A review by xangemtheelibrarian
The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

challenging emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was really hard to read. Not hard in the sense that I struggled through it, because I didn't. I finished this in less than a day. This was emotionally difficult to read. This may be a middle grade book, but it pulls zero punches about how scary it was for Cuban people who did not agree with communism. And as people fled their home for America, seeking refuge, the Cuban government did everything it possibly could to make those fleeing miserable. 

The one person I felt the most sorry for, however, was a minor character that didn't even get a full page dedicated to him. He had been in prison in Cuba because he was gay. And because Cuba decided to get rid of him, he was put onto a ship with out main character. When he finally set his feet onto American shores, he cried out, "Freedom!" But I know America. And America in the 80's was not friendly to the LGBTQIAP+ community. It still isn't; not really. Especially in red states like Texas and Florida. And this super minor character is stuck in my head because... I can't help but wonder if he ended up feeling cheated once he learned that he wouldn't be safe, even in America: the land of the "free."
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