Pura Belpré Award Winner Ruth Behar's inspiring story of a Jewish girl who escapes Poland to make a new life in Cuba, where she works to rescue the rest of her family.

The situation is getting dire for Jews in Poland on the eve of World War II. Esther's father has fled to Cuba, and she is the first one to join him. It's heartbreaking to be separated from her beloved sister, so Esther promises to write down everything that happens until they're reunited. And she does, recording both the good--the kindness of the Cuban people and her discovery of a valuable hidden talent--and the bad: the fact that Nazism has found a foothold even in Cuba. Esther's evocative letters are full of her appreciation for life and reveal a resourceful, determined girl with a rare ability to bring people together, all the while striving to get the rest of their family out of Poland before it's too late.

Based on Ruth Behar's family history, this compelling story celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the most challenging times.

We are offering 10% off the list price of titles on the 2022/2023 school year Oregon Battle of the Books lists! The paperback's typical price is $8.99. Letters from Cuba is in OBOB's 3rd-5th grade division. 

Author: Ruth Behar

Paperback, 288 pages, Ages 10 and up. Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, August 31, 2021. 9780525516491