The Poet Slave of Cuba: a biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls.

I was sent this book a long, long time ago after hearing wonderful things about it.  In clearing my shelves, I found it again, opened it to glance in and was caught in the story.  This morning, it won the Belpre Medal for writing. 

This is the story of the poet Juan Francisco Manzano, who lived in slavery in Cuba.  His story is told in verse, allowing readers to see the horrors of slavery and the atrocities committed against Juan.  Juan was set free as a child when his owner died, but was immediately taken back into slavery by a deranged woman who called herself his Mama.  Though his real mother purchased Juan from slavery for a second time, Juan was still enslaved until he escaped himself.

From a young age, Juan showed his gift with words and language.  But as a slave he was not allowed to express these gifts.  If he was caught, his owner would fly into a rage and have him whipped or worse.  Yet Juan could not allow his mind to be still.  He continued to think, express himself, and find poetry even in his pain.

Engle’s verse does not shy away from the horrors of Juan’s existence.  But just as his poetry did, she finds a way to show the beauty that surrounded him, his defiance, his rage and his ability to hope.  The verse is often painful and horrific, but readers will be able to turn the page because of the hope and strength that is also portrayed there. 

Readers will enjoy the tastes of Juan Francisco Manzano’s poetry at the end of the book and will be fascinated to know what happened to him after his escape.  This book is amazing, and I wonder at the strength and nerve it took the author to evoke a poet’s life in verse.   Her own poetry is strong, unflinching and speaks directly to the soul.  I can’t imagine the book done without the poetry infusing each word.  Only in this way could the book have enough of the subject’s personal song inside of it.

Highly recommended, libraries will struggle with where to put this book that is poetry, biography, and novel.  I recommend putting it out where teens are likely to find it.  Burying it in nonfiction will make sure it doesn’t check out.  Highlighting it in fiction will get it into the hands of teens who will be thrilled to find such a deep read.