Sonia Manzano Releases Coming Up Cuban

Scholastic Press is proud to publish COMING UP CUBAN: RISING PAST CASTRO'S SHADOW by 15‐time Emmy® Award winner and Pura Belpré honoree Sonia Manzano (on sale August 2, 2022). Offering a fresh look at and examining the impact of the 1959 Cuban Revolution, this unforgettable and crucial story addresses the inner lives and growth of four children from very different walks of life as they experience major social, political, and cultural upheaval.In the wake of Fidel Castro's new regime, Ana, Miguel, Zulema, and Juan-children of different ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds-learn to find a place for themselves in a world forever changed. In a tumultuous moment of history, we see the lasting effects of a revolution in Havana, the countryside, Miami, and New York. Through these snapshot stories, we are reminded that regardless of any tumultuous times, we are all forever connected in our humanity."Social upheavals affect everyone. I wanted to write a novel that examined the impact the 1959 Cuban Revolution had on four children. Through these four separate life stories, I hope our readers see how interconnected we all are, regardless of any tumultuous times we might be living in. Scholastic, with their everlasting focus on diverse books, are the perfect publishers," said Manzano.In this novel, two of the kids make it out of Cuba, one of them flown out as part of a program called Operation Peter Pan and brought to Miami. Over 14,000 unaccompanied Cuban minors were sent to the USA under this system by frightened parents who hoped to protect them from the real or rumored Castro policies. Two are left behind, where poverty and uncertainty lurk. Perfect for fans of Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Refugee by Alan Gratz, COMING UP CUBAN imparts resonant and interwoven tales of children enduring trying moments in history, as they grow through these emotionally‐charged experiences. The book is also the first in a new four‐book publishing program between Manzano and Scholastic.