The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle is about a suffragette's journey to Cuba. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. For one, it is written in free-verse poems. For two, each poem is titled by one of the three main characters (a couple are by a fourth character) and is written from their points-of-view. For three, the characters were strong women during a time when women were treated as if they were owned. Cecilia was a slave and was owned. She struggled with the memory of being captured in Africa, torn away from her family, and sent to Cuba. She is now pregnant and wants freedom for her child more than anything. Fredrika went against all norms and became a travelling writer. As she visited and learned all about Cuba, she also sat with the slaves in church, and told the girls that they should stay in school all day to be educated with the boys. Elena was "imprisoned" by the lifestyle that prevailed in Cuba during these times. She was prisoner to her house, and to her place in society. She was from a wealthy family but didn't believe in slavery. As she filled her hope chest waiting to be informed of whom she would marry, she dreamed of running away to real freedom.
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