THE SURRENDER
TREE:
POEMS
OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
by Margarita
Engle
Engle, Margarita. 2008. THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S
STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. New York: Henry Hold and Company. ISBN 9780805086744.
Plot
Summary:
THE
SURRENDER TREE is a fictional narrative based on the historical events of the Cuban
people’s plight for independence from Spain and to break the shackles of
slavery spanning the second half of the nineteenth century. Written in non-rhyming
verse style, the ebbs and flows of the story are presented to the reader in a
first person narrative from the points of view of the protagonist, Rosa la Bayamesa, the healer, José, her
husband and protector, Silvia, her assistant, and the antagonist Lieutenant
Death, the slave hunter. The powerful narrative illustrates the desire of one woman
to heal all who come to her, slaves, rebels, and enemy alike. Set in five
parts, the narrative describes how Cuban’s survived the ten years war (1868-78),
the little war (1878-80), and the war of independence from Spain (1895-98); the
entrance of the United States into the war; and Spain’s surrender to the
U.S. After all these chain of events, one of the final statements that José sadly
makes is, “Spain has been defeated, …Cuba is not victorious,” (Engle, 2008).
Critical
Analysis:
The
non-rhyming verse novel is indicated to the reader by the title of the narrator
at the top of each page that they speak in. Most verses span only a single page
and no longer than a page and a half, the tone of the action is revealed by the
length of the sentences. Short sentences are quick, abrupt, and filled with
foreboding, while longer sentences give a feel of lessened tension. This is
extremely evident when Lieutenant Death narrates, which is usually in sharp,
and short sentences and have a very negative feel.
The verse
novel is written in a way that is best read aloud to hear the tone and pace
of the lines and the emotions they exude. The narrative is alternated between the five primary
characters of Rosa, José, Silvia, Lieutenant Death, and Captain-General Weyler. These five characters shape the tale and reveal opposing, yet
connecting perspectives of the dramatic events.
The novel
has a very helpful author’s note, historical note, chronology of the events, a selected references list, and acknowledgements sections at the end of the story. These
all help the reader internalize what they have just read and gain an
understanding of the actual historical events that shaped the novel. The author
offers great insight the struggles of the Cuban people during this time and the
foundations to the current relations between the United States and Cuba.
The book
design and compact size is perfect for the reader to take outdoors to read aloud to a loved one, friend or self. The verses are written in short stanzas, but
the words produce very descriptive meanings and heartfelt emotions. Reading
the novel in this way captures its true essence joy and sorrow.
Review
Excerpt:
THE SURRENDER TREE:
POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM is
the 2009 winner of the Pura Belpré Medal for Narrative, the 2009 winner of the Bank
Street – Claudia Lewis Award, the 2009 winner of the Bank Street – Best Children’s
Book of the Year, and a 2009 Newbery Honor Book (Macmillian, 2013).
The Booklist Starred Review of the novel stated, “Many readers will be caught by the
compelling narrative voices and want to pursue the historical accounts in
Engle’s bibliography.” (Rochman, 2009)
Connections:
I have
only read one other verse novel which was THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, so I will reveal the similarities and differences in each of these works. The two
novels are similar in that they were both written in the non-rhyming verse method.
Word choice, sentence length, tone, and the beat of each of the lines are very
relevant in both novels. However, I did find the story of THE SURRENDER TREE to
be more compelling and mature than that of THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN. Both novels
are excellently written and have each won many awards and accolades, but I felt
the connection to THE SURRENDER TREE to be much stronger, which my personal
response will explain in more detail.
Personal
Response:
Being a
second-generation American of Cuban-Mexican decent, I have lived in South Texas
along the United States and Mexican border my entire life. I was primarily raised within the
Texan-Mexican-American or Tejano culture so I have few ties to my Cuban heritage and lack
the knowledge of its history. This novel opened my eyes and heart to the plight
of my ancestors in their struggle for independence from Spain and a glimpse into
the beginnings of their tense relationship with the United States. I often
wondered why the tensions between the United States and Cuba were so high and
this novel reveals some insight to that history as well. I still have many relatives
living in Cuba today, so I have found a new desire to read more of Margarita
Engle’s works about Cuba and the heritage I have so callously dismissed and taken
for granted.
References:
Booklist Review (2008). The
Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom reviewed by Hazel
Rochman. http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=2434975&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Engle, Margarita (2008). The
Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom. New York: Henry Holt
and Company LLC.
Good Reads (2013). The
Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom book cover. Retrieved
from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2871746-the-surrender-tree
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