Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle

 

Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle is another young adult memoir my school purchased as a book clubs option for our students. I've been making my way through several books from this order to see which ones might appeal to different kids. I decided to give this one a try next.

Enchanted Air tells the story of Margarita's childhood as a Cuban-American girl growing up in the 1950s and 60s. Her mother is from Cuba and her father is American. They live in the United States, but take regular trips to the island to visit family. On these trips, Margarita feels like a whole different person; she loves the tropical atmosphere, the rural lifestyle, and horses that live on her family's farm. This version of herself is more courageous and independent than the shy, nerdy Margarita that she is in America. She treasures the time she spends in Cuba and looks forward to returning there each year. 

Political conflicts, however, soon cut Margarita off from the island she loves. The revolution, and the ensuing hostility between Cuba and the United States, make travel impossible. Tensions also rise at home with neighbors, teachers, and classmates regarding anyone of Cuban descent with suspicion. Margarita feels like half of herself is missing and struggles to adjust to a life without her beloved island. She also worries about her Cuban family, who lose their farm and land in the transition to communism. Eventually, she finds some solace in reading, writing and through travel to other places with her family. She comes to understand that the world is vast and full of beautiful places to explore, and remains hopeful that she will be able to visit Cuba again someday.

I realized while sitting here typing out this summary that it seems like nothing much happens in this book, but it definitely doesn't feel that way when you're reading it. The story is written in verse, and Engle does a wonderful job of capturing not only the pain she felt at her separation from Cuba, but also the typical struggles of growing up and feeling like an outsider. Her story has its sad moments, but it has uplifting moments as well. I was thoroughly engaged in the memoir and moved through it quickly. The language was truly beautiful; I could feel Engle's love for Cuba in the pages alongside her confusion and frustration over the politics that stood between her and her family. 

Enchanted Air is short, but quite striking and memorable. Aside from being a great memoir in its own right, it also touches on aspects of history that many students are unfamiliar with, like the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missle Crisis, and the Cold War, from the perspective of a young person actually impacted by it. It has won a slew of young adult awards since its publication in 2015 and they are certainly well-deserved. I will definitely be recommending this memoir to students in the future.                 

2023 Reading Challenges Tally:

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 21/24

Clear the Shelves 2023: 12/24