Margarita Engle @ Fresno State Library

Silver people : voices from the Panama Canal Fourteen-year-old Mateo and other Caribbean islanders face discrimination, segregation, and harsh working conditions when American recruiters lure them to the Panamanian rain forest in 1906 to build the great canal. One hundred years ago, the world celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, which connected the world's two largest oceans and signaled America's emergence as a global superpower. It was a miracle, this path of water where a mountain had stood--and creating a miracle is no easy thing. Thousands lost their lives, and those who survived worked under the harshest conditions for only a few silver coins a day. From the young "silver people" whose back-breaking labor built the Canal to the denizens of the endangered rainforest itself, this is the story of one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken, as only Newbery Honor-winning author Margarita Engle could tell it.

Enchanted air : two cultures, two wings : a memoir In this poetic memoir Engle, the first Latina woman to receive a Newbery Honor, tells of growing up as a child of two cultures during the Cold War. Her heart was in Cuba, her mother's tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lived in Los Angeles, lonely in the noisy city and dreaming of the summers when she can take a pl.ane through the enchanted air to her beloved island. When the hostility between Cuba and the United States erupted at the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Engle's worlds collided in the worst way possible. Would she ever get to visit her beautiful island again?

Jazz owls : a novel of the Zoot Suit Riots Thousands of Navy sailors are pouring into Los Angeles on their way to the front lines of World War II. They are young, scared, and longing to feel alive before they have to face the horrors of battle. Hot jazz music spiced with cool salsa rhythms calls them to dance with the local Mexican American girls, who jitterbug all night before working all day in the canneries. Proud to do their part for the war effort, these Jazz Owl girls dance with the sailors until the blazing summer night when racial violence leads to murder. Suddenly the restless white sailors are attacking the girls' brothers and boyfriends. The cool, loose zoot suits they wear are supposedly the reason for the violence - but really these boys are viciously beaten and arrested simply because of the color of their skin. In soaring images and searing poems, this is the breathtaking story of what became known as the Zoot Suit Riots as only Margarita Engle could tell it. -- From dust jacket.

Soaring earth : a companion memoir to Enchanted air Memoir in verse of Margarita Engle's teenage years in Los Angeles against the turbulent backdrop of the Vietnam War. Addresses the notions of peace, civil rights, freedom of expression, and environmental protection. A companion and follow-up to Engle's work, Enchanted air. "In this follow-up to her award-winning memoir Enchanted Air, Margarita Engle details her teenage years in Los Angeles against the turbulent backdrop of the Vietnam War. In vulnerable verse, she addresses the notions of peace, civil rights, freedom of expression, and environmental protection that are once again under threat. Despite these circumstances, young Margarita was able to find solace and empowerment through her education"

Skywriting : a novel of Cuba The heroine is Carmen Peregrin, daughter of an assassinated Cuban revolutionary. Brought up in the U.S., she goes to Cuba to meet her half-brother, Camilo, who soon after tries to escape to the U.S. by raft. He is captured and jailed, and the novel follows Carmen's efforts to obtain his release by a bribe, money for which she raises among rich ancestors in Spain. By the author of Singing to Cuba.

The wild book In early twentieth-century Cuba, bandits terrorize the countryside as a young farm girl struggles with dyslexia. Based on the life of the author's grandmother.

Hurricane dancers : the first Caribbean pirate shipwreck Quebrado has been a slave on captain Bernadino de Talavera's pirate ship for years, but when a hurricane sinks the ship and kills most of the crew, Quebrado escapes to safety and finds acceptance and refuge in a nearby village.

Singing to Cuba A journey into the past reveals the terrifying truth that destroyed a family. A California farm wife leaves her husband and children to search for the truth about family members caught up in the turmoil of the Castro revolution. She encounters much more than she expected, as her family's tragedy becomes her own personal drama, cast in a modern mystery play of good versus evil, angels versus demons."

Wings in the wild When a hurricane exposes Soleida's family's secret sculpture garden, the Cuban government arrests her artist parents, forcing her to escape alone to Central America where she meets Dariel, a Cuban American boy, and together they work to protect the environment and bring attention to the imprisoned artists in Cuba.

Tropical secrets : Holocaust refugees in Cuba Escaping from Nazi Germany to Cuba in 1939, a young Jewish refugee dreams of finding his parents again, befriends a local girl with painful secrets of her own, and discovers that the Nazi darkness is never far away.

Lion Island : Cuba's warrior of words A biographical novel about Antonio Chuffat, a Chinese-African-Cuban messenger boy in 1870s Cuba who became a translator and documented the freedom struggle of indentured Chinese laborers in his country. Asia, Africa, Europe - Antonio's ancestors clashed and blended on the beautiful island of Cuba. Yet for most Cubans, life is anything but beautiful. The country is fighting for freedom from Spain. Enslaved Africans and near-enslaved Chinese indentured servants are forced to work long, backbreaking hours in the fields. So Antonio feels lucky to have found a good job as a messenger, where his richly blended cultural background is an asset. Through his work he meets Wing, a young Chinese fruit seller who barely escaped the anti-Asian riots in San Francisco, and his sister Fan, a talented singer. With injustice all around them, the three friends are determined that, in this time of violent rebellion and slavery, guns will not be the only way to gain liberty. Haunting yet hopeful, this is the story of a young man who became a champion of civil rights for those who could not speak for themselves.

Singing with elephants Lonely Cuban-born eleven-year-old Oriol lives in Santa Barbara, California, where she enjoys caring for injured animals, but her budding friendship with Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature, emboldens Oriol, an aspiring writer, to open up and create a world of words for herself.

Tiny rabbit's big wish A small rabbit wishes with all his might to grow big--as big as the forest itself--until he discovers the advantage of being small and smart.

The firefly letters : a suffragette's journey to Cuba Draws on little-known Cuban history to tell a stirring story in poetry. Based on the diaries and letters of Swedish suffragist Fredrika Bremer, who spent three months in Cuba in 1851, the story focuses on oppressed women, the privileged as well as the enslaved, in three alternating free-verse narratives.

The surrender tree : poems of Cuba's struggle for freedom Cuba has fought three wars for independence, and still she is not free. This history in verse creates a lyrical portrait of Cuba.

Rima's rebellion : courage in a time of tyranny In 1920s Cuba, Rima is bullied and shunned for her illegitimacy, but finds solace in riding her horse and forges unexpected friendships with others who share her dreams of freedom and suffrage. Includes historical note.

Orangutanka : a story in poems All the orangutans are ready for a nap in the sleepy depths of the afternoon--all except one. Written in a series of linked poems in the tanka style, an ancient Japanese form of poetry.

The sky painter : Louis Fuertes, bird artist A collection of poems that explore the life of Louis Fuertes and his sense of wonder when he painted living, flying birds in their natural habitats.

All the way to Havana A boy helps his father keep their very old car running as they make a trip to Havana for his newborn cousin's zero-year birthday. Includes author's note about cars in Cuba.

Light for all Illustrations and easy-to-read text tell of travelers who have left their homelands to bring their talents, hopes, and determination to a land where Liberty's light shines for all.

Miguel's brave knight : young Cervantes and his dream of Don Quixote Describes how Miguel de Cervantes found refuge from his childhood troubles by daydreaming of a brave knight who would right the wrongs of the world, the inspiration for his famous character Don Quixote.

Escrito en el cielo

Dreams from many rivers : a Hispanic history of the United States told in poems A middle grade verse history of Latinos in the United States, told through the voices of many and varied individuals ranging from Juan Ponce de León to modern-day sixth graders

Luz para todos Descubre un sinfín de contribuciones que todos los inmigrantes han aportado al venir a unirse a sus familias o a comenzar sus vidas en un nuevo país que llaman su hogar. Con sus esperanzas, sus sueños y su determinación, generaciones de inmigrantes han hecho que el tejido de este país sea diverso, vívido y acogedor. Esta vibrante y oportuna celebración muestra a los miles de inmigrantes que construyeron Estados Unidos, así como cuán importante es que haya aceptación y luz para todos.

Summer birds : the butterflies of Maria Merian In the Middle Ages, people believed that insects were evil, born from mud in a process called spontaneous generation. Maria Merian was only a child, but she disagreed. She watched carefully as caterpillars spun themselves cocoons, which opened to reveal summer birds, or butterflies and moths. Maria studied the whole life cycle of the summer birds, and documented what she learned in vibrant paintings. This is the story of one young girl who took the time to observe and learn, and in so doing disproved a theory that went all the way back to ancient Greece.

The lightning dreamer : Cuba's greatest abolitionist Tula is a girl who yearns for words, who falls in love with stories, but in Cuba, girls are not allowed an education. No, Tula is expected to marry well--even though she's filled with guilt at the thought of the slaves Mamá will buy with the money gained by marrying Tula to the highest bidder. Then one day, hidden in a dusty corner of a convent library, Tula discovers the banned books of a rebel poet. The poems speak to the deepest part of her soul, giving her a language with which to write of the injustice around her. In a country that isn't free, the most daring abolitionists are poets who can veil their work with metaphors, and Tula becomes just that. In powerful, haunting verses of her own, Margarita Engle evokes the voice of Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, known as Tula, a young woman who was brave enough to speak up for those who could not.

A dog named Haku : a holiday story from Nepal During a Hindu festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, brothers Alu and Bhalu search for a dog they can honor with food and gratitude. Includes glossary of Nepali words and suggested activities.

Water day A girl and her community celebrate the arrival of the water man when he comes on his weekly visit to distribute water to a Cuban village.

A song of frutas While visiting her abuelo in Cuba, a young girl helps him sell frutas, singing the name of each fruit as they walk, and after she returns to the United States, they exchange letters made of abrazos--hugs.

When you wander : a search-and-rescue dog story A dog that has just graduated from "sniffing school" advises readers what to do if they become lost in the woods, and assures them that his smart nose will lead him to where they are. Includes facts about dogs' noses.

¡Bravo! : Poemas sobre hispanos extraordinarios Bold, graphic portraits and beautiful poems present famous and lesser-known Latinos from varied backgrounds who have faced life's challenges in creative ways.

Bravo! : poems about amazing Hispanics Bold, graphic portraits and beautiful poems present famous and lesser-known Latinos from varied backgrounds who have faced life's challenges in creative ways

Dancing hands : how Teresa Carreño played the piano for President Lincoln As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too -- the Civil War. Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa's music bring comfort to those who needed it most?

The poet slave of Cuba : a biography of Juan Francisco Manzano Juan Francisco Manzano was born in 1797 into the household of wealthy slave owners in Cuba. He spent his early years at the side of his owner's wife, entertaining her friends. His poetry was his outlet, reflecting the beauty and cruelty of his world. Written in verse.

Thanku : poems of gratitude This poetry anthology, edited by Miranda Paul, explores a wide range of ways to be grateful (from gratitude for a puppy to gratitude for family to gratitude for the sky) with poems by a diverse group of contributors, including Joseph Bruchac, Margarita Engle, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Naomi Shihab Nye, Charles Waters, and Jane Yolen

Mountain dog When his mother is sent to jail in Los Angeles, eleven-year-old Tony goes to live with his forest ranger great-uncle in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where Tony experiences unconditional love for the first time through his friendship with a rescue dog.

Alas salvajes Los seres alados han de ser libres. Y también lo han de ser los artistas, pero el gobierno cubano ha criminalizado cualquier arte que no tenga su aprobación. Soleida y sus padres protestan contra esta injusticia con su jardín secreto de esculturas de aves encadenadas. Luego, un huracán derriba las paredes y deja al descubierto el arte ilegal, y sus padres son arrestados...Soleida huye sola a Centroamérica y se une a miles de refugiados cubanos varados en Costa Rica mientras buscan asilo en cualquier otro sitio. Ahí, conoce a Dariel, un muchacho cubanoamericano cuya música enigmática hechiza a las aves, a los animales... y a Soleida. Juntos trabajan para proteger el medioambiente y atraer la atención del mundo hacia los artistas presos en Cuba. Pronto descubren que el amor no consta de caer rendido, sino de volar juntos hacia nuevas alturas. Pero las alas pueden ser frágiles, y Soleida y Dariel vienen de mundos diferentes. ¿Acaso ese futuro mejor por el que luchan incluirá la posibilidad de que estén juntos?

La rebelión de Rima Marín : el valor en tiempos de tiranía A Rima le encanta montar a caballo con la abuela y las mambisas, las valientes veteranas que lucharon durante las guerras de independencia en Cuba. Feministas de varios orígenes se han reunido en clubes de votación para exigir el sufragio y la igualdad de las mujeres, pero no todos quieren igualdad para todo el mundo... especialmente para alguien como Rima Marín. En los años 1920 en Cuba, los niños "ilegítimos" como ella eran intimidados y rechazados. Rima sueña con un día en que estará libre de miedo y vergüenza, que es como se siente cuando viaja con las mambisas. Mientras busca su camino en la vida, Rima forja amistades inesperadas con otras personas que desean la libertad, especialmente con un apuesto joven artista llamado Maceo. A través de tiempos turbulentos, la esperanza se eleva... y también el amor.

Una niña, un tambor, un sueño : cómo la valentía de una niña cambió la música

Drum dream girl : how one girl's courage changed music Girls cannot be drumers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule - until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongos. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream. Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true story for dreamers everywhere.

Totally middle school : tales of friends, family, and fitting in Best-selling and award-winning authors take on the brave new world of middle school in this remarkable collection, brimming with humor and heart. Subjects range from peer pressure, homework, family issues, and cultural barriers to the unexpected saving graces of music, art, friendship, and reading. This engaging anthology, filled with texts, emails, formal letters, stories in verse, first-person narratives, and even a short graphic novel, shines a light on the sometimes challenging, always rewarding coming-of-age years.