POETRY - The Firefly Letters

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Engle, M. 2010. The Firefly Letters. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN: 9780805090826

PLOT SUMMARY

In the beginning, Cecilia awaits to become the “translator” and sidekick for Fredrika Bremer as she visits Cuba from Sweden in 1851. She is greeted by Elena who will play hostess to Fredrika during her time in Cuba. Fredrika is unheard of among most common women as she is an activist and supporter who believes women should have the same rights as men. Fredrika wonders around Cuba with Cecilia at her side and occasionally Elena when she sneaks out to join them in their adventures. As the story progresses, Fredrika is wrapped with grief in knowing that child slavery is all too common, and most turn a blind eye to it. A friendship grows strong between Cecilia and Frederika, causing her to postpone her departure from Cuba as she feels a longing to stay and help take care of her and the newborn. In the end, she ends up working together with Elena on a secret plan that results in them raising enough money to purchase Cecilia’s newborn so that the baby would not be sold into slavery.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Margarita Engle tells the story through a variety of perspectives including from Cecilia’s point of view, Elena’s point of view, Fredrika’s point of view, and the very rare occasion of Cecilia’s husband Beni. I did thoroughly enjoy getting to feel like I was in each perspective of the story.  Each of these three ladies comes from different backgrounds and the author does a lovely job highlighting the stark differences between them.

The author’s use of free-style prose allows this book to be read by many that may not enjoy poetry, as it does not have the normal rhyme or pattern scheme to it. This book would help appeal to young readers who shy away from poetry but enjoy reading historical books.

She does a wonderful job of pulling the reader in by using such descriptive language and comparisons. For example, “this island, with its lush gardens and winter sun, had me fooled” (Engle 51) is in her reference to thinking that Cuba is beautiful when there is a dark secret of child slavery that is not so secret to many.

Engle’s use of sensory details throughout her poems really plays into the aspect of imagery. She gives so much detail that I could picture Cuba including the scents that Fredrika describes as a remembrance of her time in Cuba. She uses vivid descriptions of Cuba not only of the landscape but of the culture there as well. While Engle does a great job pulling in those sensory details, I feel like sometimes I was left wanting more. There were parts of the novel in a verse where I feel like I needed the book to be written in more of a narrative format so I could have more background information. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist: “Through this moving combination of historical viewpoints, Engle creates dramatic tension among the characters, especially in the story of Elena, who makes a surprising sacrifice.”

Horn Book Guide: “Fictional Elena's story is thin, but Engle's deftly crafted narrative of historical fact is vibrant.”

Horn Book Magazine: “The imagistic, multiple first-person narratives works handily in revealing Bremer, an alert and intelligent woman in rebellion against her background of privilege. The poetic technique also serves Cecilia well.”

Kirkus Reviews: “The free-verse novel effectively alternates the voices of the three protagonists (with a fourth voice for Beni, Cecilia's husband) and demonstrates how each character affects the others, all learning a measure of freedom in their roaming the island, Fredrika always recording her observations in letters and diaries by the light of Cuban fireflies resting on her fingers. And like the firefly light, Engle's poetry is a gossamer thread of subtle beauty weaving together three memorable characters who together find hope and courage. Another fine volume by a master of the novel in verse.”

Library Media Connection: “There are many similes and metaphors for slavery and freedom in the poetry with the main metaphor being cocuyos, a bright firefly that the natives capture in bottles and weave alive into their hair. Cecilia often buys them from their captors and releases them. Seeing Cecilia do this, Elena eventually finds her own way to advance freedom in Cuba. The book is based on the real Fredrika Bremer, who visited Cuba in 1851 and then went back to Sweden and wrote stories that eventually led tens of thousands of Swedes to emigrate to Cuba.” 

Publishers Weekly: “Engle spins her latest historical novel-in-verse from the actual diaries of a 19th-century suffragette, Fredrika Bremer, who jettisoned her privileged existence in Sweden to travel and take notes on the plight of the poor. In 1851 Cuba, Bremer was assisted by another real-life figure, Cecilia, a pregnant African slave assigned as her translator by Bremer's host, a sugar baron. A third character is invented-Elena, the merchant's 12-year-old daughter who, through her interaction with Fredrika and Cecilia, grows aware of systemic injustice and her power to do something about it.”

School Library Journal: “Using elegant free verse and alternating among each character's point of view, Engle offers powerful glimpses into Cuban life at that time. Along the way, she comments on slavery, the rights of women, and the stark contrast between Cuba's rich and poor. … The easily digestible, poetic narrative makes this a perfect choice for reluctant readers, students of the women's movement, those interested in Cuba, and teens with biography assignments.”

CONNECTIONS

Other books about child slavery:

• Bryan, A. Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life. ISBN 9781481456906

• Levine, E. Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. ISBN 9780439777339 

• Weatherford, C. Freedom in Congo Square. ISBN 9781499801033

Other books by Margarita Engle:

• Engle, M. A Dog Named Haiku. ISBN 9781512432053
• Engle, M. Miguel’s Brave Knight: Young Cervantes and his Dream of Don Quixote. ISBN 9781561458561
• Engle, M. Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music. ISBN 9780544102293