The Red Umbrella [Paperback]

The Red Umbrellais a moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution.

In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. And soon, Lucía's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States—on their own.

Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will sheeversee her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?

The Red Umbrellais a touching story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.

“Captures the fervor, uncertainty and fear of the times. . . .Compelling.”–The Washington Post
 
“Gonzalez deals effectively with separation, culture shock, homesickness, uncertainty and identity as she captures what is alsoa grand adventure.” –San Francisco Chronicle

An ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
A Top Ten Indie Next List Pick
An ABA New Voices Selection
The  Florida Book Award Gold Medal Winner for Young Adult Literature
A Latina Magazine Book of the Year
A Christian Science Monitor Book of the Year
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
A CCBC Choices Book
 
“A remarkable debut novel.”–San Francisco Book Review
 
“The memorable heroine and supporting cast offera moving portrait of resililãå