The Red Umbrella

The Red Umbrella tells the story of Lucia, a fourteen years old teenager, whose life is change forever because of the revolution led by Fidel Castro and the arrival of soldiers to her town. I must confess that little I knew about the story behind the Revolution that Fidel Castro lead in that time and I didn't have a clue about the Peter Pan Operation and when I was done reading the book I couldn't help but shed some tears because I cannot imagine how hard it must have been for each families to endure such harsh and toughs time. So after I was done reading the book I immediately started researching about everything that happened back then and I felt ashamed because my lack of knowledge but is never late to learn and now I'm more aware of the situation that happened and actually happens in Cuba.

The author makes an exquisite job narrating the story through the eyes of a young teenage girl, who one day has everything a normal girl could ask for, good parents, an annoying but lovely little brother, a stable economic status, a best friend that adores her and she's even starting to live the first step of her first love but after a few incidents she realizes everything are going to changes and there's nothing much she could about it but to be caught in whirlwind of events that would change her life forever. Through each chapter you get so see how this girl even though been scared follow her parents orders and embark herself in company of her little brother to a country unknown to her with nothing but a few things in her luggage and faith that she would get to see her parents once again. I like to think this book really got into me because I'm Latin and I was to be in Lucia's position, I would feel exactly the same. The transition of going to a country which you don't know, don't speak their language and put yourself in hands of person who you don't know is hard yet Lucia was brave enough to endure and her way meet people who would not only help her but also change her life.

Is a very easy read yes but at the same time very compelling even though this a fiction story based on true events it was almost you were reading a true story and what I like the must that even thought this was a book written in English I felt I was reading a book written in Spanish, it was a very nice touch of the author to put some words in Spanish and do not worries, Christina put a glossary on the back part of the book so you get to understand everything.

So my friends, if you get the chance to read this book please don't hesitate just read it is not your typical YA book but I can guarantee that you would not only be surprised by it but also moved and touched by the story.

Once again, thanks Christina for letting me have the opportunity to read your book and of course I would be getting myself my own copy because this is definitely a keeper.

Books like this are the ones that make you really appreciate the fact that you're an American. Even though people like to complain about how many things are wrong in this country, we do still have freedom...we do still have the power and the opportunity to make our children's lives better than our own.

In this fantastic story, the author has given us a look into her own past. Her parents were a part of Operation Pedro Pan in the 1960's, which was a U.S. plan that helped bring Cubans into America during Castro's communist revolution that sacrificed and destroyed so many hard-working families.

In this novel we meet Frankie and Lucy; siblings who are hanging out at the beach near their home in Puerto Mijares. Their lives are seemingly very simple and carefree, as they play in the waves and watch the beautiful herons soar through the clouds above. On this particular day, a loud noise appears, and the kids see the long line of army vehicles descending on their small town. Lucy, of course, isn't really too upset, seeing as that nothing ever happens in her small town. In fact, she and her friends feel as if they're a million miles away from anything to do with the so-called revolution that so many are up in arms about.

Soon the kids go home and enter an eerily dark house where Mom and Dad are huddled together at the kitchen table listening to the news on the radio. Strangely for Lucy, her parents seem to be quite upset with the news, and order her and her brother to stay inside the home until things "calm down" in the world around them. School has also been closed, and Lucy's friends seem to be all engrossed in various social organizations and going to "meetings" that her own parents are forbidding her to join. As the world begins to turn upside down, Frankie and Lucy come across a few soldiers in back of the high school...shooting and killing their father's boss from work. Another incident that scares Lucy to her very core is when she walks into town one day to pick up medicine for her brother and sees the local Doc hanging from a tree. People who were once friends become enemies, and families turn against their own, as their beliefs become immersed in the communist revolution that Castro is forcing on his people.

Desperately, her parents try to get them out of Cuba before it's too late, and end up getting them on a plane to the United States. Lucy and Frankie are offered beds in a facility in Miami, but are soon sent to live with the Baxter's in Nebraska. The Baxters' are a wonderful couple, filled with love for the two children, and soon Frankie and Lucy find their lives changed for the better. The only thing missing? They want nothing more than to see their Mom and Dad again, and the fear of their parents being stuck behind in that horrible country scares Lucy to her very core.

The title of this story comes from a wonderful item that Lucy and Frankie's mother carried with her. Although red was called the color of the revolution, their mother's umbrella was red because she believed that color was the color of strength in a world where she needed to be strong more than anything else. The kids saw this red "spot" when they looked down through the windows of the plane that was transporting them away from the only home they'd ever known. That one red "spot" in the crowd of parents giving up their children, stuck with Lucy and Frankie, and made them believe that their family - no matter what happened - would somehow find a way to be together again.

My conclusion is this...life is extremely hard sometimes, but one can only imagine the horrific difficulties, pain, and agony that good people had to go through when Castro wielded his mighty power over their heads. Readers will not only feel for Lucy and her brother, but the story will also show in no uncertain terms that being a teenager may be difficult, but not nearly as difficult as being a teenager during the 1960's, and fleeing your homeland in order to stay alive. This story will make all YA readers extremely grateful for their "everyday" problems and triumphs.

Amy Lignor, [...] Reviewer

Like any fourteen-year-old, Lucía is thrilled to have school cancelled - even if it means that there are soldiers arriving in her small town in Cuba.

She makes plans to spend time with her best friend, Ivette, to shop and plan for her quinces, but her mamá insists she must stay inside with her little brother, Frankie. Lucía tries to listen to the hushed whispers of her parents behind closed doors. There's talk of a revolution. People are disappearing from their jobs and families are losing their life savings to support Fidel Castro's new regime.

Ivette tries to convince Lucía to join Jovenes Rebeldes, Rebel Youth, the communist youth movement in Cuba. She says Lucía's family is being watched, and it's not until men come to their home and arrest Lucía's papá for being an anti-revolutionary that Lucía realizes just how bad it is. She and Frankie must go to America. Without their mamá and papá. If they are lucky, they will find a nice family to take both of them in.

Once in America, Lucía worries about her parents' safety. Phone calls to Cuba are expensive and infrequent. She longs to return to her homeland, but as the months pass, she finds herself turning fifteen in a strange land, fearful that she may never be able to return to her home and her mamá and papá.

Ms. Gonzalez has written a gripping story of survival and courage in this book based on the Cuban revolution of 1961. The reader will feel for both Lucía and Frankie, as well as the many other children who were forced to leave the security of home and family for a life of freedom. You will want to read THE RED UMBRELLA more than once. It's a book you won't be able to put down, well deserving of the many awards it has already garnered.

Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger

Two days ago I devoured The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. This has been on my radar for a while, and happens to be the second book about the Pedro Pan Project in Cuba that I have read this year. During 1961-1962 while Fidel Castro was staging his revolution, over 14,000 children were sent to the United States as their parents feared for their safety and the teachings that Castro had in mind for them. While many were reunited with their parents, some were not, or had to wait years to see them again. Gonzalez's story is based on her own mother, father, and mother-in-law's stories, having been a part of the mass of children sent out of Cuba.

Lucia and her brother Fernando are enjoying their Cuban childhood, and despite the Revolucion, don't see many ways they are impacted by it yet. Their parents won't let Lucia or Fernando join any of the political groups that have formed for children, putting Lucia at odds with her best friend. After witnessing her father's boss being executed, Lucia becomes a bit more aware of what is going on in her country. Several other events occur as well, forcing her parents to find a way to send Fernando and Lucia to the United States. While longing for their family, the two are adopted out to a kind, middle aged farm family in Grand Island, Nebraska. There are many life style differences between Nebraska and Cuba, and the two children find it difficult at first, but realize the kindness of the people that have taken them in. As they wait for their parents, Lucia and Fernando experience snow, the Christmas traditions of their family, and attend school.

I am glad I read this one about Pedro Pan last because it was by far a more enjoyable book for me. As a lover of historical fiction for youth, I enjoyed all the details about life during the 1960s in the United States. Lucia was such a likeable character and so easy to relate to, and the Pedro Pan Project is also such an interesting event. The first book I read on this topic, 90 Days to Havana, was fast paced and contained a great deal of action and suspense, the Red Umbrella, tells the story of a normal family affected by Fidel Castro's rise to power. This book explained in a clear way more about how Castro came to power and about the way in which he started to take control of his country.

This one is going to the top of my stack for recommendations for friends, co-workers, and students.

During the midst of the Cuban Revolution in the early 1960s, thousands of children were sent alone to live with relatives or be taken in by aid agencies in the U. S. The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, tells the fictional story of two of these children.

When the revolution first began, life didn't change much in the Alvarez household. Lucia still read fashion magazines with her best friend Ivette, and Lucia's little brother Frankie liked riding his bike and spying on soldiers. But eventually they began to notice more tension in their home as their father came under increasing pressure at work. Their parents' friends began disappearing, and kids their age began joining a revolutionary youth corps before their parents decided that Lucie and Frankie would leave their home to live with a foster family in the U.S.

Gonzalez's vivid prose brings Cuba of the 1960s to life with all its vibrant colors, spicy food, and tropical climate all in a backdrop of revolutionary tensions. No one knows who to trust anymore; even family members and best friends turn against each other. Each chapter starts with a headline about Cuba pulled from newspapers across the U.S. It's a great way to compare how the revolution was viewed in this country as compared to how it was being experienced by Cubans.

Through Lucia's eyes you fall in love with the Cuba she longs to have back again and worry for the family and friends she leaves behind. As Lucia and Frankie struggle to adjust in a country where they barely speak the language and a state where it snows in winter, they also learn the outside world's perspective of their homeland.

Gonzalez based her story on the experiences of her parents and thousands of other children who came to the U.S. in a program known as Operation Pedro Pan. The tale she weaves in The Red Umbrella is more than great historical fiction about an event that still affects the lives of Cubans and Cuban exiles, it is also a tribute to the courage the children of exile showed in the face of immense uncertainty and upheaval. I highly recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 14.

Lucia Alvarez wants what any fourteen year old girl wants--
to spend time talking about boys with her best friend Ivette, to go to the movies and dances, and to avoid babysitting her annoying younger brother Frankie. It's just that her parents are so old-fashioned. Can't they see Lucia is old enough for a little independence?

When soldiers from Castro's Revolution arrive in Lucia's small town, her life becomes more oppressive, not less. Freedoms and friends disappear overnight. Finally her parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send Frankie and Lucia to the U.S. Alone.

The Red Umbrella, set in Cuba during 1961, by debut author Christina Gonzalez brings a culture and its past to life with this story of two children who were part of Operation Pedro Pan. It is, in fact, a personal family story for Ms. Gonzalez as both of her parents were part of the exodus of 14,000 unaccompanied minors who were sent to the U.S. in the early 60's to escape Castro's regime. The story of Lucia and Frankie Alvarez is a part of history that's generally not well known. The Red Umbrella deals with their upheaval with warmth, pathos and sometimes heart-breaking sadness.
-- Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

Lucia Alvarez is your typical teenage girl. She loves fashion, is excited to start wearing makeup, dreams over her crush. But she is not a modern teen in America--she lives in Cuba in 1961, the beginning of Castro's revolution. She notices things in her safe community of Puerto Mijares start to change: people are disappearing, losing jobs, and joining brigades supporting the revolution. Even her best friend starts to support it and forget about the things that once meant something to her.

At first Lucia thinks this is all for the best, a good thing. The revolution will make life better and more equal for everyone, or so she is told. But when she begins to see trusted members of her community being taken away and her own home life is drastically changed, she's not so sure. Finally her parents make an incredibly difficult decision: to send her and her little brother, Frankie, to the United States. Alone.

Christina Diaz Gonzalez tells the story of a young teen who goes through complete upheaval, taken away from everything she knows, including her language and family, and is plopped down in a completely foreign environment. What makes this story so incredible is that it's not an isolated incident. In an author's note, Gonzalez tells us about what later became known as Operation Pedro Pan, the largest exodus of unaccompanied children into the United States ever. I had never heard of this before I had the good fortune of hearing Gonzalez speak at the Boston Book Festival back in October and was immediately intrigued.

The story is one of heartache and change, of coming of age in a land not your own and being forced to grow up a little sooner than expected. Lucia witnesses horrific things in the place she's lived her whole life, and not too long after finds out she is leaving her homeland the day before her plane is due to leave--everything happens so quickly that she has trouble processing it all.

The story is told in such a way that it is hard to set it down for a break. I always wanted to find out what was going to happen to Lucia and Frankie; how they were going to adjust to everything, whether or not they would ever be reunited with their parents, what was happening to their friends and family in Cuba.

Lucia is easy to relate to for girls, as she deals with typical teenage problems like wardrobe choices, high school friends and enemies, and changing relationships. Her voice is authentic and easy to listen to (and by listen to I mean read).

I loved all of the adults in the book, too. Her parents are parents--they worry about their children and wants what's best for them. Lucia's mother nags her to do what's right, even on a long-distance phone call from Cuba (don't wear makeup, don't date, dress appropriately, don't act like those American teenagers in the movies!). Her father always tries to make the best of things and bring humor into their lives when others might see none. And their foster parents are fantastic, too. Mrs. Baxter is a motormouth and a very motherly woman, who isn't quite sure about Cuban culture, mixing it up with Mexican on one occasion, but who will do her very best to help the Alvarez children and love them like her own. Mr. Baxter is much more quiet and sparing with his affection; Lucia doesn't believe he even likes the two of them, despite Mrs. Baxter's affirmation of the contrary. Eventually we see his hard exterior break down bit by bit. I cared about all of them, and for me that is one of the most crucial things in reading a book.

The only thing I would say is that it might help to know a bit about the history of all this before beginning the story. The author's note is essential for those who know nothing, and I might even suggest reading it before the rest of the book. I was lucky enough to know about it beforehand and I think it aided in my reading of the book. That said, each chapter begins with a real headline from a newspaper in the United States about the Cuban revolution and Castro's rise to power, providing valuable background and insight for the reader. The headlines progress along with the story chronologically.

A fantastic introduction for a little-addressed yet important part of American and Cuban history, this story provides historical knowledge in the form of a page-turning novel from the perspective of a young teen trying to make sense of what her world has become.

Also, I just want to say how much I love this cover art. The images of the two places with the umbrella in the middle and the map in the background? Fantastic.

I must admit that I was completely and utterly impressed and blown away by The Red Umbrella. It was utter brilliance. I loved it and could not put it down.

I'd never heard much about Cuba and the Communist Revolution, except for a few paragraphs in my US History book. This didn't take away from the book, though. In fact, it added to it because I was intrigiued to find out more, not just about the characters but about the revolution itself. However, those that are familiar with the Revolution will still find the story extremely enjoyable, as Christina includes just the right amount of details to keep both parties happy.

The relationships between the characters were another thing I loved about the novel. Even though the setting and time period is different, I could still relate to the way Lucia regarded the others in the novel. Her little brother has to be one of the most adorable characters ever written about and I loved reading about their bond.
Overall, I highly, highly recommend this, even if historical isn't your thing. You won't regret it!

Lucia is fourteen years old and living a middle class lifestyle in Cuba. She has a little brother and doting parents. Life is good. When she hears rumbles of a revolution, at first she thinks nothing of it. And then violence and disorder erupts. Her house is raided, family possessions are confiscated, and her father loses his job. Wanting a better life for their children, Lucia's parents send her and her brother Frankie to Miami by themselves in Operation Pedro Plan, in which thousands of Cuban children emigrate to the United States by themselves in the early 1960's. Lucia and Frankie stay in Miami for a short while before they end up with a foster family in Nebraska.

This novel has a great combination of several elements: history, politics, and assimilation. Even with these heavy issues, Lucia's girldom still comes on strong. She's interested in boys, clothes, and fitting in. It was fascinating to see how she dealt with the turmoil around her.

14 yr old Lucia Alverez is excited about an unexpected break from school, thanks to Castro's revolution. Lucia's parents fear for her safety. Lucia and her younger brother Frankie can't leave the house. When Lucia and Frankie sneak out, they see their dad's boss interrogated and threatened by Castro's men. Slowly, Lucia begins to realize the Cuba, she knows and loves is changing. When Castro came into power, family and friends became enemies. Lucia and her best friend Ivette, grow apart. Ivette joins the Jovenes Rebeldes, a communist youth movement in Cuba. Lucia's parents won't let her join. I didn't instantly like Lucia. She fought her parents, and didn't understand why they were against Castro.

Somewhere along the way, I realized a 14 yr old who is forced to stay home (even if there's a good reason) will fight their parents. Also Castro's ideas looked good to Lucia because they differed from her parents. The early tension between Lucia and her parents, made it easy for me to imagine parents and children choosing different sides. If things had gone differently, Lucia could've run away and joined Jovenes Rebeldes. This was one of the books strengths. Gonzalez allows the reader to consider what if. What if Frankie hadn't gotten sick, and Lucia never passed that oak tree?

After the oak tree, Lucia has seen too much and trust her parents completely. Lucia's parents try to give the impression that they support Castro, in hopes that it will keep them safe. Its not enough. They are worried about the safety of Lucia and her younger brother, Frankie. They decide to send Lucia and Frankie to the U.S. alone. Between 1960 and 1962 ( Red Umbrella, 1961) Operation Pedro Pan was in effect. Many Cuban parents who were against Castro sent there children to the U.S. alone.

Lucia and Frankie are in Miami for a short time. The two are placed with a husband and wife in Nebraska. They keep in touch with their parents through letters and the occasional phone call. The author does of allowing the reader to feel Lucia's experiences. The Alveraz family connection and love is very strong. I thought the author could've developed certain aspects a little more. One day Lucia runs into Laura, a classmate. Her father was arrested for spreading anti -revolutionary lies. I thought Laura woud've made a good character I would've loved a conversation about Castro's ideology between Lucia and Laura.

The author used, Ivette to give a voice to Castro's belief, with letters to Lucia. They didn't feel natural to the story. It was the only time the Gonzalez faltered in blending fact with fiction.

The Red Umbrella is wonderful read. Gonzalez tells a great story. A red umbrella makes a few appearances, I especially loved the last one. The author has mastered the art of symbolism. There aren't many middle grade novels about how Castro's rule impacted Cuban families. I believe this is the first one about Operation Pedro Pan. Its a very good first.

This book makes a charming accompaniment to Carlos Eire's non-fiction book, "Waiting for Snow in Havanna."

Written for a Young Adult audience by a second generation Cuban-American, "The Red Umbrella" is a lightly fictionalized account of a teenaged girl and her little brother who came to America on a Pedro Pan flight.

It's a lovely book; thought-provoking, carefully researched and well-written.

Kim Burdick
Stanton, Delaware

From the moment I started reading The Red Umbrella, I could not put it down! Somehow, Christina Diaz Gonzalez manages to weave intense dramatic scenes with bits of humor (at times, you can't help but laugh and cry simultaneously!). You will be captivated by the author's wonderful descriptions of the characters and beautiful way of making you feel like you instantly know and care about them. "Living through" the revolution through the eyes of the young Lucia truly takes you on a journey from the carefree innocence of childhood to the increasingly complicated life of a young woman who has been forced to deal with more adult situations than any teenager should have to go through. So thankful to the author for bringing this very real part of American and Cuban history to life!

The Red Umbrella by Cristina Diaz Gonzalez was published in 2010 by Random House Children’s Books, New York. It portrays the struggle that many families had during the invasion and revolution of Cuba in the early 1960’s by the soldiers under the rule of Fidel Alejandro Castro. Lucia and Frankie Alvarez are two of the many young children living in Cuba during this time that were affected by this. This book focuses on the bravery of families and the struggles that they had to endure, especially the Alvarez’s. Lucia is a young teenage girl and all she wants to do is spend her time hanging out with her best friend Ivette, wearing makeup, thinking about boys, and going to dances and parties. Lucia is older than Frankie and sometimes she gets annoyed by her little brother. Her parents expect her to take care of him and stay inside all day with him while they are gone in order to protect him against the turmoil occurring outside. This is definitely not her idea of fun.
As the book progresses, Lucia must learn to grow up and adapt to new changes in her life even though it isn’t easy for her. Her parents send her and Frankie to the United States in order to protect them and prevent ther children from joining the revolution. The children are forced to stay with a very nice older lady and her husband on a small farm in Nebraska. They have no idea how long they will be staying there. Lucia has to look out for Frankie more than she ever thought she would have to. Everything around her begins to dramatically change and she must find the strength inside of her to keep moving forward.
This book has a very serious and heavy subject matter. Fidel Alejandro Castro separated families and caused destruction and war in Cuba. He wanted power and a strong army and he was willing to do whatever it took for him to gain control, even if it meant hurting other people in order to get what he wanted.
I really enjoyed reading this book because I felt like the author really developed Lucia as a character, and made it evident that she was a regular Cuban teenage girl that could be easily relatable to some girls. In other ways though, she has been through a lot more than the average teenage girl has ever had to go through. “All day long I had been imagining dancing with Manuel, holding his hand, maybe having him give me a good-night kiss.” (Gonzalez, 72). Most girls find this applicable to their own lives, and can understand Lucia’s excitement and anxiousness for the dance and seeing the boy that she likes. On page 107, Lucia’s father says, “I’d rather have you safe, living with a good family in the U.S., than staying in your own country with these godforsaken soldiers.” On the same page it says, “The slow realization that nothing I said or did could change his mind washed over me.” This is what Lucia is thinking to herself after he says the previous quote to her. Most girls might not be able to relate exactly to Lucia’s specific situation, but they might be able to relate to her in the sense that she was forced to live somewhere knew and leave everything that was familiar to her, the only thing she had ever known.
From reading this book, I learned about having strength through tough times and having faith throughout it all. I learned about being mature and having to grow up and be brave even though it can be hard. Lucia taught me that hope is stronger than fear, and now I feel like I can learn from her persistence and courage and apply it to my own life.
I would recommend this book because I feel like people would be able to easily dive into the story of Lucia and her family and picture what it was like for them to be caught in the middle of all of the mayhem that Castro caused. I would especially recommend it for girls between the ages of 13 and 17 because that was around the age that Lucia was. I even feel that some boys would enjoy this story because it focuses on a subject that I believe both genders would find interesting.

This is a very interesting view of the changes that happened in Cuba. I have seen very few stories about this time and thought this gave a lot of insight to the troubles of those people living through the revolution with views of both sides.

This book was a personal look into the Communist Revolution in Cuba through the eyes of a young teenager. It was moving and informative without being graphic, although there were some romantic/sexual subplots I felt were unnecessary. I also wasn't very fond of the protagonist's struggle to "grow up," which revolved around trivial things like wearing makeup. Overall, a nice read, but not highly memorable.

I purchaed this book for my daughter and I decided to read it. When reading your book I felt as if I were sitting on Lucia's shoulders. What an awful experience to leave your parents at a young age.
This book was great! Please keep writing!!!!

I loved this book (The Red Umbrella, by Christina Diaz Gonzalez), it shows the struggle of 14,000 children and their families to reach freedom, something that must of us take for granted. I highly recommend it to all of those that care about family and freedom. Congratulations to the author.

This book really explained what the people of Cuba were going through in Castro's regime and how people got brain washed by the government . I chose this book because my s.s. teacher said it was a good book because of its historical accuracy and information about the Cuban revolution and what kind of corruption of a government the people there suffered