When I first started reading this book, I thought what an unusual plot. It is told from the point of view of a 5th grade cuban girl named Ruthie who is newly immigrated to New York City. After a horrific accident leaves Ruthie in a full body cast up to her torso for a broken leg, the rest of the book is about her coping with her new life while confined to a bed for almost a year!

At the end of the book, there is a note from the author that this story is based on a part of her life when she spent the better part of a year not being able to walk and confined in a body cast.

It sounds like the book would not be interesting, but far from it. Ruthie must deal with learning to forgive the boys that caused the car crash. She also must come to terms with not being able to leave her bed and relying on her family and friendships to get her to cope with each day. Later on it is understandable that she may even be scared to ever attempt walking after her cast is removed. How traumatizing to be a 10 year old child and be unable to even sit up in bed and look out a window!

The author did a nice job. I wish there was a little bit more background info on why families left Cuba when Castro came into power. It was only lightly touched on. I received a complimentary ebook from the publisher in exchange for a review.

A family recently having immigrated from Cuba is in a serious car accident in New York City. It is not their fault and most of the family gets away with bumps and bruises but young Ruthie is not as lucky and is put in a full body cast to heal a severe break. For well over a year she is kept at home away from her new school and friends and must endure extreme pain and loneliness. With the help of some well meaning new friends and neighbors she will learn inner strength and ways to express herself. This is a autobiographical tough story and the author doesn't sugarcoat the pain and suffering she went through but it is a story of friendship and crossing cultural barriers that needs to be told. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Ruthie, a Cuban Jewish immigrant, is slowly adjusting to her new life in New York. She's about to move out of the "dumb" class and into a regular elementary class becauseher Englishhas improved. And with the new white go go boots her dad bought, she even looks more American. But when her family is in a terrible car crash all her dreams come to a stand still. Ruthie's leg is badly broken and she will spend nearly a year bed-ridden in her small apartment. She knows she should be thankful to be alive but all she feels is sadness for her old life. Based on the author's own experiences, this historical novel provides a glimpse of a challenging year and the courage and patience of a little girl to overcome a tragedy. Readers will admire Ruthie's determination as well as her kindness to those around her.