The Surrender Tree

By Margarita Engle

In war-torn Cuba, a nurse transforms caves into secret hospitals. Can she heal a divided nation?

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384 pages· 11,128 words· Est. 1 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In 1896 Cuba, amidst the chaos of war and reconcentration camps, nurse Rosa defies danger by turning hidden caves into makeshift hospitals. As she aids all who seek her help, regardless of race or allegiance, Rosa becomes a beacon of hope. But can her courage and compassion mend a nation torn apart by conflict? Discover the true story of Rosa la Bayamesa, a folk hero who dared to heal in a time of despair. This poetic journey through Cuba's fight for freedom will leave you breathless, questioning the true cost of independence.

From the publisher

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle For Freedom / El árbol de la rendición: poemas de la lucha de cuba por su libertad is a lyrical, Newbery Honor-winning history in poems, and this bilingual edition has the Spanish and English text available in one book. ¿La Guerra Chiquita? ¿Cómo puede haber una guerra chiquita? ¿Acaso algunas muertesson más pequeñas que otras, dejan madres que lloran un poco menos? It is 1896. Cuba has fought three wars for independence and still is not free. People have been rounded up in reconcentration camps with too little food and too much illness. Rosa is a nurse, but she dares not go to the camps. So she turns hidden caves into hospitals for those who know how to find her. Black, white, Cuban, Spanish–Rosa does her best for everyone. Yet who can heal a country so torn apart by war? Using the true story of the folk hero Rosa la Bayamesa, acclaimed poet Margarita Engle gives us another gripping, breathtaking account of a tumultuous period in Cuban history. A 2009 Newbery Honor BookWinner of the 2009 Pura Belpré Medal for NarrativeWinner of the 2009 Bank Street - Claudia Lewis AwardA 2009 Bank Street - Best Children’s Book of the Year