90 Miles to Havana is heart-wrenching tween historical fiction; the novel follows Julian’s journal from Cuba to Miami in 1961. His parents sent him and his brothers to Cuba following Cuba’s revolution (essentially switching from one dictator to another), as they cannot afford to send them all over at once.
Once in Miami, the brothers are placed in what is basically an orphanage camp. The orphans are left to fend for themselves and a very Lord of the Flies set-up ensues, with a bully named Caballo exacting firm control over all of the orphans. Most of the children are in a state of flux, waiting to be sent to foster homes or boys/girls houses in other states. When the brothers are broken up, we see Julian’s bravado come out—surprising even himself at his tenacity.
A quick read, 90 Miles to Havana tells the more poignant side of a piece of history that many have glossed over.
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