By Margarita Engle, Sean Qualls (Illustrator)
"The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano,” a collection of haunting poems, uses multiple voices to illuminate the daily terror and hypocrisy of the slave system. Celebrating Manzano's irrepressible spirit and creativity, this book is based on Manzano's autobiographical notes and poems. After witnessing young Manzano's harsh punishments for reading and writing, readers will marvel at his enduring strength and persistence to attain freedom.
