Written by: Nishkarsh Joshi - 28027, Grade VII
Posted on: 01 February, 2023
Last month I read a book named “Tropical Secrets”. "Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba" is a book written by Margarita Engle. The book is a historical fiction and poetry hybrid, and it is based on the true story of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi-occupied Europe to seek refuge in Cuba during World War II. The book explores themes of identity, loss, hope, and the courage it takes to survive in a new land. It highlights the struggles and triumphs of the refugees as they attempt to rebuild their lives in Cuba.
The main protagonist Daniel escaped Nazi Germany with nothing but the desperate dream of one day finding his parents again. But New York turns away his ship full of refugees and Daniel finds himself in Cuba. As the tropical island begins to work its magic on him, the young refugee becomes friends with a local girl who has painful secrets of her own.
It is loved for its lyrical writing style.
