Marti's Song for Freedom = Marti y sus versos por la libertad
Equal parts poet and political revolutionary, José Marti devoted his life to fighting for Cuba’s freedom from Spain. As a young man, after witnessing the injustice of slavery on his home island, Martí was inspired to help the enslaved, who had “souls like his own—souls that should be free.” When Cuba’s Ten Years’ War—the fight for independence from Spain—began, Martí joined the cause as a political writer, for which he was imprisoned and then eventually exiled from Cuba. But Martí traveled “from country to country,” continuing to advocate for Cuba’s independence. After living in New York for a few years, Martí returned to Cuba to become a soldier in the Cuban War for Independence. He died in battle. Written in elegant verse, the narrative of Martí’s activism is complemented by stanzas from his own Versos sencillos. As a poet, he drew inspiration not only from his political work, but from his deep appreciation for nature, writing about the beauty of both Cuba and New York’s Catskill Mountains. This is a moving tribute to a man who, tragically, died before seeing his dream of Cuban independence come to pass. ©2017 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by
Beatriz Vidal
Translated by
Adriana Dominguez
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 7-11
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
19th Century
Activism and Resistance
Biography
Colonialism
Cubans and Cuban Americans
History (Nonfiction)
Slavery
World History
Writers and Writing
Diversity subject:
Latine
Publisher:
Children's Book Press
Publish Year: 2017
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780892393756
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 972 Otheguy