This gorgeously romantic contemporary novel-in-verse from award-winning author Margarita Engle tells the inspiring love story of two teens fighting for climate action and human rights.
Winged beings are meant to be free. And so are artists, but the Cuban government has criminalized any art that doesn’t meet their approval. Soleida and her parents protest this injustice with their secret sculpture garden of chained birds. Then a hurricane exposes the illegal art, and her parents are arrested.
Soleida escapes to Central America alone, joining the thousands of Cuban refugees stranded in Costa Rica while seeking asylum elsewhere. There she meets Dariel, a Cuban American boy whose enigmatic music enchants birds and animals—and Soleida.
Together they work to protect the environment and bring attention to the imprisoned artists in Cuba. Soon they discover that love isn’t about falling—it’s about soaring together to new heights. But wings can be fragile, and Soleida and Dariel come from different worlds. They are fighting for a better future—and the chance to be together.
Topics Environmentalism. Refugees. Artists. Political prisoners. Protest movements. Cuban Americans. Cuba. Costa Rica. Poetry. Romance. Friendship.
Lexile NP
Trim Size 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Spring
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2023-04-17
JLG Release Date Jun 2023
Minimum grade 9
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
PG High Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
PG High Plus
PG High Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
For Grades 9 & Up
This 14-book collection is perfect for high school readers who enjoy fascinating stories while preferring a gentler reading experience. With a mix of high-interest fiction, mystery, humor, and realistic storytelling, these selections provide an engaging literary journey.
14 books per Year
$285.46 per Year
Interests
Fiction, High Interest/Reluctant Reader, Thriller/Horror/Mystery, Novels, Funny/Humorous, Realistic Fiction