MsCarlson

I read The Poet Slave of Cuba by Margarita Engle.  She, herself, is a poet from Cuba.  She is also a botanist, or someone who studies plants.  
    I have been reading this book for almost two weeks.  I am not completed with it yet, but find it very interesting.  So far, I have read about the main character Juan, who is a slave.  He is special, because he can memorize and recite everything he hears.  He is very young, and is treated like a pet by his owner.  This book is written in poems, from the account of different narrators.    
    One connection I made is when Juan refers to himself as a “pet.”   This reminds me of how pets are treated.  They are loved, cared for, punished by their owners, and are made to do what the owner wants.  This helps me understand that although Juan is loved, he is also made to do specific things.  Juan does not have free will.
    My favorite image from the book is the ladies who paint their faces “white” with “egg shells and rice.”  I can see how the ladies apply this mixture to their faces.  I also can see how white they must look next to Juan, who is a slave and has dark skin.  This helps me understand how the ladies define their status of “owner” by being white.  It also helps me understand that people, at this time, believe that being dark means you are a slave.  
    I recommend that you read this book for many reasons.  If you enjoy poetry, you may find this book interesting.  Also, if you are interested in historical memoirs, you may also find this book interesting.