Leaving Glorytown: One Boy's Struggle Under Castro

by Eduardo F. Calcines

In this absorbing memoir, by turns humorous and heartbreaking, Eduardo Calcines recounts his boyhood and chronicles the conditions that led him to wish above all else to leave behind his beloved extended family and his home for a chance at a better future.

Eduardo F. Calcines was a child of Fidel Castro's Cuba; he was just three years old when Castro came to power in January 1959. After that, everything changed for his family and his country. When he was ten, his family applied for an exit visa to emigrate to America and he was ridiculed by his schoolmates and even his teachers for being a traitor to his country. But even worse, his father was sent to an agricultural reform camp to do hard labor as punishment for daring to want to leave Cuba. During the years to come, as he grew up in Glorytown, a neighborhood in the city of Cienfuegos, Eduardo hoped with all his might that their exit visa would be granted before he turned fifteen, the age at which he would be drafted into the army.

Genres: Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction, Cultural, Biography Memoir, Teen, Autobiography

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2009

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was interesting and kept moving, and it's important to know, but the writing was not great, and there were times when the protagonist was not very likable. He is writing about his youth, so the immaturity makes sense, and English is a second language, which could account for some of the prose being awkward. However, I feel it is more that this is a first time effort, where it felt important to capture his past, and it is a path tinged with a lot of bitterness which comes out in the writing. The bitterness is completely understandable, but having read a few of these accounts recently, I am more aware that some of these weaknesses are not necessary.

[Bert van der Vaart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stripped back recounting of what one young teenager living in rural Cuba went through from the time Castro's "revolution" started to seven years later, when he and his family were allowed to emigrate. The book describes how the easy going, extended family-orientated pre-Castro life became increasingly regulated, rationed, and unjust-with only those belonging to the Communist Party eating well, and all those who questioned any edict from the regime liable to being assigned to work camps where food was wormy and inadequate, and where guards could strike down prisoners arbitrarily. After 3 years of seeing which way Cuba was heading, the family filed for permission to leave. The succeeding 4 years was characterized by one abuse and humiliation after another. Moral of the story: any system of government where power is concentrated and without opposition is likely to turn into a society where power is both wielded arbitrarily and scarce--held only by those directly controlled by the monopoly power that here was Castro's party.

Full of everyday episodes which illustrate the foregoing well, Leaving Glorytown is an effective and accessible books which young adults should read before they face the indoctrination present in most of America's institutions of learning.

[Katrin V · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ‘youth biography’ with very adult topic of life in Cuba in 1960s. The writing is straightforward and accessible, but the facts will be alien and hard to grasp for most American youth. Thus would be a good book for all young people to read.

[Aidan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better books I've read on the Cuban revolution. Nice story about a boy's life in Cuba right after the revolution and how they got to America. Wonderful depiction of Cuban family life and values as they used to be.

[Jennifer Sommer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a captivating biography from the point of view of a young boy who experiences the changes to Cuba and it's citizens as Fidel Castro and communism take over the island in the early 1960's. Even as a 4-year-old, Eduardo notices the changes happening around him - the soldiers lined up on every street corner, the Voice on the radio, and especially the strange way his parents are acting. His father realizes immediately that the family must leave their home if they want to ever experience freedom again, not an easy decision considering their extremely large extended family surrounding and supporting each other. After applying for exit visas, which are awarded through a lottery, Eduardo's father is taken away to a work labor camp as a dissenter. In school, being a dissenter means daily bullying from his teachers and fellow students. Luckily, Eduardo has three close friends to defend him, including two who try to be loyal communists but who also don't believe the propaganda they are taught. As the months and years pass, Eduardo's family continues to believe that the military Jeep will drive up to their door with the telegram telling them that they will be able to leave. Time is running out, though, as Eduardo approaches 14-1/2 when he will be considered too old to leave and drafted into the army. Reading about Eduardo's story, complete with food rationing, tormenting by government thugs, and the complete loss of the most basic liberties such as public gatherings to play cards makes the reader appreciate better the problems associated with communism and the luxuries we often take for granted here in the United States. Even seemingly small things like chewing gum, comic books, and ice cream have been removed from Cuban experience. My only criticism of the book was the way the background information provided at the beginning was not incorporated into the story very well. It would have worked better as a prologue, starting the story in the second chapter when the revolution begins. Recommended for readers in grades 5 and up who might be interested in the Cuban revolution or political themes.

[Vamos a Leer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realize that almost everything about Cuba is politically charged and polarized. This has made it difficult for me to write a review of Leaving Glorytown. Not only is it a book about life in Cuba after the 1959 Revolution, but it is also a memoir. To question the ideas or themes of a memoir is to question the author's own personal story. My position as a U.S. citizen weighs a little heavier on my mind when I write about Cuba, particularly when I struggle with books written about the Cuban experience. I have my own thoughts and opinions about Cuba, and I realize that these are influenced by my own positionality. I can imagine how much of an author's being must go into the creation of a book, even more so perhaps for a memoir. I feel that all of this necessitates a responsible and respectful discussion of any title. I don't take book reviews lightly. I think carefully over how to share my thoughts and reactions. With that said, the following is a discussion of my thoughts on Leaving Glorytown.

Calcines' strength in Leaving Glorytown is his portrayal of the close relationships he had with friends and family. By far, my favorite part of the book was Calcines' description of his relationship with his grandparents, especially his abuelo. The affection he shared with him was palpable. His descriptions of his relationships with his friends and cousins were also quite touching. Despite everything, they were always loyal--something that I hope any students reading would take note of. I also believe that Calcines does a good job of sharing important cultural elements of Cuban life throughout his memoir. Readers will gain some understanding of Cuban traditions. Yet, I was saddened when so many of the things that he and his friends longed for were symbols of 1960s American culture, like ketchup, apple pie, blonde haired, blue-eyed girls, and Juicy Fruit gum.

Leaving Glorytown was a difficult read for me in many ways. Typically, I enjoy memoirs, and I'd been looking forward to this one. However, it painted a difficult picture for me to accept. Calcines is quite critical of Fidel Castro, and not without reason. I don't think it is any secret, even to those who have supported Castro's Revolution, that there were serious issues in Cuba, including human rights violations. Like so many other revolutions throughout history, the reality didn't always live up to the ideals. Calines begins his book with a telling statement: "I was raised in two worlds--one a world of ideals, the other the real world. The world of ideals was full of Fidel Castro's lying propaganda and empty promises of a better tomorrow. The real world was even worse: a world of oppression, hunger, fear, poverty, and violence" (p. 1). For me, Calcines suggests a far too simplistic understanding of the Cuban situation: everything about Castro and communism is bad, while U.S. capitalism is the ultimate ideal to be attained. His portrayal is too black and white. I believe any legitimate discussion of the Cuban Revolution, must deal not only with what happened after 1959, but also the events preceding the revolution. There are important reasons for how and why the revolution took place, and why such a significant portion of the population was willing to support Castro. If we are going to teach our students about Castro's Cuba, then we must also be prepared to discuss conditions in Cuba under his predecessor, Fulgencio Batista. We must look at the realities that created the need and opportunity for Castro's political movement.

Calcines' word choice is telling. He refers to supporters of Castro as zealots, thugs, minions, or evil people. Take the following description of a teacher: "Señora Santana, like many Cubans, was of African descent. She wore a ponytail that pulled her hair tight against her skull, and her eyes gleamed with a fervor of the truly brainwashed. Her appearance was made even more terrifying by the electrical tape that held one arm of her glasses to the rest of the frame. Her beloved Communists couldn't even provide her with a decent pair of glasses. . .she'd abandoned reason and common sense" (p. 148). Now, I have no doubt that political propaganda was disseminated through the educational system. I'd argue this even happens in the United States. However, I have to question the depiction of Cuba's educational system as merely a vehicle for indoctrination. With some of the highest literacy rates and levels of educational attainment in the world, Cuba's system is well-known for its success.

Calcines writes with a specific agenda, as I imagine most of us do. It's important to keep the author's purpose in mind when we share this book with our students, and perhaps, offer other alternative views. Then, with discussions that encourage critical thinking, our students can come to their own conclusions. Calcines begins his book with the following statement: "I decided that it is time to let the world know not only what happened to my family, but also what happened--and continues to happen today--to all the people of Cuba, from whom Fidel Castro has taken everything, including hope itself" (p. 1). This is his story, yet, I must disagree with his last statement. A number of years ago, I lived in Cuba for a month. Based on that experience, I don't believe that Castro has taken hope itself from the Cuban people. In fact, I found the Cuban people to be full of hope, intelligence, creativity and a strong desire for survival.

Others have written about Leaving Glorytown as well, so I hope you'll check out their reviews that I've linked to below.

WOW Review: Reading Across Cultures
The Happy Nappy Bookseller
Cynsations Review and Interview with Calcines

We have a free educator's guide for Leaving Glorytown available on our wordpress blog Vamos a Leer at https://teachinglatinamericathroughli....

[Daisey Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I learned in AP U.S history about Cuba was: Fidel Castro was a Communist that became prime minister of Cuba and the Bay of Pigs. I never leaned about all the things that took place, that regular citizens would face every day. Having Trump as President has made many people dislike immigrants and think that all of them are drug traffickers and racists. However, this book has shown me just one immigrants experience. Who knows what other immigrants are going through. In the end, I feel like this helped me learn Cuban history and gain empathy for immigrants.

[Kathleen Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just happened into this book. I really enjoyed the narrative writing. I was amazed at all his family went through to leave Cuba when it came under Fidel Castro's rule. It really shocks me when I think about the humiliation this regime put families through. I didn't need convincing that communism is evil! This book would thoroughly convince me! Wake up America. Let's hold on to our freedoms! We shouldn't take them for granted. He wrote his story with really convincing feelings! I recommend this book.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This autobiography of a young man's life during Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba is watered down and geared toward teens, but anyone can read this and still have some idea of what living in Cuba (just before and some time after the Bay of Pigs Invasion) was like, and how horribly all Cubans were treated, especially those who applied for a visa to leave for the United States. Mr. Calcines tells of what happened to his family when his father applied for such a visa. It was moving tale and one I highly recommend.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for bookclub. This is a YA/children’s book and from a child’s perspective of what Cuba was like under Castro before he came to the US. Children will relate to some of his tales of growing up, and they will also get some insight into living with a totalitarian government. There is very little actual history in the book (there was a brief reference to the Bay of Pigs) and in that way I felt it fell short and was a missed opportunity. Overall a quick read and a good stepping point for children and early teens to learn more about Cuba.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreakingly hilarious. That’s it. About a boy struggling to find freedom and being mistreated. This book was a short amazing read, I rate it a 4.85. I would’ve rated it a five stars but looking back at my all time favorite books this doesn’t compare (not in a bad way) it comes close though. I would recommend this book to 12 year olds as they need to read more about reality. This book was amazing.

[Shelley Winkler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book and the potential it had as a class novel study —ties in so nicely with 6th grade SS standards. It really just didn’t hold my interest like I thought it would. Hopeful that a paperback copy will be available soon so I can see what my students think!

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense memoir.
This is a true story.
A beautiful childhood in gorgeous Cuba…
before Fidel Castro took over.
New normal: starvation, beatings, and people “disappearing.” His Papa is sent to a communist prison work camp.
At last, they escape to a better life.
Horrors, with a hopeful ending.

[Tebel Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know a co-worker who escaped Cuba as a teenager, and his account of life under Castro is just as harrowing as this is. Anyone who considers communism an ideal system or atheism de rigueur would profit from reading this book. I give it 4 stars, because it was not an enjoyable read.

[RintaroH · Rating 4 out of 5]

It told me about what was like in Cuba

[Alicia Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

The true story of a boy and his family as they hope to journey from Cuba to America during the time of Castro’s initial reign.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book captures the content well: Leaving Glorytown: One Boy's Struggle under Castro. In this memoir, Calcines recounts his experience, refraining from making sweeping generalizations or pursuing political tangents. Instead, he simply shares his own experience as a young boy living under the rule of Fidel Castro, identifying the changes that took place and the norms that came about under Castro's rule. Calcines avoids the therapist's couch and does not ask for sympathy, and yet many of the details he shares are striking: splitting a piece of gum five ways so his sister could experience chewing gum for the first time; describing Fidel Castro as "The Voice," ever-present in his life; and going to Havana and learning that parts of Cuba were off-limits to Cubans themselves. The perspective from which the book is written allows the reader to grow up in Cuba in Calcines's shoes and catch a glimpse of what his life was like.

This book could be useful in the classroom for many reasons. It could be used to inform students on Cuban culture, the politics of Fidel Castro, and the spread of communism. Ideally I think this book would be a great selection to keep in a class library as an option for students to read on their own. There is something validating about seeing one's countryman's experience on the page, and I think this could be meaningful to my own students whose families are from Cuba or who have lived through similar experiences.

[Vanessa Maeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main Character: Eduardo
Setting: Glorytown/Cienfuegos, Cuba
POV: 1st person- Eduardo

Summary:

Eduardo F. Calcines, the main character, is a child living in Cuba under the reign of Fidel Castro. When he was only three years old, Castro came into power and after this, life changed for everyone. When he was ten, the Calcines family was able to apply for an exit visa in order to emigrate to America. Unfortunately, Eduardo was bullied and ridiculed by his schoolmates and even his teachers begin to call him a traitor of the country. However, throughout the story it is get worse because his father is sent to a reform camp to do hard labor as punishment for wanting to leave Cuba. Throughout the rest of the novel, Eduardo continues to grow up in Glorytown, a neighborhood located in the city of Cienfuegos, where he hopes with all his heart that their next exit visa would be granted when he turns fifteen because it is the age he would be drafter into the army.

This is a pretty powerful memoir because it is clear what Eduardo felt, what he saw, and remembers rather that relying on the memories of others. Furthermore, the experiences Eduardo and his family go through are pretty much universal such as the voice of the people, food shortages, changes in daily life, hard labor/punishment etc. Lastly, reading this book makes you want to investigate further about what actually happened in Cuba when Castro and the communists took over. Students can advance their research skills with interesting projects on Cuba, Fidel Castro, and the Revolution.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this memoir, mainly because the author doesn't rely on others' memories to do his work for him. By that I mean, it's clearly what he felt, saw, remembers rather than what he's been told he felt, saw or remembered from that time - the memories are stronger the older he gets.

Life before Castro is barely memorable to Eduardo, but he does clearly remember all the gatherings, the sense of family, and the richness of that life; after Fidel takes power, he's aware of the Voice, the food shortages, the changes in daily life and slowly of the failure of the Glorious Revolution. The stick of Juicy Fruit gum (ok, a small eighth of a stick) that he makes last for weeks drives this all home. What strikes me is that what he experiences is universal to any culture/people under a dictatorial regime, and I think that the audience for whom this book is intended will see that, too.

Ending as they enter American airspace, you can sense the possibilities that he's feeling. The epilogue hints that the transition might not have been easy, but it's clear that his concept of American the Free has never wavered.

A good read to "celebrate" the 50th anniversary of the revolution, and the recent opening of travel to Cuba. If Mr. Calcines goes back, it'd be interesting to see how his memories of Glorytown compare with what's there now.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is a YA level book, I learned so much from it. I have read memoirs and fiction books set in China when Communism was introduced there. This is my first book set in Cuba. The similarities of oppression, human indignities and suffering are surprising.
Eduardo Calcines is 3 years old when Castro takes power. He is part of a large, loving family who live close together on San Carlos Street. The introduction of Communism changes their entire lives. Some members of the family choose to accept the change, but Eduardo's family applies for an exit visa to go to the United States. Year by year they anxiously wait for the "telegram" that allows their exit. During that time, Eduardo is called a "worm" and is bullied not only by other children, but by his teachers.
Eduardo does a great job not only sharing the events of his 11 years living under Castro's regime, but also his feelings and those of his family members.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This is powerful.

Eduardo was born just before Castro took over in Cuba. He recounts memories of growing up under Castro, from parties being broken up because gatherings of 3 or more people were illegal to being taunted by teachers and students in class because his family applied to leave to his girlfriend breaking up with him because he wasn't a Communist. He describes how his uncle was arrested for being a capitalist and his father was removed to a work camp for applying to leave the country. The memories are powerful and he does a fairly decent job of recounting them according to what he would have understood at the time.

This was written for young adults, and thus I read it really quickly. But that doesn't take away from it's power. The scene where Eduardo and his family leave his grandparents, knowing they would never see each other again, is heart-wrenching.

I canNOT wait to read this to my social studies students this fall. I think they will get a lot out of it.

[Nick Verdino]

This book really made me think about the things that I have. It made me appreciate the life I live. It's crazy to think what the poor Cuban people had to and have to go through. I enjoyed the epilogue because the author talks about the success he has had since he came to America. He has a nice life, a family, and a home in Tampa. He still thinks about Cuba everyday though, and I think I'll think about it often too after reading his novel where he described it so well. ""Most of all, even though I am an American now, I just want to return just once more to the place I often revisit in my dreams, to feel the soft warmth of the Caribbean evenings, to see the turquoise waters and the white sand... to the place that I once knew. My beloved Glorytown" This were the final words, and they will stick with me for a while, making me remember to appreciate the great town I live in now.

[Emanuel Garibay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eduardo was a kid living in cuba. Everything was alright , until Fidel Castro came into power. He was only 3 years old of age when Fidel Castro came and over took the whole Cuban government and people. He sdaw changes everywhere he went including changes in his own families actions. They got less food, There where more soldiers around the street, and more things became illegal. This book shows the adventures of Eduardo , his other brothes, his friends, his grandparents, his unclesand aunties,and his parents faceinng the harsh ruler Fidel Castro.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrated by the author. Performing his own book in audio format, the author invites listeners into his Cuban childhood and the challenges his family faced under Castro's rule while they awaited their lottery pick to leave for America. He exudes the warmth and strength of his family ties and Glorytown neighbors. Young listeners will also feel his anger and frustration of living under a Communist regime. This is ideal for a family listening experience and discussion, and is best suited for youths grade 5 and up.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this, it was really eye-opening. The author's matter-of-fact recounting of life in Cuba just as Castro comes to power is pretty chilling. His family makes the momentous decision to apply for exit visas, and every day thereafter is "punished" for wanting to leave. I was caught up in their anxiety and longing for the telegram approving their application. Everyone should read this book. Suitable for high school and up.

[Brandon Caslow]

I thought that it was a great book. I think it taught some really great and valuable lessons. Small things like never saying " I'm starving" unless you actually are is important. Eduardo really didn't have much food but just enough to survive. At the end, I was so happy that Eduardo go to the United States Of America. That was a very happy moment. It was what he wanted his whole life and he finally got it. That's what is so cool about this book to me.

[Adam Morel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A searing testament to freedom, an intimate account of oppression, recounted through the eyes of a child coming to grips first hand with the nature of God and man, of love and power, of the perseverance of family and faith in the face of seemingly persistent evil. The true history of Fidel's Cuba, lived day by day, told from the porch steps of its people. Eduardo Calcines speaks for those who never could or never will.

[Martha Schwalbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last summer I read a book of poetry about Jews who fled German and settled in Cuba. This was my first introduction into Cuba. Leaving Glorytown is the story of life under Castro. Several summers ago I met a man on a train who told me the story of a prominent gymnast who fled Cuba during the time of this story. It's all rather amazing to me.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good, quick read that shows the incredible tension of a family living in the early days of Castro. I don't think it's any more than you'd expect (no big revelations) but it's written in a way that makes you care deeply that the family makes it to America because we already know they weren't going to outlast Castro!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good history of life under Fidel Castro. It was interesting to read this at the time of his death. He had great stories about his childhood growing up before Castro, during the Revolution, and after, when he was the leader. I feel like I understand what life was like for the author in Cuba during this time.