Behar, R. (2017). Lucky broken girl, NY: Delacorte.
Summary
This Pura Belpre Award winning novel follows Ruthie's difficult time after her Cuban-Jewish family moves from Cuba to New York city. Just when Ruthie thinks she is going to be living her American dream, an accident puts her in a body cast for a broken leg, and she and her immigrant parents must learn to navigate the difficulties of this situation together. With her mother no longer able to rely on Ruthie's English speaking skills, Ruthie now depends on her family's help for everything, even going to the bathroom. Once the hop-scotch queen of her neighborhood, Ruthie now faces each day with quiet resolution and observation, becoming a lover of books and art.
A Teacher's Perspective
I was very excited to read a Pura Belpre Award winning novel, and am glad I had the chance to experience the diversity within the pages of Lucky Broken Girl. Not only is this about an immigrant family that is trying to escape Castro's Cuba, but it involves religious aspects that sometimes aren't the focus of an immigrant novel. The emotional state of the characters is very expressive and realistic in their situation, especially in 1960s New York. I highly recommend this book not only because of the realness, but because it is such a bouquet of diversity that will help students without that experience to learn about the world around them.
Want to know more?
To purchase your own copy of Lucky Broken Girl: Click here!
If you decide to teach this novel, here is a wonderful and short intro by Penguin:
If you would like to continue to learn about Ruth Behar, you can find interviews about this novel with the author here:
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