The Red Umbrella in Mock Newbery 2026

Aug 09, 2010 June Morgan rated it really liked it

It's the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. Castro is engaging followers that the USA is filled with cheaters. Lucia and Frankie, children of a affluent family, begin to see things in their daily lives that encourages them to ask questions to their parents. Even extended family members seem to be different. One day, Lucia is asked to go to the pharmacy because her brother is ill. On her way home, she witnesses the lynching of the pharmacist because the revolutionaries believe that he is sympathe ...more

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Aug 13, 2010 Pam rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-s, ya, historical-fiction, fiction

I'm still digesting this book as I knew next to nothing about this period in history (Castro's revolutionary Cuba) and the author gives you a lot to think about.... Lucia is a 14 year old girl living in Cuba in 1961, who loves fashion magazines, day dreaming about boys, and dances, as Castro's revolution comes to her small village. Friendships, families, and ways of life are wretchedly changed. When it is no longer safe for Lucia and her brother, her parents send them to the US as part of Operat ...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Doret rated it liked it

14 yr old Lucia Alverez is excited about an unexpected break from school, thanks to Castro's revolution. Lucia's parents fear for her safety. Lucia and her younger brother Frankie can't leave the house. When Lucia and Frankie sneak out, they see their dad's boss interrogated and threatened by Castro's men. Slowly, Lucia begins to realize the Cuba, she knows and loves is changing. When Castro came into power, family and friends became enemies. Lucia and her best friend Ivette, grow apart. Ivette 14 yr old Lucia Alverez is excited about an unexpected break from school, thanks to Castro's revolution. Lucia's parents fear for her safety. Lucia and her younger brother Frankie can't leave the house. When Lucia and Frankie sneak out, they see their dad's boss interrogated and threatened by Castro's men. Slowly, Lucia begins to realize the Cuba, she knows and loves is changing. When Castro came into power, family and friends became enemies. Lucia and her best friend Ivette, grow apart. Ivette joins the Jovenes Rebeldes, a communist youth movement in Cuba. Lucia's parents won't let her join. I didn't instantly like Lucia. She fought her parents, and didn't understand why they were against Castro.

Somewhere along the way, I realized a 14 yr old who is forced to stay home (even if there's a good reason) will fight their parents. Also Castro's ideas looked good to Lucia because they differed from her parents. The early tension between Lucia and her parents, made it easy for me to imagine parents and children choosing different sides. If things had gone differently, Lucia could've run away and joined Jovenes Rebeldes. This was one of the books strengths. Gonzalez allows the reader to consider what if. What if Frankie hadn't gotten sick, and Lucia never passed that oak tree?

After the oak tree, Lucia has seen too much and trust her parents completely. Lucia's parents try to give the impression that they support Castro, in hopes that it will keep them safe. Its not enough. They are worried about the safety of Lucia and her younger brother, Frankie. They decide to send Lucia and Frankie to the U.S. alone. Between 1960 and 1962 ( Red Umbrella, 1961) Operation Pedro Pan was in effect. Many Cuban parents who were against Castro sent there children to the U.S. alone.

Lucia and Frankie are in Miami for a short time. The two are placed with a husband and wife in Nebraska. They keep in touch with their parents through letters and the occasional phone call. The author does of allowing the reader to feel Lucia's experiences. The Alveraz family connection and love is very strong. I thought the author could've developed certain aspects a little more. One day Lucia runs into Laura, a classmate. Her father was arrested for spreading anti -revolutionary lies. I thought Laura woud've made a good character I would've loved a conversation about Castro's ideology between Lucia and Laura.

The author used, Ivette to give a voice to Castro's belief, with letters to Lucia. They didn't feel natural to the story. It was the only time the Gonzalez faltered in blending fact with fiction.

The Red Umbrella is wonderful read. Gonzalez tells a great story. A red umbrella makes a few appearances, I especially loved the last one. The author has mastered the art of symbolism. There aren't many middle grade novels about how Castro's rule impacted Cuban families. I believe this is the first one about Operation Pedro Pan. Its a very good first.

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Apr 29, 2015 Debbie Tanner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: family-stories, chapter-books, feelings, realistic-fiction, historical-fiction, making-a-change, compare-contrast, social-issues

This book is about a family living in Cuba during the time of the Revolution. Lucia, the main character, is 14 and big into boys and fashion. At first the Revolution feels like no big deal and she argues with her parents to allow her to attend events sponsored by the party, but things turn dark quickly and Lucia and her parents have to make hard decisions about who to remain friends with, who to trust or even if they should remain in Cuba. This is a great book to read NOW because of,the loosenin ...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Carol Royce Owen rated it really liked it

Fourteen year old Lucia is coming of age in the country of Cuba which is rapidly being taken over by Fidel Castro and his beliefs. Schools have been shut down and evidence of police brutality towards those who oppose Castro is being seen in the street. Lucia's family tries to go unnoticed, being careful not to say anything that would oppose the new government, but their non-action soon gets noticed and they are questioned about their lack of support for the local youth groups, whose prime purpos ...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Mari Anne rated it liked it

Shelves: mg-ya

A beautiful, if somewhat predictable story, of a young girl and her brother sent out of Cuba at the start of the revolution, and fostered with a family in Nebraska. This is a NE Golden Sower Nominee for 2012-2013. It is well written and entertaining but somewhat on the thin side. I think it is a good introduction to that part of Cuba's history but I feel it could have gone a little deeper. I would recommend though, especially for girls, in about grades 7 - 12. ...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Ellie rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, ya, cuba

Really interesting story about a topic I know nothing about! Lucia lives with her family in Cuba right around the time of Castro's Revolution. It starts out fun, with time off from school to hang out with friends, but soon, things get dangerous and people Lucia knows start getting imprisoned and even killed. Her parents aren't totally on board with Castro's ideas and they decide to send Lucia and her little brother to the United States in an operation now known as Operation Pedro Pan, where 14,0 ...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Christina rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-school, 2010-kids-ya

One of the better historical fiction novels of 2010, The Red Umbrella tells the story of fourteen year-old Lucia and her younger brother Frankie who are sent to the U.S. in 1961 to escape Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba. Realistic, complex characters will help kids relate to this episode in history that is not well covered in most U.S. history classes. I will be recommending this book to middle-school readers in grades 6-8 who are interested in multicultural topics. I liked The Red Umbrella better ...more

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Sep 15, 2010 Benji Martin rated it really liked it

Great book. Probably a 2011 Newbery Honor book.

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Sep 11, 2010 Teresa Garrett rated it it was amazing

I did not know much about the Cuban revolution. I was not aware of the fact that parents sent their children out of Cuba to escape the oppressive atmosphere under Castro. I felt for the parents feeling that sending their children to live among strangers was better than what they could hope to provide. I can only imagine what small children thought when they arrived in America to be sent to camps or to live with strangers. This book did a good job reporting both the parents and children's reactio ...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Caren rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction

A good story about Castro's takeover of Cuba and how people had to make the choice to send their children to America without them in hopes of a better life.
Lucia (14), Frankie (7) are siblings. After being sent to Miami, they live in Catholic camp. From there are sent to a a wonderful couple in Nebraska.
Not for elementary kids, but a good intro to Cuba's problems. ...more

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