The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

I read this for my Newbery class. A short verse novel, it would give a Middle or High Schooler a taste of Cuban history. It explores Cuba's fight for independance from Spain in the 1800's. It's told from the point of view of people who nursed the sick and injured.


The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

Verse novel separated into 5 parts based on different times
In Cuba’s history. Part One: 1850, introduces the reader to
Rosa a slave and Lieutenant Death a slave catcher.

Rosa talks of the drive for freedom and her experience
Nursing the wounded (who quite often loose an ear for
Running away).

Part Two is during Cuban independence from Spain (1868)

Rosa thinks,

“Should I fight with weapons,
Or flowers and leaves?”

There is much talk of nature, but Rosa’s story intertwines with
Spain as Spain is infuriated that Cuban plantation owners would
Dare to free their slaves without permission. This passage shows
The tenacity of the Cubans as they fought off Spain for 10 years.

There were three wars for independence, but in the end the
Americans intervened, took over Cuba and never respected
the many years of fighting the Cubans put in to be free.

Rosa is a real person from Cuban history who lived
from approximately 1840-1907. She and her husband
Jose built field hospitals and nursed thousands
during the years of war.