Engle, M. (2010). The firefly letters: A suffragette's journey to Cuba. New York: Henry Holt and Co.
The Firefly Letters is about 3 women in Cuba; Fredrika, a Swedish traveler/journalist, who, when she asked for a quiet home in the Cuban countryside from the Queen of Denmark, didn’t expect this huge mansion with so many slaves, Cecelia, a slave girl who was traded by her father for a stolen cow, and all she wants is freedom for her unborn child, and Elena the rich daughter of the mansion’s owner, who sometimes wishes to get out of her house. Together, Cecelia and Fredrika roam Cuba, learning about the people and freeing captured fireflies. Elena is trapped in her own house, lonely and spending time embroidering and sewing for her “hope chest”, so she can afford a wedding. Fredrika writes about slavery in Cuba, and Elena sneaks out and befriends Cecelia. Both Elena and Fredrika know that they have to help Cecelia, so Elena sells her “hope chest”, and frees Cecelia’s baby with the money.
I thought that it was a good book, with strong female characters. The hope chest reminded me of my grandmother, who used to randonly give us things for our hope chests. I received a hope chest for high school graduation, and it lives in my son's room with my kids' baby clothes inside. I thought the wording was really pretty and poetic. I liked how Fredrika traveled around like only men did at the time, and didn’t care what people thought of it.
I thought that it was a good book, with strong female characters. The hope chest reminded me of my grandmother, who used to randonly give us things for our hope chests. I received a hope chest for high school graduation, and it lives in my son's room with my kids' baby clothes inside. I thought the wording was really pretty and poetic. I liked how Fredrika traveled around like only men did at the time, and didn’t care what people thought of it.
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