The Surrender Tree / El árbol de la rendición: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom/ Poemas de la lucha de Cuba por su libertad (Bilingual)

In the heart of Cuba's tumultuous struggle for freedom, "The Surrender Tree / El árbol de la rendición: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom / Poemas de la lucha de Cuba por su libertad" by Margarita Engle beautifully captures a nation's fight through the evocative and poignant medium of poetry. This bilingual collection, a Newbery Honor Book and winner of the 2009 Pura Belpré Medal for Narrative, weaves the historical tale of Rosa la Bayamesa, a nurse who transformed hidden caves into sanctuaries of healing during Cuba’s wars for independence around 1896. Despite the racial, social, and national divides, Rosa served every suffering soul, embodying the spirit of resilience and compassion. Ideal for middle-school readers, this book not only enriches their understanding of racial justice, gender equality, and health equity but also invites them to ponder how one person's courage can lead to collective healing. Can we, like Rosa, find ways to mend the deep fissures in our own societies?