The Firefly Letters

by Margarita Engle

The freedom to roam is something that women and girls in Cuba do not have. Yet when Fredrika Bremer visits from Sweden in 1851 to learn about the people of this magical island, she is accompanied by Cecilia, a young slave who longs for her lost home in Africa. Soon Elena, the wealthy daughter of the house, sneaks out to join them. As the three women explore the lush countryside, they form a bond that breaks the barriers of language and culture.

In this quietly powerful new book, award-winning poet Margarita Engle paints a portrait of early women's rights pioneer Fredrika Bremer and the journey to Cuba that transformed her life.


The Firefly Letters is a 2011 Pura Belpre Honor Book for Narrative and a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Poetry, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Novel In Verse

151 pages, Hardcover

First published March 16, 2010

About the author

Margarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She lives with her husband in northern California.

Reviews

[RKanimalkingdom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow
Wowy wow wow
This book was a gigantic step up from Hurricane Dancers!

Again told in verse but there was a huge difference in craft. Both books have earned tons of awards and medal but I felt it was really deserved for this book.

This book of verse tells the tale of Fredrika Bremer, a Swedish women who was Sweden's first women novelist and one of the earliest advocates of women's rights. In fact it was her work that pushed Sweden to give partial voting rights to its women as early at 1860!

Engle has chosen to create her tale amidst Bremer's 3 month journey to Cuba in which she shows her skill in verse poetry intermingling the beauty of Cuba with poisonous jabs of the ongoing slavery and treatment of women.

It's just so beautifully written because she chose to use symbols and metaphors which just amplified the beauty of poetry in verse.

There was a major symbolism of fireflies and how it represented both the men, women, and children who were slaves along with the views of women as being inferior to men. This was very very well done and I highly highly recommend it.

I'm sobbing because once again, I have read such an amazing book that it has wiped the words away from my mind and I am unable to write a cohesive review.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second verse novel I've read by this author, the first being The Lightning Dreamer . Both are set in Cuba and are historical fiction based on the lives of real people. While I enjoyed both books, I didn't feel quite as much of an emotional reaction while I was reading The Firefly Letters. Perhaps due to its short length, it didn't draw me into the story as much, and I had a difficult time caring about any of the characters.

The story is told from four points of view: Fredrika (a Swedish visitor), Cecilia (a slave, and Fredrika's translator), Beni (a slave, and Cecilia's husband), and Elena (the daughter of Fredrika's host). The author's note explains that Fredrika and Cecilia were real people. Beni was real, too, although the author had to make up a name for him and take some liberties with his character. Elena, however, is fictional, and I think perhaps this is why the story didn't work all that well for me. She is the character whose actions lead to the climax. But because she isn't real, it calls into question Cecilia's story arc as well. (Setting the story in this book aside, I want to know what really happened to Cecilia and her baby. Obviously, the truth is different than what is presented here.)

The writing is intelligent, with astute observations about women's roles, slavery, and social customs. The writing is also lovely, with lyrical descriptions of a magical island in the Caribbean. I don't really have many complaints about the writing itself.

This is a quick read, and if I'd been diligent, I probably could've gotten through it in one or two sittings. But something about it made me want to take my time and savour the words. While I don't think this book is as strong as The Lightning Dreamer, I do think it's a worthwhile read, especially for fans of historical fiction and/or verse novels.

Quotable moment:

Secrecy
does not surprise me.

I am accustomed
to the hidden plans
of slaves.

There is always
one dream or another,
a scheme to escape
and flee
into the wilderness
to live
without chains.

Maps of the roads
to wild places
are the reason
that we are not allowed
to learn
how to read.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm okaaaay.

I liked the idea of these 3 different women in different social classes still having their own issues with what freedom is.

A Swedish woman who is rebelling against the idea of what a woman of her standing in her country is supposed to be.

A wealthy Cuban daughter who feels like she will forever be stuck embroidering by her window, never getting to explore the world she was born "free" into.

A slave, 15, already married and pregnant.

I liked the idea of fireflies representing freedom.

But overall, I didn't think this story went deep enough? It's already short AND told in verse, so there wasn't a whole lot of room for me to get really invested in it. I did want it to go on longer.
I think I could've gotten more out of this if it were more fleshed out.

A very quick read that points out there are different kinds of freedom.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Rtc

[V.ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant tale told in simple, yet enchanting verses. My appreciation also went up a notch when I discovered that Frederika really existed, and she had a hand in shaping the women liberation movement in the 19th century Sweden.

The story is about Frederika's visit to Cuba, which forever changed the lives of two young women she encountered there--one is a slave, the other the daughter of the slave's master. In a few words rich with imagery and symbolism, Margarita Engle successfully transported me to 19th century Cuba, and touched me with the bravery of these three women.

[Michelle Pegram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from the perspectives of four different characters, this true story of a Dutch woman with the courage to defy the expectations of society, refuse marry, and travel to Cuba to see the new world, is especially magical because it is told in verse.

Frederika Bremer sought help from the Swedish Consulate in finding a place to stay for a visit to Cuba; she expected a rustic environment, but ended up being hosted in a manor home by a wealthy family. She wanted to experience the real Cuba, so she was offered the services of Cecilia, one of the family slaves. These two voices are joined by the young daughter of the family, Elena, who envies Frederika's freedom and courage and Beni, Cecilia's husband in arranged marriage.

Frederika ends up experiencing the beauty and the oppression of Cuba and bringing new ideas, new experiences and new perspectives to those she touches. In the end, the three women work together, to accomplish a dream of Cecilia's.

This book would be appropriate for middle grades through high school. It touches on so many important concepts including freedom, women's rights, and oppression, and could be used in many different units of study.

I read this book in digital format and nothing is lost in the translation.

[Hannah]

Where does Margarita find all these fascinating people, and why don't we ever get more books about them? This is a really great story, and while I don't want to say I want the book to be any different from what it is, I do wish I could also have another book that were a bit less sparse but about the same stuff.

[Paloma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Review in English |Reseña en Español

I feel like from all the books I’ve read lately, I am having mixed feelings all the time! This book is not the exception. The Firefly Letters is the story of Frederika Bremer, a Swedish writer and activist for the rights of women and of her stay at Matanzas, Cuba, in the late 19th century. I felt a bit disappointed because first, this is not a novel but rather a poetic narrative -in other words, this is written as a poem. Now, I hardly ever read poetry because… I just don’t. Thus, I felt deceived when I got this book because there is never a reference, in the description, of this being a poem. This is not bad, it’s just that probably I wouldn’t have picked this book had I know it was poetry.

Second, I felt this story, the life of Frederika and the women that she met in Cuba was so interesting, so complex and so inspiring but its description fell short precisely because of the form of the narrative. I am pretty sure this could have been a more passionate, exciting, dramatic novel had we dived into the complexities of a woman from the 19th century, who defied any traditions, left cold Sweden and settled in Cuba. There are glimpses of all this potential -in Cecilia’s longing for Congo; in Elena’s quiet and hidden life on her family’s plantation, in the rebellious heart and soul of these women…

In any case, I understand that the story might not have worked for me completely because of the form, because I would have preferred a novel. That said, the book is bot bad -it is well written, and I enjoyed the atmospheric descriptions of Cuba: the sea breeze, Eden on Earth, and the fireflies that illuminated the nights and lives of the population. That was truly poetic and very well achieved. I must also say that, though through a few lines, I got to really empathize and understand the characters: Frederika, who ran away from the European stiffness; Cecilia, captured and sold as a slave by her own father in Africa; and Elena, the daughter of a sugar plantation owner whose only purpose in life was to be a good wife. These women rebel in quiet but powerful ways.

Overall it was not a bad book; simply, I could not connect with the poetry form and I feel like the life of Frederika could have been better depicted through a novel. It is a beautiful book (the cover is gorgeous!) and so is its message…
________

Siento que de los últimos cinco libros que he leído siempre tengo sentimientos encontrados y eso no me gusta. Es decir, no los odio ni los amo, son solo… ¿regulares? Este libro no es la excepción. The Firefly Letters retrata la historia de Frederika Bremer, una escritora y activista sueca, una de las primeras defensoras de los derechos de las mujeres, durante su estancia de tres meses en Matanzas, Cuba, en el siglo XIX. En principio, lo que me decepcionó mucho fue que ésta no es una novela sino una narrativa poética -está literalmente escrita como un poema. Ahora bien, personalmente rara vez leo poesía porque… simplemente no lo hago, no es mi género. Entonces, me sentí un poco engañada porque sobre este libro, en todas las sinopsis que he leído, nunca se dice que es un poema. No es malo que sea un poema sino que, de haber sabido que lo era, probablemente nunca lo hubiera comprado.

En segundo lugar, creo que esta historia, la vida de Frederika y de las mujeres que conoció en Cuba son tan interesantes, tan complejas y tan inspiradoras pero su descripción se queda corta precisamente por la forma de la escritura. Estoy segurísima que esto puedo haber funcionado como una historia más apasionada, emocionante y dramática si hubiera sido una novela que nos permitiera ahondar en la complejidad de los tiempos y de una mujer que en el siglo XIX desafiaba las convenciones, dejaba su Suecia natal y se aventuraba en Cuba. Hay destellos de todo este potencial, incluyendo la añoranza de Cecilia por el Congo; la vida de reclusión de Elena en la plantación familiar; en el corazón y alma rebeldes de estas mujeres…

En todo caso, reconozco que puede que la historia no haya funcionado para mí complemente por la forma, ya que hubiera preferido una novela. Dicho esto, el libro no es malo; está bien escrito y disfruté la descripción de la atmosfera cubana: la brisa del mar, los atardeceres, un paraíso en la tierra, y las luciérnagas que iluminaban las noches y vida de la población. Esto fue muy poético y bien construido. También, y a pesar de la brevedad del texto, pude empatizar y conocer a los personajes: a Frederika, quien huyo del formalismo europeo: Cecilia, que fue capturada y vendida como esclava por su propio padre en África: y Elena, hija del dueño de una plantación de azúcar cuyo único propósito en la vida era ser una buena esposa. Estas mujeres se rebelan en formas silenciosas pero poderosas.

Como mencioné, no es un mal libro, solo que en lo personal me cuesta trabajo conectar con la poesía y siento que la vida de Frederika puedo haber sido mejor presentada a través de una novela. Es un libro bello (¡la portada es hermosa!) y su mensaje también lo es.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful historical fiction that takes place in the 1850s in Cuba, The Firefly Letters is written in verse about a young suffragette, feminist, and abolitionist from Sweden, Frederika (based on the real person, Frederika Bremer), Cecilia, a young slave, and Elena, the young Cuban girl who in her “privilege” is confined to the walls of her house and courtyard. All three women, as well as Beni, Cecilia’s husband, tell this incredible, beautifully written story that will transport you. This one would be great to teach to young people in middle school or freshman year of high school.

[Piyali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A member of my book club was so overwhelmed by the beauty of this book that she made a special trip to the library to lend me her copy. After reading the book, I can understand why. There are vignettes of Cuba and the lives of women in Cuba in this book that just took my breath away. I will certainly seek out books by this author.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 2011 Pura Belpre Award honor book for author, and so deserving. The theme of freedom was woven into all aspects of this novel, repeated over and over. Frederika Bremer, the young Swedish woman, travels in order to be free from the strictures tying women down in her country in 1851. Elena, the young girl with whose wealthy family Frederika is staying, longs for the freedom to walk outside and go where she wants to, something denied to women in 19th-century Cuban society. Cecelia, the slave who translates for Frederika, longs to be unenslaved, and for her unborn baby to be born free. When Frederika and Cecelia purchase captive fireflies from the children, just to release them, they are freeing not just the fireflies, but their hopes for their own freedom. This novel in verse was beautifully crafted. I appreciated Engle's bibliography at the end, with books for further reading. I had never heard of Frederika Engle until now, and I must read more about her. Highly recommended!

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've come to love books in verse, and Margarita Engle is one reason why. Her words are just so beautiful, and she manages to say so much in the short verses she writes. Each chapter is told through a different character's point of view, and the biggest quibble I have with this book is that I often had difficulty distinguishing which chapter was told through which character's perspective. There wasn't enough of a narrative difference for me to tell, so I had to really pay attention. Still, this is a beautiful book that shows how three women from very different backgrounds who each long for true freedom.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully worded book that conjures up so many vivid images in such few words.

Cuba 1851 , where slavery is rampant is the place Swedish writer Fredrika Bremer visits on her travels. During her 3 month stay on the island, she has a companion/ translator in the form of Cecelia who is a slave of the family hosting Frederika.
As Frederika travels around the island, she notes the disparities in the way girls are treated and points them out, urging action and giving hope to Cecelia as well.
Also majorly enamoured of Frederika is Elena, the daughter of her host family, who craves the freedom of living a life doing what she wants, being allowed to roam and play instead of always behaving like the perfect, marriage worthy girl as her parents expect.
Frederika herself is trapped by the mores of the time that allow her to only be one thing..a traveler and explorer or a dutiful wife and mother.

The concept of freedom for these 3 women is as different as their backgrounds but the desperate longing is the same.As one contemplates how to do more for those trapped slaves she encounters and another thinks about a future where her child will be as much of a slave as her, a third dares to dream of the impossible in defiance of everything she should be thinking and doing.

The beauty of the book is in its brevity; one that manages to nevertheless say so much and have such an impact.

[Kim Becker (MIDDLE of the Book MARCH) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, beautiful middle-grade story, written in verse about the Swedish women's rights pioneer Fredrika Bremer. It is a description of her living in Cuba with the fictional daughter of her host, Elena, along with Cecilia - a young slave, taken from her home and her mother when she was 8 years old. Cecilia became Fredrika's interpreter and companion as she visited slaves, freed slaves, and poor Cuban people.

Engle thoughtfully writes about the status of women in 1800s Cuba, as well as the slave trade that perpetuated, even though illegal. Her verse is poignant and emotional, while being so lovely and descriptive. It is the captivity and natural beauty of fireflies that symbolizes the trapped status of these young women.

The book is a treasure.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never in my life have I heard about Swedish heiress Fredrika Bremer, who left the castle where she spent the first two decades of her life in order to write about the injustices being done to people elsewhere in the world. She traveled to Cuba, where she enlisted the help of Cecelia, a slave who could speak English, as well as the friendship of a young Cuban named Elena. The three women each feel trapped, albeit in very different ways, but together work to better their lives and the lives of those around them. Considering I had absolutely zero foreknowledge before beginning this verse novel, I feel it was a fantastic introduction to the fight for freedom that took place in Cuba for women and for slaves.

[Noninuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows Frederika, a Swedish advocate for women's right, Selena, a Cuban sheltered wealthy young lady and Cecilia, a slave during the stay of Frederika in Cuba. Each chapter follows different POVs between the three characters as Frederika wants to learn about Cuba & Cuban ways while Selena & Cecilia want to be free in their own definition of "freedom".

I love the short & concise storytelling in verse by Margarita Engle. I've lost count of the number of her books that I've read. One thing I notice in her stories is that she always put readers in the perspective of characters from a marginalized community, in a historical setting. Reading her works made me learned a lot of things I previously oblivious about. I'm definitely a fan by now!

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, the lives of three young women intersect in historical Cuba. Cecilia was enslaved as a young girl and is now a teenage wife and mother who works as an interpreter for Elena's family. Elena has led a sheltered and privileged life preparing to be a wife herself, until Fredrika Bermer visits from Sweden to learn about Cuba and stays with her family. As she gets to know more about Cecilia, Elena, and the ugly, restrictive lives they lead due to slavery and sexism, she becomes more conflicted about her role in Cuba and what she can do to help them. The poetry included a number of powerful lines that I really enjoyed. I found it to be a little hard to engage with all the characters equally and was most connected to Cecilia, but it was still an interesting and thought-provoking read.

[Zayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle is a historical fiction poetry book about three strong women. It’s based in Cuba around 1851. Fredrika Bremer visits Cuba to explore the culture. Among her is Cecilia, a slave that longs for freedom. Especially for her baby. Also, Elena comes along and is very wealthy. They treat each other equally and help get Cecilia and her soon to be newborn freedom. Elena also feels trapped because her whole future is planned out for her and she has barely any rights. On the other hand, Fredricka is a free women, but is the hero for the two other women because she helps them get to freedom. The author keeps me engaged because I love reading any type of poetry. It feels like I am reading art. Moral of the story: anything is possible if you work hard to pursue your goal. The strengths is how beautiful the words flow, but the author needs to work on the setting. And telling more background and what Elena’s future husband is thinking about. This reminds me of Cinderella because Elena has a wealthy family, but is not treated with the respect for her future. I recommend this book if you like reading about poetry.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hopeful free verse book based on the real-life travels and work of Fredrika Bremer and her translator, Cecilia. We follow 3 different women: Swedish-born Fredrika, who is a women's rights advocate; African-born Cecilia (her specific country was not named), who is a pregnant, enslaved woman in Cuba; and Cuba-born Elena, the daughter of a rich family with traditional expectations. Each of these women provides a unique perspective and the desire for a better life for women. I didn't know much about Cuba in the 1850s, so this book was an interesting cultural and historical read.

[Samantha Matherne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prior to reading The Firefly Letters, I had never heard about the Swedish writer and advocate Fredrika Bremer. This is a partially fictionalized account of her visit to Cuba in the 1850s and her discovery of the beautiful paradise island along with the darker secrets housed on the island via slavery. The white savior trope does exist in the narrative, but in some of history that kind of rescue truly happened. I enjoyed learning who Bremer was and how she befriended Cecilia. Elena's situation plays a sweet part in the true events. Reading how contradictory the paradise setting is while staring the grim truth of slavery in the face from the POVs of people who lived it is striking.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful imagery and relatable emotions.

The resolution is somewhat disappointing in that with so much longing for freedom, so little is actually accomplished. That is not the fault of the author or any of her characters.

Perhaps the best metaphor is Fredrika buying the freedom of captured fireflies, but they eventually get tired and are captured again, and must once again be freed, or not have their freedom.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a "simple" book it sure packs a powerful message. I really enjoyed this book even though it ended at such a non-ending. But as Emily Dickinson wrote "hope is the thing with feathers," or perhaps in this case firefly wings.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

another outstanding book by Engle

I loved this one as much as silver People. Beautiful writing, the voices distinct. Insight into an incredible woman of whom I was unaware. And more understanding about Cuban history

[Katie Farmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, I felt such a disconnect from every character in this story and the ending felt wholly unsatisfying. It may also be that verse as a narrative form is just not for me. I wanted more detail and more depth and I'm not sure verse (at least in this case) lends itself to that.

[Hannah L · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Firefly Letters is a short poetry collection that puts Fredrika Bremer, a Swedish womens rights activist/writer, under the spotlight. The setting takes place in 19th century Cuba, where individual rights are unevenly dispersed based on gender, race, and wealth. With frequent changes of perspective, this beautiful selection expresses what it takes to be truly free and happy:)

I picked up this book quite randomly. The cover was interesting, and the reading level did not seem too complex. I decided to give this book a go, and surprisingly it was pretty good!

My favorite aspect was the simple organization of text. The reasonable ratio of words to blank made the poems easy to understand. The overall setup of the poetry collection helps the reader stay engaged in the plot without losing focus. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone searching for a short and beautiful selection.

I have some recommendations for Engle. There are some changes that could have transformed this story into a better reading experience. To start off, there is a lack of character description. The perspective shifts very frequently, but the reader is not given much information about the ones speaking. My final unhappy comment regards the abrupt ending. To avoid any spoilers, I will simply state that one of the plot's highest points of intensity lacked detail. It felt as though most major conflicts were solved within the last few pages of the story. Irritating!

If you enjoy gaining more insight about following your dreams, The Firefly Letters is a nice choice.
Don't be surprised by lack of important details, abrupt resolutions, and a vague tone.

Star rating: 3

[Paola]

This book is inspiring but also sad. These girls are located in Cuba and want freedom just just for themselves but for their own children.
This is such an inspiring book because sometimes when you have no hope the little things make you believe stronger and stronger each time. Although I'm not a fan of anything that has to do with slavery this book was soft in those parts in a away but has a way with words.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

One thing that you can always count on author Margarita Engle for is the delicate grace of her poetic verse, invariably so smooth and dreamlike. How exceptional is it to find such a talented poet who also brings awareness to little-known corners of history through her novels, illuminating the lives of unsung historical heroes who might very well never have gained the notoriety they deserve without an author like Margarita Engle to tell their stories to the world?

In 1851, pioneering novelist Fredrika Bremer of Sweden traveled to the Caribbean nation of Cuba, where she was able to observe in close quarters that the lush island habitat of eternal summer was not as glorious as imagined back in Sweden. The specter of slavery darkened the island like an ever-present storm cloud, and while Cuban children learned about freedom for all people in their schools, black children illegally brought to Cuba by slave traders were ruthlessly bought and sold right outside of those same institutions of learning. Fredrika observed the troubles of Cuba firsthand as she never could have done while in Sweden, and she longed in her heart to bring true freedom to this beautiful island, and release it from its bondage to the demons of slavery.

Fredrika was also a staunch advocate of gaining voting rights for female citizens, an issue that she greatly affected in Sweden during the course of her life. By the early 1860s, women in Sweden had been granted partial voting rights, in no small part because of Fredrika and her persuasiveness as a writer. Fredrika was the kind of person who backed up her beliefs with action, helping to care for the poor and downtrodden all of her life, and her three months in Cuba are still commemorated today by a plaque in her honor that can be found in Havana.

The Firefly Letters is, by its nature, a book of majestic phrase and almost magical use of words. Real people from history interact with compelling fictional characters to tell a story that is equal parts historical and fictional, with much to learn from the way that these two elements of the narrative intersect. Fredrika Bremer may not have expelled all of the world's evils during her sixty-four years on this earth, but she did accomplish much good, and helped light the way for those who came after her to fight for freedom wherever—and in whatever way—it may be in jeopardy.

The Firefly Letters is a good story with an important message. I would probably give it two and a half stars.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this verse novel, Swedish women's rights pioneer Fredrika Bremer travels to Cuba in the 1850s and changes the lives of those around here. There's Cecilia, whose own father sold her into slavery to this distant land. She's expecting her first child, knowing that he or she will never see her homeland because they will belong to someone for the rest of their lives just as she and her husband Beni do. There's also Elena, the daughter of Fredrika's wealthy host. Elena feels like a slave cooped up in her room sewing for her hope chest. She's never allowed outdoors except in the courtyard. She's 12 years old and in a few years her father will arrange her marriage to a business partner or some other acquaintance and she'll move from her father's house to her husband's. Such is the sum total of her life and she finds it very confining but not knowing how to break free, she must put up with it. She envies Cecilia who is allowed to show Fredrika around and who can travel through the streets at night rescuing fireflies.

This novel is short but it packs a punch. Verse is the only way to tell the story. The descriptions of Cuba are so amazing and detailed that it needed the poetry to describe this land. I especially liked the beautiful descriptions of Cuba and how this Eden was juxtaposed with the evils of slavery. I know very little about the history of Cuba and this story was a real eye opener. I kept thinking "how sad" at the end of each chapter and teared up a little at the end. My heart breaks for Cecilia who will likely not live past the birth of her child. She's a wonderful character who showcases the reality of slavery. I also felt bad for Elena, but at least she has a bit of freedom. She may not know how to obtain it yet but she might some day. I have studied this time period and American reformers but never encountered Fredrika before. I really liked her and how she had the courage to leave her father's money behind and do what she felt in her heart was right. I want to know more about her and this novel has inspired me to look her up.

[Kirah Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. This is a novel in verse that is told from the perspectives of four different individuals, Fredrika -a Swedish explorer, Elena -the rich young lady whose family houses Fredrika on her travels, Cecilia -a young slave girl who is a translator for the family, and Beni -the husband of Cecilia who is also a slave. At the beginning of this novel, Elena doesn't quite like Fredrika and Cecilia, but mostly because she is jealous that they get to roam around Cuba and be as "free" as they wish. Fredrika has come to Cuba to write about its beauty, but finds that while it is very beautiful, the country's slavery makes it very, very ugly. Cecilia is pregnant and soon will birth a child who will be born into slavery. Elena befriends Cecilia and Fredrika and comes up with a plan to save Cecilia's baby from slavery.
2. This book would be appropriate for 5th grade and through highschool!
3. I would recommend this novel in verse to students who like poetry and who like history.
4. I could use this text in small groups, perhaps in a text set about Cuban slavery. I could include a nonfiction text about Fredrika Bremer, Sweden's first female author.
5. I wouldn't use this book as a read aloud. It would be better read individually or in small groups.
6. I think there are a lot of uses for this book. I think it would benefit from an older crowd, 6-8, I think small excepts from this text could really enhance 5th grade curricula. While it is beautifully written, it offers an insight into the standards of propriety during the eighteen hundreds. It also shows slavery in Cuba, so it could be used for a history class on slavery or an English class. It could also been looked at in terms of poetry. You could even take certain excerpts from it as well and identify different things.
7. Related books include The Surrender Tree, Tropical Secrets, and The poet slave of Cuba.
8. This book comes in hardback edition and ebook versions.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Cuban fireflies are the most amazing little creatures I have ever seen. They flock to me at night, resting on my fingers so that, while I am sketching and writing letters, I need no other lantern, just the light from their movements.” Fredrika Bremer, 1851, Cuba
This quote from The Firefly Letters by Margaret Engle captures the essence of Fredrika Bremer’s experience in Cuba in 1851. Bremer, a suffragette, left her privileged life in Sweden to explore 19th Century Cuba. In this book, we learn not only about Fredrika’s experience but we learn about Cuban culture through the eyes of Cecilia, an African slave and translator for Fredrika, and Elena, a plantation owner’s daughter who hosts Fredrika.

In poetic verse, Engle brings the voices of each character to us through a series of rotating letters from Fredrika, Cecilia and Elena. The letters reveal that each of the characters longs for their own version of freedom and finds strength in the example set by Fredrika Bremer. Cecilia and Elena flock to Fredrika and illuminate her ability to see the Cuban culture for women. Despite cultural and language barriers, the three women form a bond that transforms their lives.

This powerful book would be an excellent text to use for exploring perspective with middle school students. Engle balances the voices of each character and the pace of the shifting perspectives beautifully. For readers who don’t gravitate to poetry, this book open my eyes to the power of the poetic verse!

In 2011, The Firefly Letters was named a Pura Belpre Honor Book for Narrative and a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year.