The Sugar Island

by Ivonne Lamazares

Ivonne Lamazares’s distinguished debut novel is "at once a deeply personal and worldly tale . . . a wonderful amalgamation of culture, politics, and love" (Philadelphia Weekly). With economical prose and a clear-eyed vision, Lamazares evokes lives full of hope but fraught with obstacles in this story of a mother and daughter in 1960s Cuba. The story is told in the brave, tough voice of Tanya, a girl at odds with her mother and with the rapidly changing world around her. In the wake of Castro’s revolution, Tanya's mother -- passionate and unreliable -- is determined to leave Cuba at all costs and to take her reluctant daughter with her. THE SUGAR ISLAND presents their embattled relationship against the backdrop of a country in conflict with itself, where the old world chafes against the new and where a parent’s desperate grab for freedom has dire consequences for her child.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2000

Reviews

[Jim Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the backstory to a mother and teenage daughter who fled Castro's Cuba by raft to come to the United States in the 1960's. It's a coming of age novel of a girl growing up with a mother who (to me) appears bi-polar.



In Cuba, mother and daughter live in poverty. The mother also lives in despair over the menial jobs the state apparatus forces her to take as punishment for an earlier foiled attempt at escaping from Cuba. State-induced paranoia leads the mother to the point of accusing her daughter of spying on her. A young government official has an affair with the barely-legal age daughter, compounding the mother's paranoia.

But kids are more adaptable to poverty and the daughter is a reluctant refugee. There is the further tragic dilemma of leaving behind her younger brother because he is a musical prodigy and will get a state scholarship for his education.

The writing is lively, and despite the sometimes grim subject matter, at times humorous. A good read. The author emigrated from Cuba when she was 13, although here bios don't say that it was on a raft. She is currently a faculty member at Miami Dade College in Miami.



Top photo from theatlantic.com
Photo of the author from reflectionsonlinemagazine.blogspot.com

[Bronwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written by one of my professors at UCF. She now teaches in Miami, but she was wonderful.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sugar Island Review/Summary

The Sugar Island by Ivonne Lamazares is relatable, historical, and across the board good read. This novel describes relationship a young girl, Tanya, and her mother; and their country around them. The story is set in Cuba during the 1960s, around the time where the Cuban revolution was beginning to brew. Tanya’s mother is portrayed as irresponsible and non-nurturing, and will stop at nothing to get herself and her daughter to freedom in America, despite all of the sacrifices that may come with it. Overall, I thought that this novel was very interesting in terms of the cultural and political aspect of Cuba. After learning about the Fidel Castro and Revolutionary Cuba in history class, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the revolution through the eyes of someone who actually went through it themselves. However, I didn’t necessarily find the plot and characters as entertaining as the history behind it. This is why I recommend this book for those who actually have some background information on the Cuban Revolution, so therefore they’ll better understand the reasoning and mindset of the author, as well as the characters. This book could also be a potential favorite for mothers and daughters, as Lamazares underlines this complicated relationship extremely well.

From the first page on, this novel deeply focuses on the both complex and loving bond between a woman and her daughter. In the novel, Tanya explains how her mother was always in and out the door of her life, always coming in with a new man, new attitude, and a new plan to get out of Cuba. For instance, Tanya stated, “Mama came back on a late afternoon, just before by sixth birthday…I hid in the guava grove, shaking and covered with bumps.” (Lamazares 3). As seen in the quote, Tanya’s mother’s presence caused a lot more fear and disruption, not the warm, calming feelings you should receive from a mother. However, for the few times that Tanya’s mom was at home in her childhood, it was a world of chaos. They picked constant fights, and when they did reach peace, it didn’t last long. “My truce with mama didn’t last. Love between us came with rage and long-standing grudges. Love did us no good. For a few days we pretended it did.” (Lamazares 100). All and all, Tanya and her mother’s relationship was not built on a foundation of love like it should have been. Instead, it was based off of bad childhood memories, grudges, and arguments.

The Sugar Island is set during the hardships of the Cuban Revolution, orchestrated by Fidel Castro. Tanya and her family live in poverty in Cuba, and Tanya’s mother is desperate to get out and move to America to reach freedom. One of the struggles that came along with the revolution that was touched in the story was poverty. Tanya and her family could never have the lives that they wanted due to lack of funds because of the revolution. When Tanya’s birthday approached, she was told this- “I used to make plans for your fifteenth birthday. A party. A long dress. But my plans turned to smoke.” (Lamazares 85). Rather than being able to have a party to celebrate her birthday, celebrating wasn’t an option to Tanya. If it weren’t for the Cuban Revolution, Tanya’s family might have had more money and been able to celebrate with her friends and family like a typical teenager. In addition to not being financially stable, Tanya and her family eventually left their home in Cuba to start a new life in America. “Americans call this their manifest destiny- you left the house you grew up in, the tree in your yard, and never turned back.” (Lamazares 201). Due to the hardships brought on by the revolution, Tanya’s time spent in Cuba was long overstayed. The revolution caused her pain, poverty, and had an overall negative effect on Tanya, and it was for only the best that she left and started a new beginning in America.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tilting House was in my top three of 2025 so i had to read Lamazares' other novel. She expertly potrays the complexities of living in communist Cuba. I also love her pacing. Often times Historical Fiction books are too long which this is just right at 200 pgs 🙂👍.

The main character is a level-headed girl named Tanya. Tanya came across very reasonable, self-aware, slightly cold. She was relatable especially as you got to know her train-wreak of a mother. I would have gone 5⭐ but there was one aspect of the mother-daughter relationship i needed more clarity and,or closure on.

Pg.205:
"I feared forgiveness would leave nothing standing, the way a wave erases sand prints. It could come easily, slowly, like the tide sneaking up to the toes. Or suddenly, violently, like a flood.
I knew it would come one day.
And it did.
I fought it. Fought it as hard as i could."

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich muss gestehen, dass Ich das Buch nur mitgenommen habe, da es mich so traurig aus einer zu verschenken Kiste angeschaut hat, kurz bevor es zu regnen angefangen hat. Historische und politische Romane sind normalerweise nicht mein Lieblings Genre. Dafür, muss ich sagen, war es ein angenehmes Buch für zwischendurch, der Stil ist klar, das Buch hat ein angenehmes Tempo und eine tragische kubanische Geschichte wird erzählt. Ich persönlich bin einfach nicht wirklich in der Geschichte angekommen, mir fehlt teilweise der rote Faden um Ereignisse miteinander zu verbinden. Man kann die Handlung Stellenweise nicht wirklich nachvollziehen. Ob das aber am Buch liegt oder einfach an meinen Genre Vorlieben kann ich nicht sagen.

[Helena Prata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Localizado temporalmente na época das perseguições políticas de Castro em Cuba, retrata a relação entre uma filha adolescente e a sua mãe, assim como as realidades quotidianas de um país em repressão e com escassez de bens, onde o sonho de melhores condições de vida está sempre presente.

Uma obra de um certo lirismo, onde por vezes somos tomados por momentos humorísticos, para logo sermos apanhados no meio intensos dramas. Mais um livro para conhecer e me apaixonar por Cuba e as suas gentes.

[Triana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good but fairly predictable as far as stories go. Amusing to read. Nice short chapters. Nothing too deep.

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is many things:

1. A brutally honest portrait of the Castro-era conditons within the small but resilient country of Cuba.
2. The coming-of-age story of a young girl, trapped within herself, where the elements of innocence & contempt for her mother's careless actions war with each other.
3. A journey spanning from the neon-painted slums reeking of human excretement to the waves of a vast ocean to the palm tree-lined shores of Florida, where things are not at all what they seem.

I found this book interesting and am glad to have had the priviledge of reading it; however, it simply was not my "cup-of-tea."

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tanya, a girl at odds with her mother and with the rapidly changing world around her. In the wake of Castro"s revolution, Tanya's mother -- passionate and unreliable --is determined to leave Cuba at all costs and to take her reluctant daughter with her.

An interesting view of Castro's Cuba, and the relationship of a family.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a simple read, but it took me to a place I've never been before. I'd love to add this to my student bookshelf! It's a coming of age story about a young Cuban girl, and it addresses both familial and political conflicts. Anyone can relate to this book, but even better, it brings more voices into the classroom.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about a girl struggling in poverty in revolutionary Cuba. It was interesting to get a different perspective on cultural struggles but the author didn't make me particularly care about any of her characters.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, so good. I'm really enjoying this book.

[Marvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine escapes from Cuba with her irresponsible mother.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

heard the author read the first four chapters of this the other night..can't wait to keep going!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my professor. She knows how to tell a gripping story without overdoing it. I recommend this book to all kinds of readers. I believe it has something to offer everyone.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. A touching story of a mother and daughter's struggle for freedom.

[Cye · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is delightful.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read 12/31/2014, 1 star.

[Nadia Tovar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow but made me feel as if I was in Cuba.