Poet Slave of Cuba

Born into the household of a wealthy slaveowner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflected the beauty of his world, but they also exposed its hideous cruelty. Powerful, haunting poems and breathtaking illustrations create a portrait of a life in which even the pain of slavery could not extinguish the capacity for hope.

Ages: 13 up
Illustrated by: Sean Qualls
ISBN: 978-0312659288
Price: $9.99 US / $10.99 CAN
Published by: Macmillan Children's Publishing Groupc