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The Bluest Sky
A boy and his family must decide whether to remain in Cuba under a repressive government or risk everything for the chance of a new beginning in this gripping story from the award-winning author of The Red Umbrella.
There are two versions of Hé the public and the private. It’s the only way to survive in communist Cuba—especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Héctor must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves.
But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate. No longer able to suppress a public uprising, the Cuban government says it will open the port of Mariel to all who wish to leave the country—if they can find a boat. But choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not.
So when Héctor’s mother announces that she wants the family to risk everything to go to the United States, he is torn. He misses his father, but Cuba is the only home he has ever known. All his dreams and plans require him to stay. Can he leave everything behind for an unknown future?
In a summer of heat and upheaval, danger and deadly consequences, Héctor’s two worlds are on a collision course. Will the impact destroy him and everything he loves?
Christina Diaz Gonzalez's great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family's history.
There are two versions of Hé the public and the private. It’s the only way to survive in communist Cuba—especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Héctor must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves.
But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate. No longer able to suppress a public uprising, the Cuban government says it will open the port of Mariel to all who wish to leave the country—if they can find a boat. But choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not.
So when Héctor’s mother announces that she wants the family to risk everything to go to the United States, he is torn. He misses his father, but Cuba is the only home he has ever known. All his dreams and plans require him to stay. Can he leave everything behind for an unknown future?
In a summer of heat and upheaval, danger and deadly consequences, Héctor’s two worlds are on a collision course. Will the impact destroy him and everything he loves?
Christina Diaz Gonzalez's great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family's history.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
26 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Christina Diaz Gonzalez
13 books319 followersChristina Diaz Gonzalez is the Edgar® award-winning author of several books including The Red Umbrella, A Thunderous Whisper, the Moving Target duology, Stormspeaker, Concealed, and two upcoming books, Invisible (a graphic novel available in August 2022) and The Bluest Sky (a historical fiction novel available in September 2022). Her books have received numerous honors including the Florida Book Award, the Nebraska Book Award, and the International Latino Book Award. Her work has also been designated as an American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and as an International Reading Association's Teachers' Choice book. Christina currently lives in Miami, Florida with her husband, sons, and a dog that can open doors. Learn more at www.christinagonzalez.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
March 21, 2023
This story is set during the 1980s in Cuba. What started out as a slow beginning, quickly turned into a run for your life kind of story. I really enjoyed learning more about a time that I don't know too much about when some of the Cuban population was trying to leave their own country to come to Florida for freedom. The main character I wasn't a fan of in the beginning, but I did really like the understanding that he learned throughout the book on what was happening to his country.
A story of friendship and family. An emotional rollercoaster.
Almost a 5 star read for me, but I found the beginning a little slow and there were two instances, that the book didn't need to make it a great story.
A story of friendship and family. An emotional rollercoaster.
Almost a 5 star read for me, but I found the beginning a little slow and there were two instances, that the book didn't need to make it a great story.
February 23, 2024
This is a nominee for the 2024 Beehive Book Award in the children's fiction category. I listened to the audio version, narrated by Giordan Diaz who was absolutely wonderful. The story is engaging and well-told, with lots of edge of your seat tension, heartfelt loss and love, wonderfully developed relationships, and plenty of hope. I will confidently recommend it to my upper elementary grade students (one of my 5th graders read it before me and insisted that I needed to read it!) and I think it would be perfect in middle and high school libraries, too, as a solid introduction to this time in history.
August 30, 2022
Set in Cuba in 1980, Hector's life seems to be ordinary. He enjoys hanging with his 2 best friends, Teo and Isabel, he mostly gets along with his older brother, and he's a math whiz working his way to join the Cuban National Math Olympiad Team. Under the surface, tensions are bubbling in Communist Cuba and anyone who denounces the government or tries to leave is publicly shamed and even worse, like his father who has been exiled to the United States. Unbeknownst to Hector, when the Cuban government allows those who wish to leave exit visas, his mother plans to get their family out of Cuba to reunite with his father. But for Hector, this means leaving his home, his friends and destroys the likelihood of his ever making the Math Olympiad team. But when tragedy strikes, Hector's life changes in an instant and so does his perspective on what's important.
This middle grade novel provides an insight perspective on how life in Communist Cuba might be perceived from a child's point of view. When you don't know anything different, you just accept the world as it is. This is a coming of age story of a young naive boy who is just learning about his world and the larger world outside his bubble. He has dreams and hopes and is fiercely loyal to those he loves. I read this with my 6th grade son and it was a gem of a book to share together.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Knopf Books for this early review copy. This review can also be found on IG @maria.needs.to.read and on Goodreads.
This middle grade novel provides an insight perspective on how life in Communist Cuba might be perceived from a child's point of view. When you don't know anything different, you just accept the world as it is. This is a coming of age story of a young naive boy who is just learning about his world and the larger world outside his bubble. He has dreams and hopes and is fiercely loyal to those he loves. I read this with my 6th grade son and it was a gem of a book to share together.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Knopf Books for this early review copy. This review can also be found on IG @maria.needs.to.read and on Goodreads.
October 2, 2024
i did very much like this book. it was emotional at one point that made me drop the book and my jaw on the floor. i could’ve finished this book way faster but it was for school so i only could read for 20 a day 🥲
BIG SPOILOR ALERT 🚨
i did love the ending of all of them together and happy i think the author did a very good job of putting it all together. it was just so sad when teo died ☹️😔 he was my fav character
BIG SPOILOR ALERT 🚨
i did love the ending of all of them together and happy i think the author did a very good job of putting it all together. it was just so sad when teo died ☹️😔 he was my fav character
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2022
What a powerful and emotional book! I loved every page.
August 3, 2025
CHRISTINA GOMEZ IS SLAYINNGGGGGGGG
January 18, 2023
Highs and lows on this book. I haven’t read any books set in this time period or in Cuba. Thought it was great!
September 25, 2022
Hector is your average sixth grade boy in most ways. His life although, is complicated, as he struggles under Cuba’s oppressive communist regime.
It is 1980 and the Cuban government has opened the port of Mariel, permitting those who could obtain visas and arrange for boat passage to emigrate. These tasks are intentionally not made simple. When Héctor was 5, his father was jailed for speaking out about the lack of freedom in Cuba. Now his father has been sent to the U.S. as part of a political exchange. They have not seen him in six years. But when his mother poses to her sons the possibility of reuniting with his father in Miami, Héctor doesn’t want to go, even though the family is living in constant fear and the imperative need to keep up public appearance of support for Fidel Castro’s repressive policies. Yet, Héctor is ambivalent about leaving. His life has always been in Cuba where his friends are and everything familiar. He’s a math whiz on track to represent Cuba at the International Math Olympiad and naturally wants to remain close to his friends and his Abuela. Now his Abuela complicates the issue because her status as a delegate to Cuba’s National Assembly enables her to confer privileges on Héctor’s family. Naturally she wants them to remain in Cuba. Choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not. Then a tragedy within the family and friends closeness occurs and now nothing is left for Héctor and his family but to painfully wait for their exit visas.
I found the account a bit wordy and wished the story would move faster but when I got to the part where they were attempting to leave, I read with fear and near panic as this innocent family risked everything to get to the United States. Even with the problems of 2022 in America I am so thankful to be privileged to live here.
Historical fiction. 10-13 as well as adults will find this very engaging.
“Author, Christina Diaz Gonzalez’s great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family’s history.”
It is 1980 and the Cuban government has opened the port of Mariel, permitting those who could obtain visas and arrange for boat passage to emigrate. These tasks are intentionally not made simple. When Héctor was 5, his father was jailed for speaking out about the lack of freedom in Cuba. Now his father has been sent to the U.S. as part of a political exchange. They have not seen him in six years. But when his mother poses to her sons the possibility of reuniting with his father in Miami, Héctor doesn’t want to go, even though the family is living in constant fear and the imperative need to keep up public appearance of support for Fidel Castro’s repressive policies. Yet, Héctor is ambivalent about leaving. His life has always been in Cuba where his friends are and everything familiar. He’s a math whiz on track to represent Cuba at the International Math Olympiad and naturally wants to remain close to his friends and his Abuela. Now his Abuela complicates the issue because her status as a delegate to Cuba’s National Assembly enables her to confer privileges on Héctor’s family. Naturally she wants them to remain in Cuba. Choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not. Then a tragedy within the family and friends closeness occurs and now nothing is left for Héctor and his family but to painfully wait for their exit visas.
I found the account a bit wordy and wished the story would move faster but when I got to the part where they were attempting to leave, I read with fear and near panic as this innocent family risked everything to get to the United States. Even with the problems of 2022 in America I am so thankful to be privileged to live here.
Historical fiction. 10-13 as well as adults will find this very engaging.
“Author, Christina Diaz Gonzalez’s great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family’s history.”
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Eleven-year-old Héctor lives in Cuba and his mother and older brother Rodrigo in 1980. His father is in the US after having been imprisoned for his outspoken political views. Héctor is much more concerned with qualifying for a math competition and fishing with his best friend Theo and his twin sister Isabel than he is with politics, even though his abuela (his mother's mother) is a delegate to the National Assembly and a staunch supporter of Castro's Communist government. The government has opened up some avenues for people to leave the country, but they are difficult: people are allowed to leave from Mariel, but have to have passage on a boat and get permission. As more and more people in Héctor's world leave, and his older brother approaches draft age, Héctor's mother makes plans for the family to join the father in the US. His abuela is not happy and wants the boys to stay with her, expressing the opinion that the father was always no good. When crowds attack Héctor's house because word has gotten out that they are leaving, a tragedy occurs. Luckily, the family is still able to leave, and are ready to go when the government officers come to take possession of their home. There is a long and unpleasant wait to get permission from the authorities, and when they finally are next in line, things do not go easily. Will the three be able to start a new life in the US with the father?
Strengths: The most effective part of this book is Héctor's friendship with Theo and Isabel and their every day lives in Cuba. Like the descriptions in Senzai's Escape From Aleppo or Warga's Other Words for Home, these details make it easier for young readers to understand that people forced out of their countries are just like them, and have everyday concerns about school and friends, and would prefer to stay in their country if it were safe to do so. Héctor's love of math and his success at the competition, along with his teacher's support, offered an insight into his character, and the fact that he called his father hoping to stay in Cuba so he could compete is absolutely typical of how tweens can sometimes have a narrow outlook centered on their own concerns. The fact that the grandmother was in a political position to make things easier for the family showed how powerful the government could be, and also how families can be split in their political views. The friendship with Theo and Isabel was both heart warming and heart breaking. This is a fantastic book for building empathy for others, like Dassu's Boy, Everywhere or Athaide's Orange for the Sunsets, and made me realize that I really need to read a heavy duty history of Cuba in the twentieth century to remedy my lack of knowledge about this country.
Weaknesses: While I love the boats on the cover, this book begs for a photographic cover of Cuban coastline, and the blue sky of the title.
What I really think: The details about what Héctor went through were gut wrenching, especially in light of so many similar situations in the world today where children are forced to leave beloved countries. There have been a number of books about Cuba set in the 1950s and 60s, so it's interesting to know more about the events of the 1980s. I hope that the day will come when there are happier stories coming out of this country.
Eleven-year-old Héctor lives in Cuba and his mother and older brother Rodrigo in 1980. His father is in the US after having been imprisoned for his outspoken political views. Héctor is much more concerned with qualifying for a math competition and fishing with his best friend Theo and his twin sister Isabel than he is with politics, even though his abuela (his mother's mother) is a delegate to the National Assembly and a staunch supporter of Castro's Communist government. The government has opened up some avenues for people to leave the country, but they are difficult: people are allowed to leave from Mariel, but have to have passage on a boat and get permission. As more and more people in Héctor's world leave, and his older brother approaches draft age, Héctor's mother makes plans for the family to join the father in the US. His abuela is not happy and wants the boys to stay with her, expressing the opinion that the father was always no good. When crowds attack Héctor's house because word has gotten out that they are leaving, a tragedy occurs. Luckily, the family is still able to leave, and are ready to go when the government officers come to take possession of their home. There is a long and unpleasant wait to get permission from the authorities, and when they finally are next in line, things do not go easily. Will the three be able to start a new life in the US with the father?
Strengths: The most effective part of this book is Héctor's friendship with Theo and Isabel and their every day lives in Cuba. Like the descriptions in Senzai's Escape From Aleppo or Warga's Other Words for Home, these details make it easier for young readers to understand that people forced out of their countries are just like them, and have everyday concerns about school and friends, and would prefer to stay in their country if it were safe to do so. Héctor's love of math and his success at the competition, along with his teacher's support, offered an insight into his character, and the fact that he called his father hoping to stay in Cuba so he could compete is absolutely typical of how tweens can sometimes have a narrow outlook centered on their own concerns. The fact that the grandmother was in a political position to make things easier for the family showed how powerful the government could be, and also how families can be split in their political views. The friendship with Theo and Isabel was both heart warming and heart breaking. This is a fantastic book for building empathy for others, like Dassu's Boy, Everywhere or Athaide's Orange for the Sunsets, and made me realize that I really need to read a heavy duty history of Cuba in the twentieth century to remedy my lack of knowledge about this country.
Weaknesses: While I love the boats on the cover, this book begs for a photographic cover of Cuban coastline, and the blue sky of the title.
What I really think: The details about what Héctor went through were gut wrenching, especially in light of so many similar situations in the world today where children are forced to leave beloved countries. There have been a number of books about Cuba set in the 1950s and 60s, so it's interesting to know more about the events of the 1980s. I hope that the day will come when there are happier stories coming out of this country.
September 15, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Bluest Sky
Author: Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Cuban MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, historical fiction, Cuba, 1980s
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 9+ (activism, refugees, dictatorship, violence, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The book discusses 1980s Cuba and it showcases a lot about activism and the dictatorship. It also talks about refugees. The book shows some physical violence and there is one death on scene and grief shown.
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: There are two versions of Hector: the public and the private. It's the only way to survive in communist Cuba--especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Hector must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves.
But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate. No longer able to suppress a public uprising, the Cuban government says it will open the port of Mariel to all who wish to leave the country--if they can find a boat. But choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not.
So when Hector’s mother announces that she wants the family to risk everything to go to the United States, he is torn. He misses his father, but Cuba is the only home he has ever known. All his dreams and plans require him to stay. Can he leave everything behind for an unknown future?
In a summer of heat and upheaval, danger and deadly consequences, Hector’s two worlds are on a collision course. Will the impact destroy him and everything he loves?
Christina Diaz Gonzalez's great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family's history.
Review: I adore this book so much! The book did so well to talk about 1980s Cuba and it offered so much information and insight into an area of history that I don’t know a lot about. The book had a math prodigy MC and featured a lot of Spanish phrases. The book also had a really good message, about making your dreams follow you. The book did well with the worldbuilding and character development as well.
The only issue I really had with the book is that it feels like a series book, the ending is a bit open-ended. I want to see more of this universe in other books, because I think the MC is a strong enough character to build on what America looks like in immigrant lenses.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: The Bluest Sky
Author: Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Cuban MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, historical fiction, Cuba, 1980s
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 9+ (activism, refugees, dictatorship, violence, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The book discusses 1980s Cuba and it showcases a lot about activism and the dictatorship. It also talks about refugees. The book shows some physical violence and there is one death on scene and grief shown.
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: There are two versions of Hector: the public and the private. It's the only way to survive in communist Cuba--especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Hector must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves.
But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate. No longer able to suppress a public uprising, the Cuban government says it will open the port of Mariel to all who wish to leave the country--if they can find a boat. But choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not.
So when Hector’s mother announces that she wants the family to risk everything to go to the United States, he is torn. He misses his father, but Cuba is the only home he has ever known. All his dreams and plans require him to stay. Can he leave everything behind for an unknown future?
In a summer of heat and upheaval, danger and deadly consequences, Hector’s two worlds are on a collision course. Will the impact destroy him and everything he loves?
Christina Diaz Gonzalez's great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family's history.
Review: I adore this book so much! The book did so well to talk about 1980s Cuba and it offered so much information and insight into an area of history that I don’t know a lot about. The book had a math prodigy MC and featured a lot of Spanish phrases. The book also had a really good message, about making your dreams follow you. The book did well with the worldbuilding and character development as well.
The only issue I really had with the book is that it feels like a series book, the ending is a bit open-ended. I want to see more of this universe in other books, because I think the MC is a strong enough character to build on what America looks like in immigrant lenses.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
September 11, 2022
Atmospheric and tense, the story held my attention from start to finish.
The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez is a new middle-grade book that older readers would also enjoy and find enlightening. It combines historical events with fictional ones that could easily be the backstories of many Cuban refugees that literally landed on these shores. There are moments of complete heartbreak but also hope for new lives and freedom.
Although Hector is content for much of the first part of the book, it becomes clear he is so because he’s never known life to be anything different. The author envelops the characters and reader in an atmosphere of oppression, fear, poverty, and lack of the freedoms we know as fundamental to our lives in the U.S. But as the reality of life is revealed to Hector, he quickly loses that contentment. Just the effects the American embargo had on the Cuban people’s ability to maintain their homes (they couldn’t get the materials to do so) was eye-opening. The author has put names and faces, albeit fictional, to those suffering, personalizing it and making it real.Besides the oppressive setting, the plot quickly becomes tense and dangerous. I held my breath numerous times during the family’s harrowing process of leaving the country and teared up with both sadness and relief at others. It may take me a while to get over this story.
The juvenile main characters are engaging, strong, and brave: boys and girls with whom young readers will readily feel a connection. The plot includes features of their everyday living, home life, food, and growing up. The dialogue is liberally sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases whose meaning must be construed from context or looked up. Although it slowed the reading process down somewhat, I enjoyed looking up those that I didn’t recognize or couldn’t translate on my own.With its taut storyline and engaging characters, THE BLUEST SKY would be a great book to share and discuss. I recommend it for middle-grade or older readers, which was well worth the reading.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours.
March 6, 2023
This well-written novel concerns a pre-teen protagonist named Héctor who lives in Cuba with his mother and older brother. Héctor is a math whiz, and his teacher is working with him so that he can enter a prestigious nation-wide competition, something that excites him a great deal. His father was a political opponent of the Cuban Revolution who had been jailed in the past but currently lives in Miami. His mother wants more than anything to take her sons and join her husband in the US.
Then, suddenly, in the summer of 1980, Héctor's mother learns of the Mariel boatlift, which will make leaving Cuba a real possibility for the family. The story follows the family's planning to leave Cuba, as well as all the opposition they face from family members, neighbors and the powers that be as they make their decisions.
The relationships among the main characters in this novel are delineated well, especially at the beginning of the novel ... Héctor and his friendships, his crushes, his relationships with his mother, father and brother ... all are described very skillfully. We actually empathize with this character and understand the emotional roller-coaster he is on, as he contemplates leaving everything and everyone he has known for his entire life to go join his father in the U. S.
As a supporter of the Cuban Revolution, which overthrew the corrupt Batista regime in 1960, I found this novel's politics to be a bit heavy-handed and one-sided. I am sure that there is truth in these pages, but there are also so many other aspects of the situation that are virtually ignored or made light of ... for example, the extreme pressure on Cuba coming from the US, including the blockades and sanctions against it. And the war in Angola is referred to as an unjust war because Cuba sent support to the anti-colonial Angolan fighters, and the author gives absolutely no credence to the justness of their struggle.
For balance, I would recommend that this book be paired with Katherine Paterson's My Brigadista Year, which paints a more positive view of the Cuban Revolution.
Then, suddenly, in the summer of 1980, Héctor's mother learns of the Mariel boatlift, which will make leaving Cuba a real possibility for the family. The story follows the family's planning to leave Cuba, as well as all the opposition they face from family members, neighbors and the powers that be as they make their decisions.
The relationships among the main characters in this novel are delineated well, especially at the beginning of the novel ... Héctor and his friendships, his crushes, his relationships with his mother, father and brother ... all are described very skillfully. We actually empathize with this character and understand the emotional roller-coaster he is on, as he contemplates leaving everything and everyone he has known for his entire life to go join his father in the U. S.
As a supporter of the Cuban Revolution, which overthrew the corrupt Batista regime in 1960, I found this novel's politics to be a bit heavy-handed and one-sided. I am sure that there is truth in these pages, but there are also so many other aspects of the situation that are virtually ignored or made light of ... for example, the extreme pressure on Cuba coming from the US, including the blockades and sanctions against it. And the war in Angola is referred to as an unjust war because Cuba sent support to the anti-colonial Angolan fighters, and the author gives absolutely no credence to the justness of their struggle.
For balance, I would recommend that this book be paired with Katherine Paterson's My Brigadista Year, which paints a more positive view of the Cuban Revolution.
September 14, 2022
MIDDLE GRADE MAGIC! CHRISTINA DIAZ GONZALEZ DOES IT AGAIN!
THE BLUEST SKY is the latest book from gifted author Christina Diaz Gonzalez, who is fresh off publication of the uplifting, meaningful contemporary middle grade graphic novel INVISIBLE. Very different from her last, THE BLUEST SKY tells the story of Hector, a young boy living in 1980 Cuba, under the time of Castro's regime. Due to his father's reputation, life has become very difficult in Cuba for Hector and his family, where dissenters are ostracized, often punished, and whose families are second-hand victims. Hector's mother has the agonizing decision of whether to attempt to leave Cuba, and how to do it - under very difficult and dangerous circumstances. Gonzalez' research sets the tone for what it was like to feel unwelcome and unsafe in one's own country, and the heartbreak of leaving behind one's life and loved ones, risking everything to escape and start over in a new land. Will Hector make it to America with his mother and his brother? What about his friends, whose families are also trying to leave? How does a young person find himself when his entire world is upended beneath him?
This book is middle grade MAGIC. Hector's voice is so authentic and relatable, I felt he could have been a student or library patron of mine. His thoughts, his fears, his courage all touched this librarian more than I can describe. I will root for all the Hectors in our world, hope that they have the outcome which this Hector does - an outcome, though not without loss and grief, of hope and opportunity, and I will remember this book for a long, long time.
Five stars to Ms. Gonzalez, who does it again with this heartfelt, meaningful, important book. Highly recommended for every middle grade/middle school classroom, library collections, and any young reader who enjoys historical fiction, family fiction, or coming-of-age stories.
THE BLUEST SKY is the latest book from gifted author Christina Diaz Gonzalez, who is fresh off publication of the uplifting, meaningful contemporary middle grade graphic novel INVISIBLE. Very different from her last, THE BLUEST SKY tells the story of Hector, a young boy living in 1980 Cuba, under the time of Castro's regime. Due to his father's reputation, life has become very difficult in Cuba for Hector and his family, where dissenters are ostracized, often punished, and whose families are second-hand victims. Hector's mother has the agonizing decision of whether to attempt to leave Cuba, and how to do it - under very difficult and dangerous circumstances. Gonzalez' research sets the tone for what it was like to feel unwelcome and unsafe in one's own country, and the heartbreak of leaving behind one's life and loved ones, risking everything to escape and start over in a new land. Will Hector make it to America with his mother and his brother? What about his friends, whose families are also trying to leave? How does a young person find himself when his entire world is upended beneath him?
This book is middle grade MAGIC. Hector's voice is so authentic and relatable, I felt he could have been a student or library patron of mine. His thoughts, his fears, his courage all touched this librarian more than I can describe. I will root for all the Hectors in our world, hope that they have the outcome which this Hector does - an outcome, though not without loss and grief, of hope and opportunity, and I will remember this book for a long, long time.
Five stars to Ms. Gonzalez, who does it again with this heartfelt, meaningful, important book. Highly recommended for every middle grade/middle school classroom, library collections, and any young reader who enjoys historical fiction, family fiction, or coming-of-age stories.
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December 5, 2022Hector lives in Cuba. It is the summer of 1980 when being on the right side of the revolution is important to one's survival in this communist country. Hector's father has already been imprisoned for his political beliefs, and after his release, he headed to the United States. He hardly remembers his father. It seems life has always been just Hector, his older brother Rodrigo, and their mother.
An announcement is made by the government that anyone wishing to leave Cuba may do so if they have the right documentation and a boat to transport them. Hector's mother tells them they are going to leave and join their father in Miami. She begins the necessary preparations, but it isn't easy. Hector doesn't want to leave. He is an excellent math student and has hopes of competing in the Math Olympiad, but all that will be lost if he has to leave Cuba. There is also his grandmother, active in the communist government, who believes by leaving they will be branded traitors.
When violence breaks out on their street and is aimed at his family, Hector fears that leaving is the only way to stay safe. He and his brother and mother are packed and ready to travel as soon as they have their papers and are assigned a boat. Once they leave their home, there is no turning back.
Author Christina Diaz Gonzalez interviewed refugees from Cuba for this frightening, heart-pounding novel. Readers will see the conflicts suffered by Hector as he struggles to come to terms with the division in his own family and between lifelong friendships. Stories of what came to be known as the boat people and their dangerous 90 mile journey from Cuba to Florida are reveal as Gonzalez's story unfolds.
An announcement is made by the government that anyone wishing to leave Cuba may do so if they have the right documentation and a boat to transport them. Hector's mother tells them they are going to leave and join their father in Miami. She begins the necessary preparations, but it isn't easy. Hector doesn't want to leave. He is an excellent math student and has hopes of competing in the Math Olympiad, but all that will be lost if he has to leave Cuba. There is also his grandmother, active in the communist government, who believes by leaving they will be branded traitors.
When violence breaks out on their street and is aimed at his family, Hector fears that leaving is the only way to stay safe. He and his brother and mother are packed and ready to travel as soon as they have their papers and are assigned a boat. Once they leave their home, there is no turning back.
Author Christina Diaz Gonzalez interviewed refugees from Cuba for this frightening, heart-pounding novel. Readers will see the conflicts suffered by Hector as he struggles to come to terms with the division in his own family and between lifelong friendships. Stories of what came to be known as the boat people and their dangerous 90 mile journey from Cuba to Florida are reveal as Gonzalez's story unfolds.
November 28, 2022
The Bluest Sky is a moving account of the plight of those leaving Cuba in the 1980s.
Seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy, this was an intimate story of what life was like in Cuba at that time. I was really struck by the generational gap of experience. For Hector, he grew up twenty years after Fidel Castro took power. While the oppressive, political atmosphere is unpleasant for him, this is also all he knows. Unlike his parents who lived during Cuba's transition and who know what things were like before. But for Hector, all he wants is to stay in Cuba and make the prestigious, Cuban National Math Olympiad Team.
Things aren't that simple. His family is at odds with each other - his grandmother is pro-party, his mother is against it, and his father is a political exile in the United States. Hector's dreams are soon in the crosshairs. And to make things worse, he's being forced to choose sides, both at home and in public.
Christina Diaz Gonzalez does a beautiful job pulling us into Hector's experience and taking us on a tough journey where life becomes more and more difficult for those who want to find what is right for them and their families. Because as people start leaving, those staying behind become angrier and more aggressive. And in the darkest moments, family and friends can become your enemy. But an enemy can also become your friend.
Expertly told, The Bluest Sky is a fantastic companion to Adrianna Cuevas' remarkable book, Cuba in My Pocket.
Seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy, this was an intimate story of what life was like in Cuba at that time. I was really struck by the generational gap of experience. For Hector, he grew up twenty years after Fidel Castro took power. While the oppressive, political atmosphere is unpleasant for him, this is also all he knows. Unlike his parents who lived during Cuba's transition and who know what things were like before. But for Hector, all he wants is to stay in Cuba and make the prestigious, Cuban National Math Olympiad Team.
Things aren't that simple. His family is at odds with each other - his grandmother is pro-party, his mother is against it, and his father is a political exile in the United States. Hector's dreams are soon in the crosshairs. And to make things worse, he's being forced to choose sides, both at home and in public.
Christina Diaz Gonzalez does a beautiful job pulling us into Hector's experience and taking us on a tough journey where life becomes more and more difficult for those who want to find what is right for them and their families. Because as people start leaving, those staying behind become angrier and more aggressive. And in the darkest moments, family and friends can become your enemy. But an enemy can also become your friend.
Expertly told, The Bluest Sky is a fantastic companion to Adrianna Cuevas' remarkable book, Cuba in My Pocket.
January 23, 2023
Interesting historical fiction story about a time period not known of by most; at least I do not recall much discussion about that specific time period and the Cuban migration to the U.S. The author chose to use a fair bit of Spanish in the text. Most of the phrases and sentences were listed at the back of the book, with translations into English. Since I do not speak/read/understand the Spanish language, I had to keep flipping the pages back and forth, making for an interrupted, less enjoyable read. Nevertheless, it is well written and I will recommend it to others.
"I'd have to see it for myself to decide, because when it comes to love ... the eyes only see what the heart reveals ... That's just his fancy way of saying that love is blind." "And that choosing which place is best can be a matter of perspective," he elaborated. "It depends on what it is that your heart desires." - p. 24
Cada loco con su tema - p. 29, 311 (an idiom similar to "to each his own"; the direct translation is "each crazed person has his own theme."
"I'd have to see it for myself to decide, because when it comes to love ... the eyes only see what the heart reveals ... That's just his fancy way of saying that love is blind." "And that choosing which place is best can be a matter of perspective," he elaborated. "It depends on what it is that your heart desires." - p. 24
Cada loco con su tema - p. 29, 311 (an idiom similar to "to each his own"; the direct translation is "each crazed person has his own theme."
October 10, 2023
Hector lives in 1980's Cuba under the regime of Fidel Castro. He loves Cuba, his friends, and the perks his abuela, part of the National Assembly, gives them items that others can't get. He wants nothing more than to represent Cuba in the International Math Olympiad., but his being a math whiz is stained by his father having been labeled a traitor for demanding freedoms for Cubans and exiled to America in a political exchange when Hector was five. With the port Mariel being opened to allow Cubans with visas to leave to America, Hector's mom reveals her plans to move their family to Miami to reunite with their father. Hector doesn't want to go, but when a mob protesting his family as traitors descends on their family home and ends in a tragedy, Hector is ready to go. Though a bit slow in the beginning, the book picks up pace with the heartrending details of the Communist regime, betrayal, and what those wanting to leave Cuba had to endure and survive. A great book for those that love historical fiction and looking at Latinx authors and history.
May 21, 2024
Having lived in Florida during the 1960's refugees "flooding" into Miami and beyond, I decided to read this story.
The author based this story (set in the 1980's) on experiences of some of family members, along with interviews of other Cubans fleeing their homeland during the Mariel boatlift.
Hector has to present 2 faces to those around him ---- his personal life appears to be against those who are anti-Castro and his regime, then his private life is one of not accepting the regime's treatment of his fellow Cuban citizens.
His grandmother, a privileged official in the Cuban government, does what she can to assist her daughter and grandsons in their daily life.
Hector's mother is anti-Castro, she makes "no bones" about her opposition to the regime, and hopes to leave Cuba for freedom and America.
The imagery, Christina used to describe the conditions of the "detention areas" for those wanting to leave Cuba, will make a definite negative impression on what those folks went through to gain freedom. Can't imagine what the boat rides were like........
The author based this story (set in the 1980's) on experiences of some of family members, along with interviews of other Cubans fleeing their homeland during the Mariel boatlift.
Hector has to present 2 faces to those around him ---- his personal life appears to be against those who are anti-Castro and his regime, then his private life is one of not accepting the regime's treatment of his fellow Cuban citizens.
His grandmother, a privileged official in the Cuban government, does what she can to assist her daughter and grandsons in their daily life.
Hector's mother is anti-Castro, she makes "no bones" about her opposition to the regime, and hopes to leave Cuba for freedom and America.
The imagery, Christina used to describe the conditions of the "detention areas" for those wanting to leave Cuba, will make a definite negative impression on what those folks went through to gain freedom. Can't imagine what the boat rides were like........
February 22, 2023
I did enjoy learning about the escape from Cuba that so many attempted during the 1980’s from a communist regime. This was a young adult book that highlighted the struggles of wanting something different than what your circumstances dictate. Hector and his family are trying to get to Miami where his dad lives. His dad was sent to a prison because of his rebellious views against Cuba. Hector soon learns that to speak out against the government could cost you your family or your life. Why then does his mom want to leave Cuba to be with a dad that he hardly knows? Hector has great friends and might even get to participate in the math Olympics.
I enjoyed the story and learned about the struggles that many went through to secure their freedom in the United States. As much as it was interesting to have Spanish words sprinkled in the text, I found it so distracting to go back to a glossary of 4 pages to look up what the words meant and just read it as is.
I enjoyed the story and learned about the struggles that many went through to secure their freedom in the United States. As much as it was interesting to have Spanish words sprinkled in the text, I found it so distracting to go back to a glossary of 4 pages to look up what the words meant and just read it as is.
March 7, 2023
What would it be like to have to live a lie, or a secret life? Héctor has to pretend to be loyal to Cuba, and downplay (because he can't hide) the fact that his father was kicked out (and lives in the US) years ago. His maternal grandmother is a govt delegate, and thus offers him and his brother and mother some privilege and protection, reaping loyalty with manipulation. Héctor spends time with his across-the-street best friend Teo and his feisty twin sister Isabella, trying to avoid a class bully and studying math. When the government starts letting "gusanos" (worms) leave via the port of Mariel, his mother decides they must join his dad, partly to avoid his brother's draft into the Cuban army (at war in Angola), and also because they could stop the release at any time (15 April to 31 October 1980) Héctor is NOT interested--it would mean losing the chance to compete on the national math team, leaving his friends and the country he loves, for all its flaws. He can't tell anyone their plans, and he even considers refusing. He doesn't even know his dad. As they wait for their visas to be approved, tensions bubble.
Then his neighbors attack his family, and Teo is killed trying to help. Things escalate, and now they must leave quickly.
The wait for the boat, arranged by his father (chaotic), getting through the checkpoints, are all very suspenseful. Hunger, thirst, no shade and the uncertainty. They are split up--Mother has to chose at last minute, sends Rodrigo bc of draft, then Héctor takes Teo's place. Loses the phone number to contact her, left behind in Cuba.
Not initially the fastest moving, but his emotional journey gives this a lot of depth and weight. Give to fans of Refugee. NB the author does a wonderful job of integrating Spanish into the text, having other characters respond in English to convey the meaning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariel_...
Then his neighbors attack his family, and Teo is killed trying to help. Things escalate, and now they must leave quickly.
The wait for the boat, arranged by his father (chaotic), getting through the checkpoints, are all very suspenseful. Hunger, thirst, no shade and the uncertainty. They are split up--Mother has to chose at last minute, sends Rodrigo bc of draft, then Héctor takes Teo's place. Loses the phone number to contact her, left behind in Cuba.
Not initially the fastest moving, but his emotional journey gives this a lot of depth and weight. Give to fans of Refugee. NB the author does a wonderful job of integrating Spanish into the text, having other characters respond in English to convey the meaning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariel_...
October 26, 2022
After reviewing the final Merci Suarez trilogy book by Meg Medina, I commented that I would like to read a prequel describing the Suarez family's journey from Cuba to the United States.
The Bluest Sky fulfilled this request! I saw the bigger picture of Cuban life affected by U.S. embargos and fear that someone would learn about your anti-Communist views. The smaller picture gives us the story of Hector, a sixth grader, who is learning what it's like for his family and friends to live in Communist Cuba as oppressed people willing to risk everything to leave their homeland for freedom in the United States.
This story is an emotional history lesson that taught me there is the "illusion and the reality" where "a rude soldier could actually be a friend. And your own abuela could turn out to be your worst enemy."
I hope the Newbery committee considers this book for an award!
The Bluest Sky fulfilled this request! I saw the bigger picture of Cuban life affected by U.S. embargos and fear that someone would learn about your anti-Communist views. The smaller picture gives us the story of Hector, a sixth grader, who is learning what it's like for his family and friends to live in Communist Cuba as oppressed people willing to risk everything to leave their homeland for freedom in the United States.
This story is an emotional history lesson that taught me there is the "illusion and the reality" where "a rude soldier could actually be a friend. And your own abuela could turn out to be your worst enemy."
I hope the Newbery committee considers this book for an award!
January 22, 2023
This book was incredible! I don’t usually gravitate to historical fiction books, and only read this as part of a book club. However, I am so glad that I gave this book a chance. It is set in communist Cuba, and was incredibly frank and insightful. This book gives the reader an glimpse into the thoughts of people both loyal to the communist party and those opposing the strict regime. The honest portrayal of rights and liberties that were stripped from the people of Cuba was both eye opening and alarming. I think this should be required reading for all civics classes, to give our children perspective and understanding about how the freedoms we enjoy are a privilege that must be defended.
November 7, 2022
A story about a boy in Cuba and the complicated feelings of loving the country you are in but realizing there could be more or better.
After having read the book Refugee earlier this year, this book had many similarities with one from that story. As the story went along, I had the same feelings with this one as I did that one. I know these situations are terrible and difficult, but chapter after chapter of negative stuff makes it hard for me to get through. I’m glad to see people persist through difficulties, I just wonder how many kids around the age of this book would get through this story.
After having read the book Refugee earlier this year, this book had many similarities with one from that story. As the story went along, I had the same feelings with this one as I did that one. I know these situations are terrible and difficult, but chapter after chapter of negative stuff makes it hard for me to get through. I’m glad to see people persist through difficulties, I just wonder how many kids around the age of this book would get through this story.
November 25, 2022
Héctor lives in Cuba with his mother and brother - his father lives in Miami after being deported as a traitor. Héctor hasn't seen him in eight years and is happy with his life in Cuba, until things become even more strained than usual. His mother plans their escape, all is NOT well. An important and striking refugee story - what people are running from when they come to America, their hopes and dreams and the gift it is in this country to be able to speak ill of the government and not be tossed in jail. An important read. Middle school on up.
June 21, 2024
This one took my heart, tore it to pieces, and then put it back together again. I first learned about the Mariel Boat Lift when I started teaching geography, which is a travesty in how long it took me to learn. This book does even more in showing me just how little I actually knew about this significant historical event. Hector has to deal with so much in his short life and Gonzalez does such a good job in showing the reader his reality and bringing the reader in so deep to this narrative world.
August 2, 2024
This starts off slowly, establishing the political situation in Cuba in 1980 leading to the Mariel Boatlift. Toward the end, it was actually quite a page turner! Reminded me of Ruta Setpetys’s I Must Betray You.
First person point-of-view is almost always annoying when the character is a preteen, but it did work well here to show how his worldview matured.
Readers will learn a lot from this book—about communism, Cuba, the Mariel Boatlift, and emigration. Overall, worth reading if you enjoying learning about history, but not exceptional for literary value alone.
First person point-of-view is almost always annoying when the character is a preteen, but it did work well here to show how his worldview matured.
Readers will learn a lot from this book—about communism, Cuba, the Mariel Boatlift, and emigration. Overall, worth reading if you enjoying learning about history, but not exceptional for literary value alone.
September 3, 2022
An absolutely beautifully written story that will absorb you from the get go! The characters are written in such a way that you can’t help but care for them as if they were your own family. The story is a page turner and leaves you wanting to keep going without taking a break. Really well done! Really tugs at the heart strings. Book after book, Christina Diaz Gonzalez has demonstrated a true gift for storytelling.
December 4, 2022
Marial is two people, he is the face he has to show at school and to his community in Cuba, and then there is the Marial in himself. He is torn and confused when his mother starts talking about leaving
Cuba because there are parts that he loves, including his grandmother who loves the government.
This book has a lot to offer, for example: knowledge (history), family relationships, friendship, grief, coming of age, and survival. I recommend it.
Cuba because there are parts that he loves, including his grandmother who loves the government.
This book has a lot to offer, for example: knowledge (history), family relationships, friendship, grief, coming of age, and survival. I recommend it.
March 29, 2023
An honest depiction of life in 1980’s Cuba. Gonzalez paints and accurate picture of a boy and a family who risk everything when they flee Cuba during the Mariel boat lift.
Hector faces fear and uncertainty as he navigates his dreams, loss, family and friendships against the backdrop of oppression. This is an edge-of-your-seat-nail biter for sure. “The Bluest Sky a powerful and extraordinary book filled with hope that is a must read for everyone.”
Hector faces fear and uncertainty as he navigates his dreams, loss, family and friendships against the backdrop of oppression. This is an edge-of-your-seat-nail biter for sure. “The Bluest Sky a powerful and extraordinary book filled with hope that is a must read for everyone.”
May 15, 2023
While The Bluest Sky got off to a bit of a slow start for me, I enjoyed this brave boy and his optimistic outlook on their life in Cuba, but then on their desire to escape it. He was written well for his age, his friends were realistic and complex, and the dream of finding their own "Bluest Sky," even if it is just for a little while, is an optimistic feeling I can relate to. A nice middle-grade refugee story for the Cuban rebellion.
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