I read this slim little book twice yesterday--once on the ride to work, once on the ride back. It's a lovely little story about the visit Fredrika Bremmer, a real-life early feminist from Sweden, paid to Cuba in the mid-1800s. Her voice is interwoven with those of Cecelia, the real slave assigned to translate for her who becomes a good friend; Elena, the young daughter of Cecelia's owner, who's trapped in her own ways; and with a few interludes from Beni, Cecilia's assigned husband.

It's a delicate, beautiful little story told in blank verse--a children's introduction to slavery, much the way that a childhood favorite of mine, The Secret Cave is an introduction to the Shoah/Holocaust. Yes, some elements of the story are a bit simplistic, but there's so much depth and texture in such few words.

I was happy to see Cecilia and Beni calling out Fredrika and Elena, even if only in the privacy of the text, on their naive assumptions. At one point Fredrika rants in a schoolhouse about how girls only attend an hour a day; Cecilia's parting shot is to point out that an hour is more schooling than a slave girl will ever receive. Fredrika spends Sunday service in the back of the church with the slaves; Beni worries about how Cecilia will be able to continue living after Fredrika, her ticket to pseudo-freedom, leaves Cuba. At one point Elena admits that Cecilia is probably her best friend; Cecilia, the slave that she resents for being better with language and able to travel outside the house, who probably isn't even aware that Elena thinks of her as anything but property.

I'm glad I got to read this twice, because I definitely went into it too much the cynical adult. Yes, there's probably a great deal that can be criticized if you're going to take this as adult literature--but for a young reader, it's a great combination of wonderful female characters in the leading roles, early feminism, a fairy tale-like setting with dark shadows of history.

I would also argue that this is an important book because of the ages of two of the characters: Cecilia, who is a language whiz and pregnant by her master's choice of made at 15; and Elena, who at 12 is two years away from marriage. Adults these days spend so much energy underestimating children, what they can handle of the world, but just look at two examples of children who had to deal with so much more so early on.

Definitely worth a read, if you have an hour to spare. ( )

Swedish writer Fredrika Bremer travels to Cuba where an enslaved woman serves as her translator. A young, rich Cuban girl envies their freedom of movement and experience, joins them, and begins her own journey of liberation. Author’s Note, References.

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 women & slavery. That said, it is a fine introduction to an unusual historical figure in a relatively uncommon setting.

The imagery is rich at times:

"There is no evening in the tropics.
Night simply drapes itself over he day..."

My primary frustration with novels in verse, & this is no exception, is that while the text is short enough to re-read resdily, it does not have enough substance to resonate thoroughly upon first reading. When I try & recall the "feel" of this book (I read it the migt before last), I am left with little. Maybe Frederika's story needs a whole novel to itself.

Finally, the author's notes & references are useful postscripts. ( )

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 women & slavery. That said, it is a fine introduction to an unusual historical figure in a relatively uncommon setting.

The imagery is rich at times:

"There is no evening in the tropics.
Night simply drapes itself over he day..."

My primary frustration with novels in verse, & this is no exception, is that while the text is short enough to re-read resdily, it does not have enough substance to resonate thoroughly upon first reading. When I try & recall the "feel" of this book (I read it the migt before last), I am left with little. Maybe Frederika's story needs a whole novel to itself.

Finally, the author's notes & references are useful postscripts. ( )

I enjoyed the alternating voices of Frederika, a Swedish feminist; Elena, the daughter of nobility in Cuba; and Cecilia, an African slave to Elena's family, as each portrays a unique perspective on the story. The theme of women's rights and freedom coupled with lush descriptions of the Cuban countryside make for an engaging look at the time and period.

Curricular connections: I plan to use this book as a mentor text to teach writing from multiple perspectives.
Also, it could be used as a starting point to explore other feminist movements throughout history. ( )