"In a new epilogue to this classic work, renowned ethnographer and storyteller Ruth Behar reflects on the groundbreaking impact The Vulnerable Observer has had on anthropology, sociology, and psychology and on scholarly writing"-- Provided by publisher
Pura Belpré Award Winner Ruth Behar's inspiring story of a young Jewish girl who escapes Poland to make a new life in Cuba, while she works to rescue the rest of her family The situation is getting dire for Jews in Poland on the eve of World War II. Esther's father has fled to Cuba, and she is the first one to join him. It's heartbreaking to be separated from her beloved sister, so Esther promises to write down everything that happens until they're reunited. And she does, recording both the good--the kindness of the Cuban people and her discovery of a valuable hidden talent--and the bad: the fact that Nazism has found a foothold even in Cuba. Esther's evocative letters are full of her appreciation for life and reveal a resourceful, determined girl with a rare ability to bring people together, all the while striving to get the rest of their family out of Poland before it's too late. Based on Ruth Behar's family history, this compelling story celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the most challenging times.
A poignant multicultural ode to family and what it means to create a home as one girl helps her Tía move away from her beloved Miami apartment. When Estrella's Tía Fortuna has to say goodbye to her longtime Miami apartment building, The Seaway, to move to an assisted living community, Estrella spends the day with her. Tía explains the significance of her most important possessions from both her Cuban and Jewish culture, as they learn to say goodbye together and explore a new beginning for Tía.A lyrical book about tradition, culture, and togetherness, Tía Fortuna's New Home explores Tía and Estrella's Sephardic Jewish and Cuban heritage. Through Tía's journey, Estrella will learn that as long as you have your family, home is truly where the heart is.
Winner of the 2018 Pura Belpre Award! “A book for anyone mending from childhood wounds.”—Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street In this unforgettable multicultural coming-of-age narrative—based on the author’s childhood in the 1960s—a young Cuban-Jewish immigrant girl is adjusting to her new life in New York City when her American dream is suddenly derailed. Ruthie’s plight will intrigue readers, and her powerful story of strength and resilience, full of color, light, and poignancy, will stay with them for a long time. Ruthie Mizrahi and her family recently emigrated from Castro’s Cuba to New York City. Just when she’s finally beginning to gain confidence in her mastery of English—and enjoying her reign as her neighborhood’s hopscotch queen—a horrific car accident leaves her in a body cast and confined her to her bed for a long recovery. As Ruthie’s world shrinks because of her inability to move, her powers of observation and her heart grow larger and she comes to understand how fragile life is, how vulnerable we all are as human beings, and how friends, neighbors, and the power of the arts can sweeten even the worst of times.
The anthology showcases the diverse and powerful voices of contemporary Cuban women writers, previously overlooked due to a male-dominated literary scene. Compiled by editor Mirta Yáñez, it features sixteen stories that highlight the resilience and creativity of these authors against the backdrop of Cuba's economic struggles and artistic revival. This collection not only introduces new talent to an international audience but also provides insight into the complexities of life in Cuba during a transformative period.
(Published in cloth as Santa Maria del Monte)
Focusing on a northern Spanish community, the book explores how the residents of Santa María del Monte have united during crucial moments to preserve their traditional social structures. These collective actions have enabled the villagers to endure various demographic, political, and economic challenges throughout history, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of their community.
Set over five centuries, this novel weaves together the narratives of four girls from a Jewish family across different generations. Each character faces the challenge of leaving their homeland and starting anew, highlighting themes of resilience, identity, and the impact of history on personal lives. Through their journeys, the story explores the enduring bonds of family and the struggles of adapting to change while maintaining cultural heritage.
Focusing on the concept of "home," this collection employs feminist scholarship to examine its varied meanings across different social, class, sexual, ethnic, and racial contexts. Contributors analyze historical, literary, and cultural texts, challenging traditional notions of home and highlighting diverse women's experiences. The book features narratives from a range of women, including elite white women from the U.S. and Canada, rural poor women in the U.S. and France, and a British Caribbean freed slave, offering a rich tapestry of perspectives on what home signifies for women throughout history.
Moving between the speech and silence of a woman struggling to speak freely, Ruth Behar embarks on a poetic voyage into her own vulnerability and the sacrifices of her exiled ancestors as she tries to understand love, loss, regret, and the things we keep and carry with us. Behar's vivid renderings of wilted gardens, crashing waves, and firefly-lit nights recall the imagery of her inspiration, Dulce María Loynaz, who is often known as the Cuban Emily Dickinson. Presented in a beautiful bilingual English-Spanish edition--Behar serves as her own translator--Everything I Kept/Todo lo que guardé will haunt readers with the cries and whispers which illuminate the human spirit and the spectrum of emotions that make for a life and lives well-remembered.
When dog meets baby, it will take a little time and a lot of love for Pepita and Bebita to become the best of friends. Welcoming a new baby can be hard, especially when you’re used to being the center of attention! When it’s time for Pepita, the puppy of the family, to meet the brand new bebita, she’s in for a few surprises. What do you mean that Mami is too busy to bounce a ball for Pepita? And Papi seriously can't find any time to scratch her ears? This new bebita is a bit of a problem.... But along the way, the two will grow to love one another and become a family with even more smiles and heartwarming moments. From award-winning author Ruth Behar and her son, Gabriel Frye-Behar, comes a true-to-life story about adjusting to new additions and embracing change.