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    The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
    The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
    The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
    Ebook191 pages57 minutes

    The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano

    By Margarita Engle and Sean Qualls

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    About this ebook

    A lyrical biography of a Cuban slave who escaped to become a celebrated poet.

    Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty.

    Powerful, haunting poems and breathtaking illustrations create a portrait of a life in which even the pain of slavery could not extinguish the capacity for hope.

    The Poet Slave of Cuba is the winner of the 2008 Pura Belpre Medal for Narrative and a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

    Latino Interest.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateJan 13, 2015
    ISBN9781466889637
    The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
    Author

    Margarita Engle

    Margarita Engle is a Cuban American poet and novelist whose work has been published in many countries. Her many acclaimed books include Silver People, The Lightning Dreamer, The Wild Book, and The Surrender Tree, a Newbery Honor Book. She is a several-time winner of the Pura Belpré and Américas Awards as well as other prestigious honors. She lives with her husband in Northern California. For more information, visit margaritaengle.com.

    Read more from Margarita Engle

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    Reviews for The Poet Slave of Cuba

    4/5

    12 ratings19 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Elegantly written character-driven poetry recounting the life of Juan Manzana. Warning, this text takes some wrestling with, perhaps more than other recently reviewed books. The book is filled with vivid imagery. So vivid that some audiences may find the violence difficult to deal with. I know I did. Nonetheless a valuable resource. Social studies connections are there, but this book may not be appropriate for the younger ages whom I will be teaching.
    • 4/5
      A beautifully written book in verse, it tells of the life of Juan Fransisco Manzano, a Cuban poet who was born a slave. His story is told from not only his point of view, but from the point of view of his mother, father, and two "owners." His first mistress treated as some sort of pet, dressing him up and showing him off, appearing, for all intensive purposes, to care for him. She promised his mother freedom upon her death, but rather than being free himself, Juan was passed on to another woman who felt that his gift was something to be squashed, unfitting of a slave. The reader suffers with him as his punishments are described, terrible even in verse. Even if the verse may put off some readers, it should be pushed anyway because it is not dense, and almost easier to read, as well as adding to the ambiance and tone of the book, reading the world as Manzano himself may have. Recommended to middle school and high school readers.
    • 5/5
      Fascinating poetic character study of historical figures. Great for studying the emotional toll of slavery on all parties involved.
    • 5/5
      A beautiful portrayal of Juan Francisco Manzano's biography. This was admittedly the first time I heard his story, and Engle's poetic verse replicates the contradictory life of beauty and pain that Manzano endured as a slave. So fascinating to see different characters' development and voice through poetry and not just prose!
    • 4/5
      A haunting and hopeful story, both for what the poems express and don't express.
    • 4/5
      I initially was intrigued with the form author Margarita Engle used to tell Manzano's story. Juan Francisco Manzano was born into slavery, where he lived two very different lives at the hands of his masters. One relationship shows a woman who treats him as if young Juan is her "toy" to parade around as a prized object; while his next master abuses him, partly because of her jealousy at Juan's knowledge. The Poet Slave of Cuba, while written beautifully and from various characters' perspectives, makes this a very realistic, gut-wrenching, and inspirational biography.
    • 4/5
      I was surprised by this book. This is a biography in the most unusual of senses. This story investigates Juan Fransisco Manzano, the poet slave of Cuba through poetry. This is an interesting way to have students read poetry for a distinct purpose, and use clues of poetry to construct an understanding of the facts of a person's life. Because nothing is really given to the reader outright, it is the duty of the reader to sort out the details of the life, a task that turns out actually to be pretty fun. The poetry is great and beautiful, and students could also perform them. I recommend this book for language arts classrooms.
    • 4/5
      Written in verse, this biography details the early life of Juan Francisco Manzano. He was a boy born into slavery. He was taken from his birth mother and treated as a "poodle" by Dona Beatriz. Although promised freedom at the event of Beatriz's death, he becomes the slave of La Marquesa de Prado Ameno. She is a vindictive, cruel, and unpredictable master. With frequent beatings and horrible punishments, Manzano someone preserves his spirits through his love of words, poetry, and art. He nutures many talents. Although he looses almost everything, he manages to keep his desire for his freedom. There is a really interesting afterward to the book about Manzano and even some samples of his poetry.
    • 4/5
      I love that the author decided to tell the story of a poet's life through poetry. I think this book really challenges readers to rethink what nonfiction is and can do.
    • 3/5
      Listened to audiobook. Boring to listen to because of the narrators. This is a biography of the Poet Juan Francisco Manzano, a poet from Cuba. He was thrown into slavery but fought back with his creative mind by learning to read and write.
    • 5/5
      At first, simply flipping through the pages, I didn't think I was going to be able to understand this book. I thought it was going to be a bunch of poems together to make a book. I was 100% inaccurate. I loved this book. The story of Juan was incredible. The hardships he faced were unimaginable. I can't imagine going through any of the awful things he endured. It's a wonderful story about determination, faith, and perseverance. I would definitely recommend this book!
    • 4/5
      A beautiful biography of Juan Francisco Manzano told in poetry form, this verse novel tells of the horrific cruelty he endured at the hands of his owner and the hope he held onto until his escape. This is a great novel to pair with Social Studies.
    • 5/5
      This biography, written in verse, is a beautiful tribute to the poet, Juan Francisco Manzano. Born into slavery, it depicts his tragic life from childhood until he is able to escape to freedom. It is also the story of his mother who worked to free him but was never able to. It is amazing he could rise above the cruelty, pain and humiliation he had to endure.Margarita Engle bases her book on the autobiography published of the poet's life. He was able to smuggle papers from Cuba where they were published in England. An excerpt from "My Thirty Years" - translated- "When I look back the distance I've run/ from the cradle to this present day/ I tremble and greet my fortune/ more with terror than polite attention."
    • 5/5
      Earning the 2006 Pura Belpre Medal Book Author Award, this heart twisting book in verse, assembles the tragic biography of a young Cuban slave, Juan Fransicso Manzano. Even though one night he escapes on horseback after years of abuse by a cruel master whom he must call "mother" , the story still leaves you with a feeling of anger overshadowed with sadness for his torment and those slaves who never escaped. One would think this young slave destined to be at the mercy of his horrible existence would never have the courage to leave, but fear did not consume him, rather it was his longing for freedom to speak and write his poetry. This book in verse is promising for the classroom in many areas such as slavery, an historical primary source, history of the African Diaspora, and writing in verse.
    • 5/5
      This novel told in verse is about Juan Francisco Manzano, the poet slave of Cuba. Although the book is a little hard to get into, it is a beautiful and heartfelt story and introduces its reader to a great poet. Highly Recommended read.
    • 3/5
      This novel, written entirely in verse, tells the story of Cuban slave poet Juan Francisco Manzano. The story alternates point of view from Juan, his mother, his slave owner, and her son, along with several other interjections. The verse is sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes hopeful, telling the story of Juan's slavery even after his family is set free. The vivid descriptions of torture because of his genius and desire to always acquire knowledge are hard to read at times, but the poetry shines through making this a good read.
    • 4/5
      includes some semi-creepy pictures. although this whole book has a sad tone, so they match the words expertly. discusses cruel treatment of slaves.
    • 5/5
      This was delivered today and I devoured this book. I cried like a baby and wished this brilliant man found peace and happiness at some point in his life. A fantastically written book.
    • 4/5
      Subtitle: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. Manzano was born into the household of a wealthy slaveowner in Cuba in 1797. The young Juan showed a talent for poetry, and he was used by his owner as entertainment for her friends; he recited poetry, sang opera and performed for them. Dona Beatriz gave Juan’s mother and father their freedom, but kept the “child of my old age” with her. Her promise that Juan, too, would be freed on her death was not kept; he was sent to the Marquesa de Prado Ameno, whose cruelty apparently knew no bounds. He eventually escaped her estate and made his way to Havana. His poetry was censored by the colonial Spanish government because his depictions of slavery were considered to incite revolution. We know of his life today only because his autobiographical notes were smuggled to England where they were published, though half his manuscript was lost, so only his earlier life is recorded in his own hand.

      Engle studied Manzano’s poetry and life and was determined to write about him. She decided that to do justice to the power of his words, the biography should also be written in verse. Her poems are powerful, evoking a visceral response to the cruelty, sadness, dashed hopes and lost opportunities the young Juan experienced. But there is also the triumph of his indomitable spirit and a voice that would not be silenced.

      I’m so glad I came across this little gem.

    Book preview

    The Poet Slave of Cuba - Margarita Engle

    JUAN

    My mind is a brush made of feathers

        painting pictures of words

        I remember

        all that I see

        every syllable

        each word a twin of itself

        telling two stories

        at the same time

        one of sorrow

        the other hope

    I love the words

        written with my feathery mind

        in the air

        and with my sharp fingernails

        on leaves in the garden

    When my owner catches

        a whiff

        of the fragrance

        of words

        engraved in the flesh

        of succulent geranium leaves

        or the perfumed petals of alelí flowers

        then she frowns because she knows

        that I dream

        with my feathers

        my wings

    Poetry cools me, syllables calm me

        I read the verses of others

        the free men

        and know

        that I’m never alone

    Poetry sets me aflame

        I grow furious

        dangerous, a blaze

        of soul and heart, a fiery tongue

        a lantern at midnight

    My first owner was sweet to me

        I was her pet, a new kind of poodle

        my pretty mother chosen

        to be her personal handmaid

    My mother

        María del Pilar Manzano

        a slave

    Together we belonged

        along with countless others

        human beasts of burden

        to Doña Beatriz de Jústiz, La Marquesa

        the proud Marchioness Jústiz de Santa Ana

        noble wife of Don Juan Manzano

        who shares my name

        even though

        he is not

        my father

    Don Juan rules El Molino

        his plantation

        on this island of sugar

        and many other

        sweet illusions

    These were my mother’s duties:

        dress La Marquesa

        undress her

        cool her skin with a palm-leaf fan

        answer questions

        never ask

        collect milk from new mothers

        in the huts

        near the fields

        slave milk, the lotion used for softening

        the skin

        of noble ladies

    This my mother accomplished:

        deliver the milk

        grind eggshells and rice into powder

        for making la cascarilla

        a pale shell for hiding

        the darkness

        of Spaniards

        who pretend

        to be pale

        in our presence

    When the noble ladies go out in public

        milk-soothed, eggshell-crusted

        masked and disguised

        we no longer look the same

        dark owner

        and dark slaves

    Now my owner is ghostly

        inside her skeleton of powder

        but I, being only a poodle,

        can

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