Customer Reviews

Before We Were Free (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(22)
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The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two thirds of an island in the heart of the Caribbean Ocean called Hispaniola. Christopher Columbus claimed this island for Spain in 1492, and it is here that he later returned, died and was buried. Over the years the Dominican Republic has struggled for freedom and independence. They fought for their independence from the nation of Haiti, which lies on the western one third of Hispaniola, and they suffered through the dictatorship of General Trujillo. This book takes place during the last years of the Trujillo dictatorship, in 1960 and '61.

In this book you will meet a colorful cast of characters from many different cultures and backgrounds. First there is Anita de la Torre, the 12-year-old narrator whose life changes dramatically over the course of a few months. You will meet her familia, her parents, siblings, cousins, uncles and aunts, who all live together on the family island compound. As the unusual and dangerous circumstances unfold in the story, many of Anita's relatives are forced to flee their tropical home for the colder climate of New York City. The dictator's men are everywhere. Those who oppose the dictator are often "disappeared" by the men in black, never to be heard from again. Then there are the mysterious phone calls about butterflies and tennis shoes. And just who is "Mr. Smith?"

You will also meet Chucha, Anita's long-time nanny. She is one of the most interesting people in the story. Chucha is from Haiti, wears only purple clothing (even her underwear has to be dyed!), sleeps in a coffin, and has dreams where she can see the future. She also won't go into the Wimpy's Supermarket because the automatic doors have convinced her that the place is cursed and haunted. There is also blond-headed Sammy Washburn, the American consul's 12 year old son, whose family moves into a house at the de la Torre compound. Together, Sammy and Anita, explore the land of the compound - including the mysterious caves and the ancient cemetery. They encounter ghosts, and search for the treasure that was buried on the land many years ago.

Anita may not understand all the political things that are happening in her life, but she certainly feels the fear that permeates her family's life. Parts of the story are told from the perspective of Anita's diary, which provides an even more personal approach to the apprehension she faces. Her favorite uncle, Tio Toni, is missing. Have the secret police in the dark sunglasses, who drive the black Volkswagens, taken him? Has he been "disappeared"? Who is it that she sees lurking around his casita at night?

In spite of all the danger, Anita's parents make a decision to keep their family in the Dominican Republic and work for change. While Anita deals with all the frightening events that are unfolding in her life, she also struggles with growing up and her own personal endeavor for freedom. Before We Were Free is an exciting and fast moving book about growing up in a time of political intrigue and civil unrest. It is about decisions that must be made from the heart rather than the head and the courage that backs up such decisions. The fact that the author experienced much of what she writes in real life makes the story even more real and intriguing

This is one of the books I have liked the most. This book has many similarities with "Anne Franke's diary" both girls living in a cruel situation. Julia Alvarez did a terrific job creating an environment with a lot of tension. It was sad for me reading about a regimen I did not have known before and the lives that were gone in a country's attempt to obtain peace and freedom.

I loved how the author portrayed all the innocence in Anita's words so this book can be read for adolescents without describing the cruel and explicit violence lived in those times. I highly recommend this book not only to Dominicans or to adolescents, but for everyone from all ages. This book has touched me deeply.

As a 6th grade teacher, I like to keep on top of recent novels published for young adults. I read this and found it to be one of the best novels to be written recently for teens. I have also recommended it to many of my students who in turn have read it and have thoroughly enjoyed it as well.
Full of suspense (what will become of Anita and her new love for Oscar? what will become of the family? what will happen to the country?), Before We Were Free keeps students' interest yet does not steer away from good writing. Beautiful writing, suspenseful action, and characters worth caring about make this a book every young adult should read.

Julia Alvarez - Before we were Free. This talented, prize winning author, again has accurately written a fascinating novel about actual political events in the Dominican Republic during the critical period when her parents, family and friends sought freedom from oppression and won.
I am an Eye Witness. I was the the US Air Attaché at that time and was the tenant of their home when her parents had to flee to the United for safety.
Manuel J. Chavez
Lt. Col. USAF (Ret)

The Story, "Before we were Free," Includes several interesting events. First Sam Washburn moves in and Anita falls in love with him. Second she started not liking him because he didn't pay attention to her. Then she started going through puberty and was hard to manage situation with her family and love life. The things Anita was having trouble understanding is when the SIM barged in the house and Raded the house set cameras and everything. They were trying to find Tio Toni. That was hidding in his "Casita" he made. Anita had so many quiestions but her mom couldn't answer to her because she didn't want to get her worried. Later on, towards the end of the story Anitas dad went to jail with Tio Toni and there died for their freedom. There are so many interesting events that happened througho ut he story. I encourage you to read the story and read on more about those other events I did't inculude; those mistirious events!

"Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a story about a twelve year old girl's, Anita de la Torre, coming of age in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's. In the Domincan Republic during the 1960's there was a big secrete political and social movements to overthrow the dictator at the time Rafael Trujillo. Anita's father and maternal uncle are members of the secrete opposition of the Dictator or El Jefe.
Due to her father and uncle's involvement with the opposition Anita's family is often placed in some very awkward and uncomfortable situations. For example Anita's family always whispers because Trujillo's Secrete Police or Policia Secreto have bugged there house. Everyday to school and on trips outside the family compound they were constantly followed by black cars. There are often secrete meetings in there backyard and her father constantly talking about Las Mariposas (The Butterflies, a group of sisters who where unjustly murdered because of their involvement with and in the opposition in the 1960's.)
Amongst all the drama and the political backdrop of her country Anita is still struggling to come of age. Anita, not yet wanting to be a woman and no longer wanting to be a girl, is trying to define her place in the world. Readers experience her first crush or love, her first period, kiss, the emptiness she feels after her friends and sister flee the country and what is like to have so many unanswered questions floating about. Alvarez really draws the reader into the story through the character of Anita.
Lastly but not least I really enjoy how Alvarez encompassed the Dominican culture in the book. Alvarez floods the pages with Spanish phrase, include some Santeria/Voodoo, and traditionally dishes of the country while still remaining true to history of that time. Through Alvarez's writing I had a good idea about Dominican culture and way of life. This is definitely a book I would recommend to read it is highly enjoyable and very rich and colorful.

By Leslie Wheatley

Julia Alvarez tells the story of the end of the Trujillo dictatorship (1960s Dominican Republic). She cleverly tells the story from the perspective of a pre-teen girl (Anita) while weaving in major political players and events. She captures Anita's loss of innocence as the oppressive political regime begins to impact her life first obliquely and then very directly. From the start, Alvarez engages us with her main character as she simultaneously paints on a much larger canvas. [As an adult male (without a pre-teen daughter), I found some of Anita's talk about growing into a woman and being in love with the boy next door tiresome, but it all felt right for the character.]

Alvarez doesn't shy away from the fiasco that took place after Trujillo's assassination, but she does leave off just before the country's first post-Trujillo elections (which were a farce, leaving a Trujillo crony in power for some thirty years). After you've finished the book, re-read the author's note at the beginning: Realizing Alvarez's intimate connection to the fictionalized events in the book is all the more poignant.

Note on content: Besides girlhood crushes, there is a brief, non-graphic mention of various forms of torture (ugly but important) and an allusion to Trujillo's penchant for young mistresses.

For adult readers, this is a sweet complement to Alvarez's wonderful earlier book, In the Time of the Butterflies, which tells the story of the Mirabal sisters, three key anti-Trujillo revolutionaries. While that book took us inside the resistance movement, having this book narrated by a child opens a window into how children are affected in times of oppression. For another perspective on the end of the Trujillo regime, read Mario Vargas Llosa's excellent La Fiesta Del Chivo [The Feast of the Goat]; that book is not appropriate for child readers, with graphic portrayals of torture and of violence against a child (apparently accurate to the time and place).

Julia Alvarez reads the unabridged audiobook herself and is perfect for the role (all the more impressive as I've heard Alvarez speak in person, and she doesn't really sound like a twelve-year-old girl).

_Before We Were Free_ by Julia Alvarez is the enthralling story of a 12 year old living in the Dominican Republic during the embargo of the country in the 1960s. Anita de la Torre struggles with the normal growing pains that every preteen faces, as well as the worries, fears, and deaths that the people around her face due to the embargo. As more and more people disappear from her life, Anita is unsure whether or not she and her family will survive. When Anita finds out about her parents' plot to kill the dictator of their country, she realizes she was lying to herself about everything she thought she knew before. The writing is suspenseful, beautiful and and reflects that of a young girl.

This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting to understand the day-to-day life of people living under a dictatorship. Alvarez eloquently tells of the "Trujillo Era" in the Dominican Republic. The 12-year-old narrator, Anita, learns about oppression when her cousin's family abruptly flees to the United States. During the year leading up to Trujillo's death, Anita discovers that she is living like a prisoner in her own country. When her father is arrested for participating in the assassination of Trujillo her mother must make some life changing decisions. This is a great book for anyone interested in getting a glimpse at what life might have been like during Trujillo's dictatorship.

This book really took me into the story. Julia Alvarez does a tremendous job in making you feel exactly how a little girl in those times was probrably feeling. I always loved to listen to my family talk of the time of Trujillo and how much they lost and struggled but Julia Alvarez took me to that time and made me feel everything my parents and grandparents were seeing, and going through. I would especially recommend this book to a teenage girl because it will make her apreciate all the liberties in the United States and other countries that are not in dictatorship.

All I have to say is Thank You Julia Alvarez for writing this magnificent book!