Bibliography
Engle, Maragarita. 2011. HURRICANE DANCERS. New York: Henry Holt.
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9240-0
Plot Summary
HURRICANE DANCERS is a verse novel about a ship wreck on the coast of an island, presumably Cuba. The story is told by short poems from four different characters: Quebrado (a young ship slave), Bernardino de Talavera (the first pirate of the Caribbean Sea), Alonso de Ojeda (the pirate's hostage and a brutal conquistador), Narido (a young Ciboney Indian fisherman), and Caucubu (a young daughter of a Ciboney chieftain). Quebrado, Talavera, and Ojeda are shipwrecked on an island during a hurricane. They meet Narido and Caucubu, who are star-crossed lovers. Quebrado tells the villagers of all the wrongs Talavera and Ojeda did, and Quebrado finds himself in charge of deciding their fate.
Critique Analysis
HURRICANE DANCERS is written completely in flowing verse. Each chapter has a unique thought process that distinguishes them. For example Ojeda is haunted by the victims of his past and speaks of them as if they are real and can help him escape the island.
The poems invoke pity, hatred, longing and peace depending on the character you are currently reading. The novel does not say certain information outright, there seems to be missing scenes, but this just leaves room for the reader to interpret from the poems. As a whole, this novel is exciting and thought provoking.
Review Excerpts
*Pura Belpre Honor Book
Connections
A good connection with this book would be to pair it with a non-fiction book about the Spanish conquest of Cuba, or early Spanish pirates. This builds a back story for the HURRICANE DANCERS. Also, the students might like to play the ball game (like the Mayans used to play) that decides the fate of the pirate and the conquistador.
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