Engle, M. (2008). The surrender tree. NY: Holt
The Surrender Tree is a book of poems based on the wars of Cuba's Independence from Spain. It tells a story about a slave, witch healer named Rosa (a legend) and how she is freed and becomes a nurse. She marries a man named Jose and they stay in the jungles and help the fighters against Spain. She meets Silva a young girl who loses her family, she teaches her to help heal people. Lieutenant Death is always looking for her.
I really wasn't looking forward to a book of poetry and found myself reading it from beginning to end without putting it down. I think this would be a good book to use with 8-10 grade since the ideas are more complex.
The author uses imagery, one of the examples that struck me the most was how in the book it says War feels like just one more way of slavery. They were having to hide and be careful who knew where they were since they were being hunted, just like the enemy is in a war.
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