Antes de Ser Libres

by Maria Siccardi

Now available in Spanish, the book Horn Book called "a realistic and compelling account of a girl growing up too quickly while coming to terms with the cost of freedom."

I wonder what it would be like to be free? Not to need wings because you don't have to fly away from your country?

From award-winning author Julia Alvarez comes the story of Anita de la Torre, a 12-year-old girl living in the Dominican Republic in 1960. Most of her relatives have immigrated to the United States, her T-o Toni has disappeared, Papi has been getting mysterious phone calls about butterflies and someone named Mr. Smith, and the secret police have started terrorizing her family for their suspected opposition to the country's dictator. While Anita deals with a frightening series of events, she also struggles with her adolescence and her own personal flight to be free.

Genres: Fiction, Spanish Literature

6 pages, Audio CD

First published November 23, 2004

Reviews

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before We Were Free explores through a family under dictatorship and oppression. The family of Anita goes through a boatload of stress because of the assassination of the dictator,Trujillo. What's even more stressful for Anita is that she is growing up during her teenage years. So she is going through puberty, love, family secrets, and basically knowing what's right from wrong. All she can do is ask questions about what is going on and hope for the best. A big thing she doesn't find out right away is that her family is planning to stay in their country to try and kill their dictator. Her family wants to earn the freedom that they deserve and not live under dictatorship.
I would recommend this book to people who like to learn about dictatorships and how it impacts the families. But anyone who likes reading strictly about love or youth growth ,i really wouldn't. This is because it focuses more on living under dictatorship and how they are going to survive and if they are going to survive. I would hate to live under a dictatorship or communist country.I would have no voice in what i say and wouldn't be able to do what i want to do or be in life.

[Rachael Zahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anita de la Torre has an idealistic childhood with her extended family in their Dominican Republic compound. However, when the family becomes more involved in the resistance movement against dictator Rafael Trujillo, that perfect childhood is shattered.

This YA novel gives an accurate though simplistic view of the political upheaval in the Dominican Republic in the early 1960's. Based on the author's experience of growing up in D.R. in the 1950's and family left behind during the revolt. Borderline historical fiction.

[Meghan Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro fue fantástico, uno de los mejores que he leído del genero. La autora Julia Alvarez es tan lindo, su libro captura la belleza de su país sino también el terror de vivir en un tiempo de un Dictador. He aprendido tanto de la República Dominicana después y voy a continuar leyendo libros de Julia Alvarez después.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a look through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl at the coup in the 1960's in the Dominican Republic. A simple perspective on some very complex issues, but it makes a powerful personal story.