By Ruth Behar
*Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
*Hardcover: 272 pages
*ISBN-10: 0593323408
*ISBN-13: 978-0593323403
"As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." --Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
Spanning over 500 years, Pura Belpré Award winner Ruth Behar's epic novel tells the stories of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their country and start a new life.
In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Benvenida and her family are banished from Spain for being Jewish, and must flee the country or be killed. They journey by foot and by sea, eventually settling in Istanbul.
Over four centuries later, in 1923, shortly after the Turkish war of independence, Reina’s father disowns her for a small act of disobedience. He ships her away to live with an aunt in Cuba, to be wed in an arranged marriage when she turns fifteen.
In 1961, Reina’s daughter, Alegra, is proud to be a brigadista, teaching literacy in the countryside for Fidel Castro. But soon Castro’s crackdowns force her to flee to Miami all alone, leaving her parents behind.
Finally, in 2003, Alegra’s daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by all the journeys that had to happen before she could be born. A keeper of memories, she’s thrilled by the opportunity to learn more about her heritage on a family trip to Spain, where she makes a momentous discovery.
Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by a love of music and poetry, a desire to belong and to matter, a passion for learning, and their longing for a home where all are welcome. And each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of their courageous ancestors.
A lo largo de más de quinientos años, la novela épica de Ruth Behar, ganadora del Premio Pura Belpré, relata la historia de cuatro jóvenes de distintas generaciones de una familia judía, varias de ellas obligadas a abandonar su país y empezar una nueva vida.
En 1492, en tiempos de la inquisición española, Benvenida y su familia son expulsados de España por ser judíos, y deben abandonar el reino o morir. Viajan por caminos y mares, asentándose eventualmente en Estambul. Casi cinco siglos más tarde, en 1923, poco después de terminada la guerra de independencia turca, el padre de Reina la deshereda por un pequeño acto de desobediencia. La envía en barco a vivir con su tía en Cuba, donde se casa en un matrimonio arreglado al cumplir quince años.
En 1961, la hija de Reina, Alegra, se siente orgullosa de ser brigadista, de enseñar a leer y escribir en provincia, en nombre de Fidel Castro. Pero muy pronto, las represiones del régimen la obligan a huir a Miami sola, dejando a sus padres atrás. Por último, en 2003, la hija de Alegra, Paloma, está emocionada de salir de Miami, donde viven, y visitar España con sus padres y su abuela Reina. En un museo, Paloma ve una nota conservada desde la Edad Media que, sin ella saberlo, escribió su antepasada Benvenida justo antes de huir del país. Aunque las separan muchos años y muchos mares, las une el deseo de aprender y su anhelo por un hogar donde sean bienvenidas.
Review
“Four 12-year-old Sephardic Jewish girls in different time periods leave their homelands but carry their religion, culture, language, music, and heritage with them. . . . Woven through all four girls’ stories is the same Ladino song (included with an English translation); as Paloma says, ‘I’m connected to those who came before me through the power of the words we speak, the words we write, the words we sing, the words in which we tell our dreams.’ Behar’s diligent research and personal connection to this history, as described in a moving author’s note, shine through this story of generations of girls who use music and language to survive, tell their stories, and connect with past and future. Powerful and resonant.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Behar (Lucky Broken Girl)delivers a moving tale about four generations of a Sephardic Jewish family navigating cultural and societal upheaval from 1492 to 2003. . . . Divided into four parts, this enlightening read depicts one family’s determination to embrace and preserve her Jewish identity and offers glimpses into the long history of Jews in Spain. Behar crafts each included era with painstaking period detail and lush language, delivering a stunning portrayal of immigration and Jewish culture and religion that expounds upon the importance of remaining true to oneself, explores themes of prejudice and racism, and exposes the harm that bigotry can inflict on both individuals and society. The author includes English translations alongside songs and words in Ladino; concluding source notes add further historical context.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“This powerful historical novel by Behar relates the journeys and discoveries of four young girls from different generations of the same family. . . . Each protagonist embarks on a journey, whether fleeing persecution, searching for liberty, or discovering her past and her future. . . . The simple, resonant, and lyrical narrative transmits the hope and trust that have sustained Sephardic Jewish communities through the generations. Even the names of the title characters speak a blessing. Benevida means welcome; Reina means queen; Allegra means happiness; and Paloma means peace. An author’s note explains Behar’s connection to this important history. This moving historic tale treats every word used as if it is a fleeting and impossibly beautiful note in a song that can never be forgotten, as it illuminates a people and a past that deserves to be forever remembered. This will appeal to fans of Jane Yolen’s Briar Rose, and is highly recommended for all collections.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“This welcome historical novel traces a Sephardic Jewish family whose members travel from one country to another with first-person narrators from four generations and spanning centuries. . . . This family saga provides glimpses of several moments in world history and gives readers opportunities to spot connections among the generations, sometimes knowing details about the past that the characters can only guess at. . . . An oud and a Ladino song add echoes from one section to another. The author’s note provides context and personal connections; back matter also includes source notes with accessible explanations.” —The Horn Book
“Behar's sprawling saga, based in part on her own family history, captures the poignancy of being expelled from one's home. . . . The return to Spain brings the story full circle and provides readers with a satisfying conclusion. Generous author notes are appended.” —Booklist
Ruth Behar (ruthbehar.com), the Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Lucky Broken Girl and Letters from Cuba, was born in Havana, Cuba, grew up in New York, and has also lived in Spain and Mexico. Her work also includes poetry, memoir, and the acclaimed travel books An Island Called Home and Traveling Heavy. She was the first Latina to win a MacArthur "Genius" Grant, and other honors include a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship and being named a "Great Immigrant" by the Carnegie Corporation. An anthropology professor at the University of Michigan, she lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ruth Behar nació en La Habana, Cuba, creció en Nueva York y también ha vivido en España y México. Además de escribir para lectores jóvenes, su trabajo incluye poesía, memorias y los aclamados libros de viaje An Island Called Home y Traveling Heavy, que exploran sus viajes de regreso a Cuba y la búsqueda de su hogar. Fue la primera latina en ganar una beca MacArthur "Genius". Obtuvo una beca John Simon Guggenheim y fue nombrada "Gran Inmigrante" por la Carnegie Corporation. Actualmente es profesora de antropología en la Universidad de Michigan y vive en Ann Arbor, Michigan.
