A MG graphic memoir based on the author’s father.
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It’s the year 1957 and Carlos lives with his brother, sisters and parents in Ceiba Mocha, a small town in Cuba. In a stroke of good luck, Carlos’ father wins the lottery, allowing them to move to the city, build a new house and open a furniture business. But slowly creeping up is Fidel Castro, overthrowing the existing Cuban president and turning the country into a communist state with a revolution. Carlos’ father leaves for America to help get things set up. Will Carlos and his family ever be able to join their dad or will they become casualties of this rebellion?
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This graphic novel hit the right balance between historical content and a character-driven story, which can be hard to do. I had all the feels reading this one, mainly because of the parallels from the 1960s to now and everything we are facing in this country. The Author’s Note is a must-read, as the author wrote about his own father’s story. This title releases 9/30: you won’t want to miss it.

CW: war, protest, death, government control, gun violence, bullying, vandalism, classism

Based on the true story of the author's family's emigration from Cuba during the revolution, this graphic novel describes the unraveling of a democracy and a brave family's choice to leave for a better life.

The close relationship between Carlos and his grandfather is so special, and the emotional upheaval is portrayed through images and emotional dialogue. I was interested to see the author's note at the end that included real photos and information about the true stories that led to this book. This would be a good supplement to history textbooks as students learn about Fidel Castro and communism in Cuba. I recommend this book for schools and libraries.

The (mostly) true story of the author's father's escape from Cuba as a young boy, told in a compelling combination of prose and illustrations. An interesting insight into the experiences of every day people in Cuba during the turbulent early years of Casto's takeover and reign.