Reviews

Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas

ipushbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

authorlibrarianrachel's review against another edition

4.0

It was beautifully written but it felt a little front loaded.

jehansen127's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

florapants84's review

emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

slpblue's review against another edition

5.0

This was a super cute book. It’s one I will definitely recommend to my eighth graders. It’s good for reluctant reads and kids who can relate to struggling with learning English.

lisamcdreads's review

5.0

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of Cuba In My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas. A historical fiction novel that follows Cumba, a 12 year old boy, on his awe-inspiring journey from Cuba to the United States, Cuba In My Pocket is very realistic and relevant to today's times. The author did an amazing job at describing situations and emotions so well that you could really imagine yourself in Cumba's shoes. The book is based on the author's father's history of immigrating to the United States at age 15 by himself, without knowing English, and without having family in the United States. Truly an amazing feat!

Cumba, the main character, begins the story living in Cuba with his family in 1961. The Bay of Pigs invasion by the U.S. has failed and Fidel Castro is in charge, which means Cumba and his family live in fear. Cumba, especially, is in danger of being forced into being a boy soldier as soon as he turns 13, so his family decides to send him, alone, to the U. S. where he has a distant relative. The reader follows Cumba as he struggles to make friends, learn the language and the culture and deal with missing his family and homeland. I thoroughly recommend this book!

mzrachelsuperlibarian's review against another edition

4.0

It was beautifully written but it felt a little front loaded.

jaelikes's review

4.5

well crafted

imstephtacular's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Unpopular opinion, but this was just fine for me. It was a powerful story, I just didn’t have strong feelings about it like many others seem to. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Grief, and War

Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

tmp718's review

5.0

This story is engaging, easy to understand, but at the same time does not water down the significance of this era in history that is likely not heavily studied in their history classes (the Bay of Pigs Invasion during the Kennedy era). Many students today who are immigrants or refugees may find they relate to the main character, so that representation in this book makes it perfect for a classroom. This book would pair nicely with a cross-curricular unit about the Bay of Pigs Invasion if studied in a social studies class.

Thank you NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.