I know know the strange names Of the herbs and the flowers, And deadly betrayals, And sacred sorrows. - Jose Marti
This free verse novel just won a 2009 Newbery Honor Award. I found the story of the three wars between 1868 and 1898 in Cuba fascinating. Ruled by Spain, the rebels on the island of Cuba continually fought to free slaves and become an independent nation. This complex history is cleverly and simply told by Rosa, a nurse, who helps all people who are sick or injured, friend and enemy, by using the native plants. Rosa's story is interspersed with poems from the point of view of her husband Jose, who guards the hospitals and huts and caves where they hide, and a young girl who has survived the reconcentration camp set up by the Spanish to prevent the peasants from growing and providing food for the rebels. Rosa is stalked her entire life by "Lieutenant Death", a Spanish slavehunter whose only goal has become to kill the "witch", even though she healed his injuries when he was young. This is easy-to-read and would interest older students who enjoy historical or political stories. It was a sad realization for me to learn that the US fought the Spanish American War to gain control of Cuba from Spain following the third war in Cuba. A time line is included in the back of the book.
