How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

Gr 5 Up–In his first work for older readers, Miyares centers this middle grade graphic memoir around his father Carlos’s experiences as a 12-year-old during the political unrest caused by the 1962 Cuban Revolution. The story alternates between a slice-of-life account of a Cuban farming family adjusting to life in the city after Carlos’s father wins the lottery, interspersed with snapshots of key events from the Cuban Revolution. The pages that highlight the historical events are full-page, while the images following Carlos’s life are paneled, creating an important distinction between the two narratives. The stunning art is rendered in watercolor and ink, with murky blues and browns in especially harrowing scenes and pops of orange and pink that inspire hope throughout. Even though the dialogue sometimes feels forced and awkward, the child perspective during distressing moments still rings true. While not all readers will be able to connect with the dangerous upheaval depicted in the volume, most kids will understand Carlos’s tenuous relationship with his father and his difficult transition from the country to the city, leaving his grandfather and best friend behind. Carlos’s family has tan skin, and his best friend has brown skin.