Outnumbered

by Mandi Eizenbaum

An epic tale of one man's strength, courage, and luck - plus a haunting family secret that spans an ocean and sixty-five years. "Some people suggested that I was born under a lucky star. I wanted so much to believe this chisme from our gossipy neighbors and friends. I remember those nights as a young child when Mamá would tuck me into bed and I would look up into the inky-black Caribbean sky searching for the brightest star." Max grows up in a broken home with persistent health issues, an abusive stepfather, a weak mother, and a few questionable friends. Max's young life is nothing more than a mess of troubles and mysteries. Regardless of his bonds to family traditions, Max finds some solace on the streets of Havana, carousing with his compadres and playing the charada numbers that bring him a steady string of good fortune on the local lottery. But he is eventually sent off to America on his own to start a new life and to find his real fortune. After all, how long can Max hinge all his hopes and dreams on his lucky stars and vague heavenly whispers? Can random wagers continue to bring Max the success and worth he always dreamed of? It isn't until he is confronted with his family's long-hidden secret that Max begins to discover what luck and true value is all about. This is the story of Max Chastine, a man who tries to outnumber and outrun life's lucky and not-so-lucky twists of fate. Born into a unique culture of a tight (and often judgmental) Jewish community in Havana, Cuba, Max is forced to figure out his place in the world and convince everyone, including himself, of his true value and worth. Love and family--can that combination be beat? Will secrets of the past continue to haunt? Can success really be measured in numbers?

280 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2020

Reviews

[Debbie Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Havana, Cuba, Max has a gift for picking lucky numbers playing the Charada, the lottery, where every number has a specific meaning. Max has an intuitive talent for knowing which numbers are winners, interpreting relevant numeric combinations that go beyond the skill set of an average lottery-player. He also has a talent for getting into trouble. After a night where his shenanigans go too far, Max has to leave the country. He may win the Charada, but for Max to become a winner in life - and love – he must first take a journey to the United States, away from the school where he’s barely scraping by, from the streets where he runs wild with his unruly friends, and most importantly, from his abusive stepfather. A fascinating look into the cultural world of historical Cuba, as well as the origins of the tight-knit Cuban Jewish community of New York, you will fall in love with Max and root for him all the way. Eizenbaum’s attention to detail speaks to her personal experience and background, lending an authenticity that sings throughout.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max is a young boy growing up in Havana, Cuba. His step father is a cruel man and while his sad mother tolerates his insults, Max cannot. He often escapes by running the streets with his best friends, playing his bongo’s and visiting his beloved grandparents. The one thing where he discovers his luck is picking the charada, the local lottery. Players translate common words into numbers and Max finds meaningful combinations that often make him a winner. This little bit of luck helps Max keep his faith in the future and his dreams alive. Barely getting by in school, one evening his mischief leads to real trouble in a night club and Max’s mother wastes no time packing his bags for America. Everything is scary in this foreign land. His first plane ride, learning English and fitting in with this small New York Cuban Jewish community. It is there he later meets the love of his life and finally begins to figure out how to be the man he longs to be. This sensitive story of family and friendship tests the true nature of one young man’s desires to make a better life for himself while hanging on to his oldest friends, his passion for music and his heart. I highly recommend this wonderful read filled with lovable characters and fascinating Cuban-American history.