Antes de Ser Libres

De: Julia Alvarez

Narrado por: Maria Siccardi

Now available in Spanish, the book Horn Book called “a realistic and compelling account of a girl growing up too quickly while coming to terms with the cost of freedom.”

I wonder what it would be like to be free? Not to need wings because you don’t have to fly away from your country?

From award-winning author Julia Alvarez comes the story of Anita de la Torre, a 12-year-old girl living in the Dominican Republic in 1960. Most of her relatives have immigrated to the United States, her Tío Toni has disappeared, Papi has been getting mysterious phone calls about butterflies and someone named Mr. Smith, and the secret police have started terrorizing her family for their suspected opposition to the country’s dictator. While Anita deals with a frightening series of events, she also struggles with her adolescence and her own personal fight to be free.
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Ahora disponible en español, el libro que Horn Book ha descrito como "una historia realista y absorbente de una chica que ha crecido demasido rápido mientras asume el precio de la libertad”.

Me pregunto cómo se sentirá ser libre. No precisar de alas por no tener la necesidad de salir volando de su propio país.

De la escritora Julia Álvarez, ganadora de varios premios, viene la historia de Anita de la Torre, una chica de doce años que vivió en la República Dominicana en el 1960. Muchos de sus parientes han inmigrado a los Estados Unidos, su tío Toni ha desaparecido, Papi ha estado recibiendo misteriosas llamadas telefónicas sobre mariposas, y de un tal Mr. Smith, y la policía secreta ha comenzado a aterrorizar a su familia por su supuesta oposición al dictador del país. Mientras Anita se enfrenta a estos sucesos misteriosos, también tiene que luchar por su adolescencia y su propio deseo de obtener su libertad.

Historia digna de leer.

Es una gran historia que aunque otro escritores la han escrito y la he leído, he disfrutado está desde el punto de vista de una jovencita. Mostrando que no sólo los adultos sufrieron los efectos emocionales de tal época triste de la República Dominicana. Eventos que debemos contar mantener presentes para no repetirlos.

a book with great insight

if you love The Diary of Anne Frank and the number of the Stars you will love the story. Told by a perspective of a young girl living in the Dominican Republic when it was under a dictator. You follow her to her journey and freedom. And has a sad ending.

the reader does a great job

bien hech

Muy informativa y entretenida y la narration hecha muy bien con expression y claridad. mi primers experiences con in line leido en espanol.

A great follow-up to En el Tiempo de las Mariposas

If you could sum up Antes de Ser Libres [Before We Were Free] in three words, what would they be?

gut-wrenching, heroic

What was one of the most memorable moments of Antes de Ser Libres [Before We Were Free]?

when the family first learned of the confirmed death of their father

What does Maria Siccardi bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved her child-like voice - added to the To Kill a Mockingbird feeling of the narration

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Another perspective from the author of En el Tiempo de las Mariposas

Any additional comments?

I have been listening to these books (also the Cuando era puertorriqueno series by Santiago) to practice my Spanish skills. I was not prepared for how absolutely delightful and thought-provoking they would be. I wish you had dozens more like them!

Excelente en todos los sentidos

Julia Alvarez does a great job of putting you in the action. I would hold my breath not to make a sound... exciting, sad, and wonderful.