetry) before, but Hurricane Dancers (sadly) read a bit flat to me. I think it was because of the alternating narratives between Quebrado, Talavera & Ojeda (and Narido and Cucubu). The book's voice seemed to suffer by changing and switching perspectives every other page. I would have much rather stayed with Quebrado and maybe gotten one or two poems from Talavera & Ojeda at the very end.
I did enjoy reading the Author's Note on history, though. In my copy, it was at the end of the book, but should absolutely be read FIRST. FYI.
2.5 stars
April 5, 2019
It was neat to read a whole story in poetry/verse form!
This pirate seafaring tale revolved around a native boy who was taken from his home and became a slave aboard a pirate ship. The ship perished in a Caribbean hurricane. The boy, the pirate captain, and the hostage - a Venezuelan governor survived and landed upon an island of cu ba "Friend Big", known today as Cuba.
Through the lens of these three characters and two more, characters of a folk tale Caucubu "Brave Earth" and Narido "River Being", we learn about the ambition, greed, and hostility of man.
This pirate seafaring tale revolved around a native boy who was taken from his home and became a slave aboard a pirate ship. The ship perished in a Caribbean hurricane. The boy, the pirate captain, and the hostage - a Venezuelan governor survived and landed upon an island of cu ba "Friend Big", known today as Cuba.
Through the lens of these three characters and two more, characters of a folk tale Caucubu "Brave Earth" and Narido "River Being", we learn about the ambition, greed, and hostility of man.
December 27, 2020
A beautifully written book of prose of fictional slave boy based off of true historical events. The cadence is light, swift, and sometimes intense. Written in different "perspectives", it tells of a boy's plight after being taken captive on the first pirate ship, how it wrecked, and the people he found afterwards. I read it in only a couple of hours, so it is a small quick book.
February 9, 2021
This is book is poetry in prose for children about the first Caribbean pirates. It is sparse in words, but is a great book for understanding characters and "reading in between the lines."
Quebrado is a mixed-race child stolen and enslaved on a ship. On a journey that ship is later sunk in a hurricane.
He arrives on an island, but is not the sole survivor. He must face his past to move forward in the future.
Quebrado is a mixed-race child stolen and enslaved on a ship. On a journey that ship is later sunk in a hurricane.
He arrives on an island, but is not the sole survivor. He must face his past to move forward in the future.
January 25, 2019
The trait that you would describe the main character of the story Hurricane Dancers By Margarita Engle Quebrado is audacious. He was a ship slave before the ship he was on was destroyed by a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea. He was taken refuge until they kicked him out and he had to live in the elements. He finds a horse and names it Turey, or in English,“sky.” He goes to save the town that he was kicked out of from the pirate that was his owner from stealing food,water,and medicine. I would recommend this story to everyone ages twelve and up as this is an uplifting story of courage and bravery. This novel is historical fiction in verse published March 5th, 2011.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2021
It was good, but I probably won’t read it again.
January 14, 2022
Overall, 7.57 (4 stars)
May 27, 2021
woooo speed reading
this actually was an optional book for school-
i read it anyway🤠
this actually was an optional book for school-
i read it anyway🤠
December 13, 2016
This book was told in different points of view and in a poetic kind of verse, which was pretty cool.
It's a historical fiction story about The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck (as he title says) and was short and to the point which I loved and it told the short tale of a slave boy who tries to find some kind freedom for himself while dealing with his original captors. It was a fun read and kept me engaged. But it mentioned the boy's (Quebrado) parents a lot and I wish in the end I knew what happened to them. There were some points where I had to go back because I was confused, but still good.
Overall, solid read.
#HurricaneDancers #MargaritaEngle #4Stars
It's a historical fiction story about The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck (as he title says) and was short and to the point which I loved and it told the short tale of a slave boy who tries to find some kind freedom for himself while dealing with his original captors. It was a fun read and kept me engaged. But it mentioned the boy's (Quebrado) parents a lot and I wish in the end I knew what happened to them. There were some points where I had to go back because I was confused, but still good.
Overall, solid read.
#HurricaneDancers #MargaritaEngle #4Stars
July 7, 2011
I enjoyed learning the historical facts about the early history of Cuba that were revealed in this book, but the story itself lacked something. I might have liked it more had the drama of the flight of the lovers Narido and Caucubu been expanded upon, or the thoughts of Bernardino de Talavera and Alonso de Ojeda as they wandered, shipwrecked, on the island (did they repent their evil ways?) been dealt with at greater length. However, I understand the the story was mainly about the boy Quebrado and his search for freedom from slavery, and these other characters were only incidental or supporting the story. I'd love it if she wrote a novel just about Narido and Caucubu. Anyway, I didn't dislike the book. I just didn't like it as much as I have other books she's written. Still, I recommend it for its interesting perspective on slavery and on the early history of the Caribbean.
October 12, 2011
After reading this book, I wondered why is it that
if we break up
the text on a page
it is
suddenly considered
poetry.
Frankly, I just consider it easier to read! :) Ms. Engle's words are lovely, though, so I guess that is why it is "free verse" and not just a wise use of white space. However, I don't think this was the best format for this story. There was too much going on to be addressed in a short free-verse novel, and I didn't think the legend of the two lovers meshed well with the rest of the story. I did, however, like the narratives by the pirate who is descending into madness, as those were well done. The subject matter was fascinating, but I think I would have preferred to read about these individuals as part of a history. A good nonfiction title would have no trouble making this juicy subject matter interesting.
if we break up
the text on a page
it is
suddenly considered
poetry.
Frankly, I just consider it easier to read! :) Ms. Engle's words are lovely, though, so I guess that is why it is "free verse" and not just a wise use of white space. However, I don't think this was the best format for this story. There was too much going on to be addressed in a short free-verse novel, and I didn't think the legend of the two lovers meshed well with the rest of the story. I did, however, like the narratives by the pirate who is descending into madness, as those were well done. The subject matter was fascinating, but I think I would have preferred to read about these individuals as part of a history. A good nonfiction title would have no trouble making this juicy subject matter interesting.
June 28, 2012
This book could be read by a girl or boy who are in the grade 6 to 10. This book has spanish character names. The book is young boy that is called Quebrado that means half islander and half outsider, a broken. He has traded from ship to ship in the Caribbean Sea from as long as he can remember. But now the pirate captain wants this young boy to boy the translator to help navigate the worlds and words between his mother's and father's languages. Then a hurricane sinks the ship and most of the crew that he is on, but he escapes to safety. He befriends some villagers in the village he comes upon and learns that these people treat him well and also learns how to live on land again. He also gets to decide the fate of his former captors.
Pura Belpré Award 2012
Pura Belpré Award 2012
January 29, 2012
Some lovely atmosphere and writing here, but I had trouble following the timeline, which drew me out of the story. I could understand it only when I thought of it as a story without a linear timeline. Which I don't think was the intention.
July 10, 2015
This was a really quick read. The poetry flowed perfectly and the characters well defined despite the shortness of the poem. I enjoyed it!
May 5, 2016
This was a very unique poetry-style telling about the convergence of several very different characters' lives and how it changes the course of those lives forever. A pleasant read.
March 11, 2022
Today at the library a mom came in asking for "more books like this" and held up Hurricane Dancers. We found The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, and she was very pleased! She reported that she had read Hurricane Dancers aloud to her two sons, ages 8 and 10, and they all found it gripping & captivating & gave them much to talk about & consider & research.
Her enthusiasm inspired me to read it, and I totally see her point; Maritime disaster, Class warfare, Comeuppance of oppressors, Romance, Survival, Healing of a broken spirit, and Young orphan finding his own talents & capacities. Since all of that is found within light pages of verse with plenty of visual space and only 145 pages total, this would make an excellent book for a reluctant reader's historical fiction assignment, or a last-minute-don't-have-enough-time-to-read-for-class.
In addition, although it is an imagined story, the clearly-described setting of the island of Cuba in the year 1510 includes a few (known) historical figures, and brings to life a time period that students must study in 5th or 6th grade; "The Age of Exploration."
I'm so glad a patron recommended this 2011 book, which I had missed.
If you were thinking of giving a reader Call It Courage, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Orphan Island, or even Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats, either give them this instead, or add this one to the pile, and let the young readers taste for themselves which stories grab them.
Her enthusiasm inspired me to read it, and I totally see her point; Maritime disaster, Class warfare, Comeuppance of oppressors, Romance, Survival, Healing of a broken spirit, and Young orphan finding his own talents & capacities. Since all of that is found within light pages of verse with plenty of visual space and only 145 pages total, this would make an excellent book for a reluctant reader's historical fiction assignment, or a last-minute-don't-have-enough-time-to-read-for-class.
In addition, although it is an imagined story, the clearly-described setting of the island of Cuba in the year 1510 includes a few (known) historical figures, and brings to life a time period that students must study in 5th or 6th grade; "The Age of Exploration."
I'm so glad a patron recommended this 2011 book, which I had missed.
If you were thinking of giving a reader Call It Courage, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Orphan Island, or even Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats, either give them this instead, or add this one to the pile, and let the young readers taste for themselves which stories grab them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2018
Quebrado is a gold mine for the pirate captain. With his half Caribbean native, half Spanish blood he can speak the tribal languages of the islands in addition to Spanish and act as translator for the pirate. Qeubrado can't wait to escape the abusive captain's clutches. Alonso de Ojeda also can't wait to escape the pirate's clutches. He was a brutal conquistador and Spanish governor until Captain Bernardino de Talavera kidnapped him. Meanwhile on a nearby island, the villagers have gathered in a cave to sing and dance to appease the spirits. Among them is Naridó, a fisherman who loves the chief's daughter Caucubú. But Caucubú's father is determined to have his daughter marry the son of another tribe's chief instead of a lowly fisherman. Soon, the hurricane winds will bring all of these people together.
It is amazing to me how Engle can weave such a detailed and vivid story from just a few words. I love all of her books I've read to date, and this is no different. It's an enticing historical fiction set in what is now known as Cuba. It mixes historical fact with Cuban legend (Bernardino de Talavera was the first Caribbean pirate and he really did kidnap Alonso de Ojeda and have him on his ship when they were shipwrecked, the Naridó and Caucubú tale is a Cuban legend). Pirates often get a little too romanticized and we forget that in real life they're often brutal murderers and thieves. This paints a more realistic portrait of piracy while still providing an exciting tale. I think my two favorite characters were Quebrado, he gets the most focus and development, and even though he's a villain, Ojeda because of the way Engle wrote his conflicted soul. He feels almost like a Shakespearean character. Recommended for those who want a quick read and a more realistic portrayal of piracy and an easier historical slave trade read.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond some "embraces." Past violence and deaths are mentioned as well as some injuries incurred in the storm.
It is amazing to me how Engle can weave such a detailed and vivid story from just a few words. I love all of her books I've read to date, and this is no different. It's an enticing historical fiction set in what is now known as Cuba. It mixes historical fact with Cuban legend (Bernardino de Talavera was the first Caribbean pirate and he really did kidnap Alonso de Ojeda and have him on his ship when they were shipwrecked, the Naridó and Caucubú tale is a Cuban legend). Pirates often get a little too romanticized and we forget that in real life they're often brutal murderers and thieves. This paints a more realistic portrait of piracy while still providing an exciting tale. I think my two favorite characters were Quebrado, he gets the most focus and development, and even though he's a villain, Ojeda because of the way Engle wrote his conflicted soul. He feels almost like a Shakespearean character. Recommended for those who want a quick read and a more realistic portrayal of piracy and an easier historical slave trade read.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond some "embraces." Past violence and deaths are mentioned as well as some injuries incurred in the storm.
May 14, 2013
Margarita Engle’s Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck is a beautifully written novel in verse, similar in many ways to her earlier book The Surrender Tree. Here again, Engle brings to life a lesser known period of Caribbean history through three distinct but intertwined stories: that of Quebrado; Naridó and Caucubú; and Ojeda and Talavera. While many of us are familiar with the history of Christopher Columbus, other stories of the conquest and colonization of the Americas are often overlooked. This book offers part of that missing perspective.
Set in the early 16th century, Hurricane Dancers tells the story of Quebrado, a young boy enslaved on a pirate ship after losing his Taíno mother and Spanish father. In learning about Quebrado’s sotry, we also hear the tales o fthose around him. Here we learn about Alonso de Ojeda, a contemporary of Columbus, who sailed with him on his second voyage to the Americas. Ojeda became famous for his brutality, both in his settlement of Hispaniola and his later conquest of South America. Yet, in Engle’s book we find Ojeda the injured captive of Spanish pirate Bernardino de Talavera. We learn that Talavera is an impoverished conquistador. Once awarded a profitable land grant, Talavera literally worked his indigenous slaves to death, resulting in the loss of all his wealth. In order to avoid debtor’s prison, Talavera steals a ship and takes to the seas. And then, on this ship, we are introduced to Quebrado. The sailors name him Quebrado, meaning a broken one, because he is half islander and half outsider. Enslaved and beaten, Quebrado is used by Talavera as a translator because he speaks both Spanish and Taíno. Quebrado eventually gains his freedom when a hurricane sinks the ship and kills most of the crew. After the crash, Quebrado is saved and befriend by Naridó, a Taíno fisherman. Naridó is in love with Caucubú, the daughter of the tribe’s leader who is to be given away in an arranged marriage. Meanwhile, in an interesting twist of fate, Talavera and Ojeda find themselves alive, albeit severely injured, and are forced to depend on each other to survive and find help.
In the prose-poetry that follows, Ojeda and Talavera find themselves among the same villagers who have taken in Quebrado. Banished to an alligator infested swamp, the two Spaniards seem to have the nine lives of a cat, surviving even this. Quebrado is soon banished as well and sent away from his new found home. Ultimately, Quebrado must find the courage to banish the two from the island forever.
Hurricane Dancers is one of those books with limitless possibilities for classroom use, appropriate across grade levels for read aloud, independent reading or novel study. If you’re hesitant to use novel in verse in your classroom, don’t be. I’ll admit I had my doubts before I read Engle’s Surrender Tree. But I, along with the other teachers in our monthly book group, loved it. The novelty of this style will be interesting to students not familiar with it. It’s also a much simpler read. There’s no complicated dialogue to keep track of or dense pages to wade through. Each page is a poem written from one character’s perspective which makes it a great book to be read out loud—especially if you have enough copies for each student to have their own. Then, students can take turns reading the lines of the different characters as if it was a play. The simple style won’t intimidate struggling readers, but the engaging plot and beautiful descriptive imagery will catch the attention of all of your students. Booklist writes in its review, “Engle distills the emotion in each episode with potent rhythms, sounds, and original, unforgettable imagery. Linked together, the poems capture elemental identity questions and the infinite sorrows of slavery and dislocation. . .” It would be a perfect book to teach elements of literary or poetic analysis. Many students can struggle to understand or analyze the symbolism or imagery of a short poem, but within the context of an entire novel, these things can be easier to uncover and understand. The simple but beautiful imagery will paint amazing pictures in the minds and imaginations of young and old readers alike.
But, it’s not just a book for reading or language arts classes. It could be quite powerful in a social studies or history course. Hurricane Dancers could easily be integrated into any study on early exploration and conquest of the Caribbean and South America. An amazing unit could be put together using Engle’s novel along with Michael Dorris’ Morning Girl, and the teacher’s guide Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years published by Rethinking Schools. Quite often our classroom resources focus on the point of view of Columbus or other explorers, but rarely do they give voice to the indigenous groups who inhabited the land or even name those groups. This is not the case with Hurricane Dancers. Engle’s “Author’s Note” at the end provides a wealth of information on the background of the historical figures mentioned in the book. Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years also has a number of great resources written specifically about the Taíno. While Engle’s book doesn’t focus on current events, it could be an excellent resource for those teaching about more contemporary Social Studies issues, like child slavery. We featured another novel in October, The Queen of Water, that, if paired with Hurricane Dancers could provide an excellent means for studying both historical and contemporary issues around child slavery.
If nothing else, it is a moving story of a young boy’s journey to redemption. His final message is one that I believe we hope all our students understand and accept for themselves: “I no longer feel like Quebrado, a broken place. . .I am free of all those shattered ways of seeing myself. I am whole” (p. 133).
We have a free educator’s guide for Hurricane Dancers available on our blog at: http://teachinglatinamericathroughlit...
Set in the early 16th century, Hurricane Dancers tells the story of Quebrado, a young boy enslaved on a pirate ship after losing his Taíno mother and Spanish father. In learning about Quebrado’s sotry, we also hear the tales o fthose around him. Here we learn about Alonso de Ojeda, a contemporary of Columbus, who sailed with him on his second voyage to the Americas. Ojeda became famous for his brutality, both in his settlement of Hispaniola and his later conquest of South America. Yet, in Engle’s book we find Ojeda the injured captive of Spanish pirate Bernardino de Talavera. We learn that Talavera is an impoverished conquistador. Once awarded a profitable land grant, Talavera literally worked his indigenous slaves to death, resulting in the loss of all his wealth. In order to avoid debtor’s prison, Talavera steals a ship and takes to the seas. And then, on this ship, we are introduced to Quebrado. The sailors name him Quebrado, meaning a broken one, because he is half islander and half outsider. Enslaved and beaten, Quebrado is used by Talavera as a translator because he speaks both Spanish and Taíno. Quebrado eventually gains his freedom when a hurricane sinks the ship and kills most of the crew. After the crash, Quebrado is saved and befriend by Naridó, a Taíno fisherman. Naridó is in love with Caucubú, the daughter of the tribe’s leader who is to be given away in an arranged marriage. Meanwhile, in an interesting twist of fate, Talavera and Ojeda find themselves alive, albeit severely injured, and are forced to depend on each other to survive and find help.
In the prose-poetry that follows, Ojeda and Talavera find themselves among the same villagers who have taken in Quebrado. Banished to an alligator infested swamp, the two Spaniards seem to have the nine lives of a cat, surviving even this. Quebrado is soon banished as well and sent away from his new found home. Ultimately, Quebrado must find the courage to banish the two from the island forever.
Hurricane Dancers is one of those books with limitless possibilities for classroom use, appropriate across grade levels for read aloud, independent reading or novel study. If you’re hesitant to use novel in verse in your classroom, don’t be. I’ll admit I had my doubts before I read Engle’s Surrender Tree. But I, along with the other teachers in our monthly book group, loved it. The novelty of this style will be interesting to students not familiar with it. It’s also a much simpler read. There’s no complicated dialogue to keep track of or dense pages to wade through. Each page is a poem written from one character’s perspective which makes it a great book to be read out loud—especially if you have enough copies for each student to have their own. Then, students can take turns reading the lines of the different characters as if it was a play. The simple style won’t intimidate struggling readers, but the engaging plot and beautiful descriptive imagery will catch the attention of all of your students. Booklist writes in its review, “Engle distills the emotion in each episode with potent rhythms, sounds, and original, unforgettable imagery. Linked together, the poems capture elemental identity questions and the infinite sorrows of slavery and dislocation. . .” It would be a perfect book to teach elements of literary or poetic analysis. Many students can struggle to understand or analyze the symbolism or imagery of a short poem, but within the context of an entire novel, these things can be easier to uncover and understand. The simple but beautiful imagery will paint amazing pictures in the minds and imaginations of young and old readers alike.
But, it’s not just a book for reading or language arts classes. It could be quite powerful in a social studies or history course. Hurricane Dancers could easily be integrated into any study on early exploration and conquest of the Caribbean and South America. An amazing unit could be put together using Engle’s novel along with Michael Dorris’ Morning Girl, and the teacher’s guide Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years published by Rethinking Schools. Quite often our classroom resources focus on the point of view of Columbus or other explorers, but rarely do they give voice to the indigenous groups who inhabited the land or even name those groups. This is not the case with Hurricane Dancers. Engle’s “Author’s Note” at the end provides a wealth of information on the background of the historical figures mentioned in the book. Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years also has a number of great resources written specifically about the Taíno. While Engle’s book doesn’t focus on current events, it could be an excellent resource for those teaching about more contemporary Social Studies issues, like child slavery. We featured another novel in October, The Queen of Water, that, if paired with Hurricane Dancers could provide an excellent means for studying both historical and contemporary issues around child slavery.
If nothing else, it is a moving story of a young boy’s journey to redemption. His final message is one that I believe we hope all our students understand and accept for themselves: “I no longer feel like Quebrado, a broken place. . .I am free of all those shattered ways of seeing myself. I am whole” (p. 133).
We have a free educator’s guide for Hurricane Dancers available on our blog at: http://teachinglatinamericathroughlit...
August 12, 2015
Margarita Engle's Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck is a beautifully written novel in verse, similar in many ways to her earlier book The Surrender Tree. Here again, Engle brings to life a lesser known period of Caribbean history through three distinct but intertwined stories: that of Quebrado; Naridó and Caucubú; and Ojeda and Talavera. While many of us are familiar with the history of Christopher Columbus, other stories of the conquest and colonization of the Americas are often overlooked. This book offers part of that missing perspective.
Set in the early 16th century, Hurricane Dancers tells the story of Quebrado, a young boy enslaved on a pirate ship after losing his Taíno mother and Spanish father. In learning about Quebrado's story, we also hear the tales of those around him. Here we learn about Alonso de Ojeda, a contemporary of Columbus, who sailed with Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas. Ojeda became famous for his brutality, both in his settlement of Hispaniola and his later conquest of South America. Yet, in Engle's book we find Ojeda the injured captive of Spanish pirate Bernardino de Talavera. We learn that Talavera is an impoverished conquistador. Once awarded a profitable land grant, Talavera literally worked his indigenous slaves to death, resulting in the loss of all his wealth. In order to avoid debtor's prison, Talavera steals a ship and takes to the seas. And then, on this ship, we are introduced to Quebrado. The sailors name him Quebrado, meaning a broken one, because he is half islander and half outsider. Enslaved and beaten, Quebrado is used by Talavera as a translator because he speaks both Spanish and Taíno. Quebrado eventually gains his freedom when a hurricane sinks the ship and kills most of the crew. After the crash, Quebrado is saved and befriended by Naridó, a Taíno fisherman. Naridó is in love with Caucubú, the daughter of the tribe's leader, who is to be given away in an arranged marriage. Meanwhile, in an interesting twist of fate, Talavera and Ojeda find themselves alive, albeit severely injured, and are forced to depend on each other to survive and find help.
In the prose-poetry that follows, Ojeda and Talavera find themselves among the same villagers who have taken in Quebrado. Banished to an alligator infested swamp, the two Spaniards seem to have the nine lives of a cat, surviving even this. Quebrado is soon banished as well and sent away from his newfound home. Ultimately, Quebrado must find the courage to banish the two from the island forever.
Hurricane Dancers is one of those books with limitless possibilities for classroom use, appropriate across grade levels for read aloud, independent reading or novel study. If you're hesitant to use novel in verse in your classroom, don't be. I'll admit I had my doubts before I read Engle's Surrender Tree. But I, along with the other teachers in our monthly book group, loved it. The novelty of this style will be interesting to students not familiar with it. It's also a much simpler read. There's no complicated dialogue to keep track of or dense pages to wade through. Each page is a poem written from one character's perspective which makes it a great book to be read out loud--especially if you have enough copies for each student to have his or her own. Then, students can take turns reading the lines of the different characters as if it was a play. The simple style won't intimidate struggling readers, but the engaging plot and beautiful descriptive imagery will catch the attention of all of your students. Booklist writes in its review, "Engle distills the emotion in each episode with potent rhythms, sounds, and original, unforgettable imagery. Linked together, the poems capture elemental identity questions and the infinite sorrows of slavery and dislocation. . ." It would be a perfect book to teach elements of literary or poetic analysis. Many students can struggle to understand or analyze the symbolism or imagery of a short poem, but within the context of an entire novel, these things can be easier to uncover and understand. The simple but beautiful imagery will paint amazing pictures in the minds and imaginations of young and old readers alike.
But, it's not just a book for reading or language arts classes. It could be quite powerful in a social studies or history course. Hurricane Dancers could easily be integrated into any study on early exploration and conquest of the Caribbean and South America. An amazing unit could be put together using Engle's novel along with Michael Dorris' Morning Girl, and the teacher's guide Rethinking Columbus published by Rethinking Schools. Quite often our classroom resources focus on the point of view of Columbus or other explorers, but rarely do they give voice to the indigenous groups who inhabited the land or even name those groups. This is not the case with Hurricane Dancers. Engle's "Author's Note" at the end provides a wealth of information on the background of the historical figures and peoples mentioned in the book. Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years also has a number of great resources written specifically about the Taíno. While Engle's book doesn't focus on current events, it could be an excellent resource for those teaching about more contemporary Social Studies issues, like child slavery. We featured another novel in October, The Queen of Water, that, if paired with Hurricane Dancers, could provide an excellent means for studying both historical and contemporary issues around child. If nothing else, this is a moving story of a young boy's journey to redemption. His final message is one that I believe we hope all our students understand and accept for themselves: "I no longer feel like Quebrado, a broken place. . .I am free of all those shattered ways of seeing myself. I am whole" (p. 133).
Check out our free educator's guide at our wordpress blog Vamos a Leer. http://teachinglatinamericathroughlit...
Set in the early 16th century, Hurricane Dancers tells the story of Quebrado, a young boy enslaved on a pirate ship after losing his Taíno mother and Spanish father. In learning about Quebrado's story, we also hear the tales of those around him. Here we learn about Alonso de Ojeda, a contemporary of Columbus, who sailed with Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas. Ojeda became famous for his brutality, both in his settlement of Hispaniola and his later conquest of South America. Yet, in Engle's book we find Ojeda the injured captive of Spanish pirate Bernardino de Talavera. We learn that Talavera is an impoverished conquistador. Once awarded a profitable land grant, Talavera literally worked his indigenous slaves to death, resulting in the loss of all his wealth. In order to avoid debtor's prison, Talavera steals a ship and takes to the seas. And then, on this ship, we are introduced to Quebrado. The sailors name him Quebrado, meaning a broken one, because he is half islander and half outsider. Enslaved and beaten, Quebrado is used by Talavera as a translator because he speaks both Spanish and Taíno. Quebrado eventually gains his freedom when a hurricane sinks the ship and kills most of the crew. After the crash, Quebrado is saved and befriended by Naridó, a Taíno fisherman. Naridó is in love with Caucubú, the daughter of the tribe's leader, who is to be given away in an arranged marriage. Meanwhile, in an interesting twist of fate, Talavera and Ojeda find themselves alive, albeit severely injured, and are forced to depend on each other to survive and find help.
In the prose-poetry that follows, Ojeda and Talavera find themselves among the same villagers who have taken in Quebrado. Banished to an alligator infested swamp, the two Spaniards seem to have the nine lives of a cat, surviving even this. Quebrado is soon banished as well and sent away from his newfound home. Ultimately, Quebrado must find the courage to banish the two from the island forever.
Hurricane Dancers is one of those books with limitless possibilities for classroom use, appropriate across grade levels for read aloud, independent reading or novel study. If you're hesitant to use novel in verse in your classroom, don't be. I'll admit I had my doubts before I read Engle's Surrender Tree. But I, along with the other teachers in our monthly book group, loved it. The novelty of this style will be interesting to students not familiar with it. It's also a much simpler read. There's no complicated dialogue to keep track of or dense pages to wade through. Each page is a poem written from one character's perspective which makes it a great book to be read out loud--especially if you have enough copies for each student to have his or her own. Then, students can take turns reading the lines of the different characters as if it was a play. The simple style won't intimidate struggling readers, but the engaging plot and beautiful descriptive imagery will catch the attention of all of your students. Booklist writes in its review, "Engle distills the emotion in each episode with potent rhythms, sounds, and original, unforgettable imagery. Linked together, the poems capture elemental identity questions and the infinite sorrows of slavery and dislocation. . ." It would be a perfect book to teach elements of literary or poetic analysis. Many students can struggle to understand or analyze the symbolism or imagery of a short poem, but within the context of an entire novel, these things can be easier to uncover and understand. The simple but beautiful imagery will paint amazing pictures in the minds and imaginations of young and old readers alike.
But, it's not just a book for reading or language arts classes. It could be quite powerful in a social studies or history course. Hurricane Dancers could easily be integrated into any study on early exploration and conquest of the Caribbean and South America. An amazing unit could be put together using Engle's novel along with Michael Dorris' Morning Girl, and the teacher's guide Rethinking Columbus published by Rethinking Schools. Quite often our classroom resources focus on the point of view of Columbus or other explorers, but rarely do they give voice to the indigenous groups who inhabited the land or even name those groups. This is not the case with Hurricane Dancers. Engle's "Author's Note" at the end provides a wealth of information on the background of the historical figures and peoples mentioned in the book. Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years also has a number of great resources written specifically about the Taíno. While Engle's book doesn't focus on current events, it could be an excellent resource for those teaching about more contemporary Social Studies issues, like child slavery. We featured another novel in October, The Queen of Water, that, if paired with Hurricane Dancers, could provide an excellent means for studying both historical and contemporary issues around child. If nothing else, this is a moving story of a young boy's journey to redemption. His final message is one that I believe we hope all our students understand and accept for themselves: "I no longer feel like Quebrado, a broken place. . .I am free of all those shattered ways of seeing myself. I am whole" (p. 133).
Check out our free educator's guide at our wordpress blog Vamos a Leer. http://teachinglatinamericathroughlit...
May 27, 2020
Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck, by Margarita Engle, is a novel written in poetic free verse. Quebrado, meaning “broken,” is the main character. He is a slave aboard a pirate ship captained by Bernardino de Talavera, a real historical figure. Quebrado was born to a Spanish father and Ciboney Indian mother. He speaks two languages and as a slave, this is his only value to the pirate de Talavera. He abuses Quebrado, beats him to comply and translate for the wares that de Talavera wants. When the ship is broken apart in a hurricane, Quebrado is able to break free from his captor. He is also able to begin a new life on the island where he was rescued and along the way find his true identity and heritage. This novel is beautifully written in that each page is a free verse poem. It would be a good mentor text for students to review and practice their own free verse poems. The novel is also a great historical fiction text to be analyzed for its historical significance to Indigenous Cuban ancestry.
December 3, 2020
Warnings: religious connotations, abuse (physical), mental disorders (PTSD)
This was a poetry book. Each poem's title is the name of one of the characters. The story is about the survivors of a shipwreck and the protagonist is "Quebrado" who was a slave to the pirate captain of the ship. The story follows him as he meets new people and tries to find his place despite his torn heritage. However, he isn't the only one to survive the shipwreck and his past comes back to haunt him.
It was an okay book. Not bad, it's interesting but not gripping. I won't be looking to find this book again. It was a one time read for one sitting. The characters were decent but there was a lot of character jumping that, at times, felt jarring and took me out of the story. There's this big and supposedly powerful resolution at the end of the novel but it doesn't feel all that important to me. It exists. That's about it.
This was a poetry book. Each poem's title is the name of one of the characters. The story is about the survivors of a shipwreck and the protagonist is "Quebrado" who was a slave to the pirate captain of the ship. The story follows him as he meets new people and tries to find his place despite his torn heritage. However, he isn't the only one to survive the shipwreck and his past comes back to haunt him.
It was an okay book. Not bad, it's interesting but not gripping. I won't be looking to find this book again. It was a one time read for one sitting. The characters were decent but there was a lot of character jumping that, at times, felt jarring and took me out of the story. There's this big and supposedly powerful resolution at the end of the novel but it doesn't feel all that important to me. It exists. That's about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews