Rima's Rebellion: Courage in a Time of Tyranny
by
Margarita Engle
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Imprint
Atheneum
ISBN
9781534486935
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Discrimination: Sexism , Social Issue: Slavery in Historical Context , Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism , Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes , Violence: Abuse Reference/Discussion , Language: Mild Language
An inspiring coming-of-age story from award-winning author Margarita Engle about a girl falling in love for the first time while finding the courage to protest for women’s right to vote in 1920s Cuba.
Rima loves to ride horses alongside her abuela and Las Mambisas, the fierce women veterans who fought during Cuba’s wars for independence. Feminists from many backgrounds have gathered in voting clubs to demand suffrage and equality for women, but not everybody wants equality for all—especially not for someone like Rima. In 1920s Cuba, illegitimate children like her are bullied and shunned.
Rima dreams of a day when she is free from fear and shame, the way she feels when she’s riding with Las Mambisas. As she seeks her way, Rima forges unexpected friendships with others who long for freedom, especially a handsome young artist named Maceo. Through turbulent times, hope soars, and with it…love.
Historical note. International time line of women’s suffrage.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Discrimination: Sexism , Social Issue: Slavery in Historical Context , Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism , Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes , Violence: Abuse Reference/Discussion , Language: Mild Language
Details
Format
Page Count
208
Trim Size
8 3/10" x 5 1/2"
Dewey
F
AR
0: points 0
Lexile
NP
Genre
Fic
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Jun 2022
Book Genres
Historical Fiction, Novels in Verse
Topics
Family life. Cuba. Suffragists. Friendship. History of Cuba, 1909–1933. Caribbean and Latin America. Orphans and foster homes. Women’s rights. Illegitimate children.
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Cover Art
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Praise & Reviews
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
School Library Journal
Library Journal
Gr 6 Up—In 1920s Cuba, 12-year-old Rima Martin is a natural child. Her father refused to marry her mother, so they live on his land with Rima's abuela. They support themselves by making lace, and Abuela works as a farrier. Abuela is a member of Las Mambisas and was a heroic medic during the Cuban wars for independence; she now fights for women's rights. When the book opens, Rima has learned how to ride bareback to ride with Las Mambisas. Written in Engle's signature verse, the book goes from Women's Congresses through the roaring '20s to the growing suppression under the Cuban dictator, encompassing almost 15 years. A historical note provides some context for Cuban history at the end, but even with this, the story is chronologically hard to follow as it jumps from year to year, sometimes between individual poems. Rima's struggles with anxiety and her place in society form the beginning's main drama, which is augmented by her role in events that frame the struggles of Cuba. She joins a training program to become a printmaker, eventually printing for those rebelling against the government. She also meets and falls in love with a young glassmaker, Maceo, who appears almost out of nowhere. Maceo and other characters are flat on the page, with little dialogue and character development. Overall, the book lacks a compelling narrative drive to keep readers engaged. VERDICT While the story is made up of sometimes lovely verses, the book lacks a narrative or characters to make it a must-have. A secondary purchase of Engle's work.—Kate Fleming
Grades 10 & Up
History High
For Grades 10 & Up
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Interests
Diversity,Fiction,Mature Readers,Nonfiction,Biographies,Realistic Fiction,History
Grades 10 & Up
History High
12 books per Year
$259.20 per Year
