Across So Many Seas

I read Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar at the recommendation of my sister Molly. The book description says, "In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Benvenida and her family are banished from Spain for being Jewish, and must flee the country or be killed. They journey by foot and by sea, eventually settling in Istanbul. Over four centuries later, in 1923, shortly after the Turkish war of independence, Reina’s father disowns her for a small act of disobedience. He ships her away to live with an aunt in Cuba, to be wed in an arranged marriage when she turns fifteen. In 1961, Reina’s daughter, Alegra, is proud to be a brigadista, teaching literacy in the countryside for Fidel Castro. But soon Castro’s crackdowns force her to flee to Miami all alone, leaving her parents behind. Finally, in 2003, Alegra’s daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by all the journeys that had to happen before she could be born. A keeper of memories, she’s thrilled by the opportunity to learn more about her heritage on a family trip to Spain, where she makes a momentous discovery. Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by a love of music and poetry, a desire to belong and to matter, a passion for learning, and their longing for a home where all are welcome. And each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of their courageous ancestors."

This was a really great book. I loved all the different stories and how they tied together, and I loved that the author's ancestry and culture influenced the story. There were some stories that were super heartbreaking, others that had more positivity, but it was fascinating to learn about all these different time periods and what it was like for the girl in the place/time she lived and how being Jewish affected her life. I thought this was a really nice read that kept me interested. The ending was very satisfying.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)