The Red Umbrella

Title: The Red Umbrella

 

Author: Christina Diaz Gonzalez

 

Summary: 14-year-old Lucia Alvarez, growing up during the communist revolution, lives a carefree life with her parents and little brother. Her days consist of gossiping with her fashionable friend Ivette and dreaming of the dance and her 15th birthday party (a special celebration in her culture).

But it all changes once Ivette and other friends of Lucia begin to join the revolution clubs for children. Soon Lucia's friends are becoming more and more brainwashed into believing that the revolution is right. But Lucia's parents still disagree.

Then, the situation becomes even more dangerous and Lucia and her brother are shipped away to live in America until their parents can come retrieve them after the revolution or whenever they can get away.

The 2 of them move into a little Nebraska farming community and slowly make a life for themselves. Lucia starts high school and makes a true friend, and their foster parents are very nice and treat them like their own.

But then, something happens to Lucia's father and Lucia and her brother fear that they may never see their parents in America.

 

Comments: I liked this book and it was an enjoyable yet quick-paced read. For the readers who enjoyed I Lived on Butterfly Hill, this book will probably hit the spot. The book seems like it could be classified as almost more of a teen book, Lucia after all begins to drive in the book, grow to be a young lady, and there are also some more mature themes when Ivette's letters from her revolution experiences come into the story.
Lucia is a likeable girl and her character definitely grows throughout the story, in a rather pleasing way. I was quite impressed with the amount of time that Ms. Gonzalez could cover in this story, without making the story feel rushed in the least bit.
I would recommend this book for 12+, because there are some more mature themes, and there is also one time when while learning English, Lucia accidently says a cuss word instead of the word "beach" (I'll leave you to guess where that goes), but it is said by mistake of course.
I enjoyed this book, but for younger children just being introduced to this idea, I recommend I Lived on Butterfly Hill and then The Red Umbrella once the reader is a little older.

Rating: 5 stars

I Lived on Butterfly Hill

Title: I Lived on Butterfly Hill

Author: Marjorie Agosin

Summary: Celeste is living in Chile on Butterfly Hill in a very nice neighborhood. She has fun with her friends and enjoys helping her nanas around the house and going out to help the poor receive medical care with her parents, who are doctors. Life seems like it is pretty easy at first, but things take a turn for the worst when a war and disagreement breaks out in Chile, sending some of Celeste's friends and her parents fleeing to remote parts of Chile or other countries to go into hiding to save their lives.

Celeste is not in danger at first, but things grow more and more dangerous, so Celeste is sent away to Maine to live with her Tia (aunt) and finds things hard at first; she has to learn English, go to a new school, and winter and snow are foreign to her in such months. After about a year, she gets used to it and continues to live there for the next few years (she is there for about a total of 3 years). She ends up making friends, finding herself, and realizing her talent for cooking just about everything. Eventually, the chaos in Chile dies down, and Celeste is allowed to go home. Back at home, things are far from how they were. She meets up with some of her old friends but others are either still against her or missing. Her parents are missing as well and Celeste, with help, goes out to find them.

 

Comments: This book is so powerful. The story is deep, emotional, sad, and wonderful at the same time. Celeste's unfaltering bravery really touched me and her trust in faith really was a brave thing to see. She is a great role model because she wanted to help the poor, truly cared about her country and sought ways that she could make a difference for the better, she gave her family love, and it was very interesting to watch her grow from a 10 year old girl to a 14 year old girl and I felt like I grew up right along with her throughout the book (even though it only took me 3 hours to read XD).

The book has a few scary parts about the war and people "disappearing", and there are some violent sequences, but it is still an amazing book and I think that it would be very appropriate for kids 10+ (maybe younger if they are mature).

There are illustrations in this book, but it is in no means a "lower reading level" book and the illustrations are done tastefully and put in just the right places without bringing down the length or the hard words in the book. The illustrations are fun, good, and have a child-like whimsy to them, which I enjoy. (I am 13)

 In fact, the book is more like a "Spanglish" book (Spanish English mixture) and anyone could easily pick up on the wonderful cultures).  

This is a wonderful book and should be enjoyed by all.

Complaints: I felt like "Part #2" about her living in Maine was a bit rushed through and I felt like the 3 years there passed rather quickly for such a long time when a month could pass over a few chapters in other places. The book was already a little over 400 pages though, so I cannot complain about the length - it was perfect!

Rating: 5 stars!