Engle, M. (2008). The surrender tree. NY: Holt. Set in 1896, we read about Cuba's struggles after three wars. The author puts this story together using poetry in a very moving way. The narratives change throughout the story and are written through the eyes of many that were involved in these wars. Rosa is the main character. She is a nurse that refuses to treat in the reconcentration camps and instead chooses to set up her own "hospitals" in caves. Even though the story is about Cuba, it is hard to not think of the plight of African Americans during the times of slavery in the Unites States. This novel would be good to use in a comparison between the two times. The sentence that stood out to me the most was "Hatred must be a hard thing to learn." We must always remember that we are taught to hate. We are not born natural haters. This book is a mix of historical fiction and poetry. The stories are fiction but the premise behind the wonderful prose is part of history. The author does a fabulous job of re-creating what Cuba was like during this difficult time. It is so important for our young adults to read about the travesties of the past, even if they are mixed together with fictional characters.
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