*Side Note: Since I listened to the book on Audible, I am not 100% sure how to spell all of the names. Even after some searching online, not all of the character names were mentioned with their proper spelling. I did my best to make them as close as possible.
Ruth Behar's website opened
up to a beautiful scenery of flowers, loops, and a dark haired woman
gazing into your soul from an equally floral covered chair.
Ruthie Mizrahi, a young Jewish-Cuban girl, lives with her mother (Mama), father (Papa), and little brother (Izzy) in an one bedroom apartment in New York City. Occurring in the late 1960's, Ruthie's family recently immigrated from Cuba, and her mother is still distraught from leaving her home country. Ruthie's Papa was expecting the American dream, but distinguishes that idea with his harsh, man of the house, old school rules. Ruthie and Mama are expected to have dinner prepared, be dressed nicely, cleaned up properly, and ready with a hug and kiss for Papa when he returns from work.
In the beginning, Papa mentions how boys, and Izzy, should never kiss their father, only handshakes or hugs. Castro and the downfall of Cuba is mentioned, explaining the reason they immigrated and why they feel the way they do about America. From page one, you can conclude that the Mizrahi family is low on money. The kids share a bedroom while Mama and Papa sleep on a pull out couch in the living room on the eighth floor. Mama constantly whines about wanting to return to Cuba while Papa mentions how bad it has become. Ruthie remembers the good times there, but we never hear much about Izzy's memories.
Ruthie, being new to America, is put in a remedial English class, which she refers to as the "dumb class". She insists time and time again to her teacher that she is ready for the "smart class". She has a few friends: a boy from India who speaks the "queen's English" and smells of curry and sandalwood (Ramu), a girl from Belgium who has the money to keep up with the latest fashion trends (Danielle), and an artist from Mexico (Cheecho).
Shortly after Papa buys Ruthie her much sought after white go-go boots and Izzy's Matchbox car, he comes home with their first car. The family, including some of Ruthie's extended family, load up into the car and end up in a horrific car accident due to a pile up. Ruthie is hurt the worst, a disfigured and broken leg. Izzy and Papa only suffered from head injuries while Mama luckily came out with scratches and bruises. Izzy suffered the worst due to laying down on her grandmother's (Baba) lap and tucking her legs underneath her.
Ruthie is stuck in a full body cast after they perform surgery on her leg. She stays in the hospital a bit longer, befriends an upset nurse, and is finally toted to her house after a week. Ruthie has few visitors, other than family. Ramu, her classmate and friend from India, sneaks over once while his mom is out with his littler brother, Aveek. A few days later, Aveek dies in a tragic, freak accident, making Ramu and his family return to India. Her other friend, Danielle, a well put together girl that lives in her neighborhood, rarely visits and seems scared to be with Ruthie alone.
After Aveek's death, a new neighbor moves into the apartment. A man from Mexico, Christopher, who prefers to be called Cheecho. He is an aspiring artist who was scolded by his father for it not being a proper job for a man, so instead he became an engineer of bridges. Cheecho visits often and builds a close bond with Ruthie, eventually painting her body cast and bringing supplies for her to paint.
Time continues to pass, Ruthie begins to heal, and her body cast is finally taken off. At this same time, Joy stops coming for home school sessions, Cheecho's father dies and decides to return to Mexico, and Ruthie does not want to walk for the physical therapists that come. Ruthie finally accepts a nurse that she connects with, and the two of them begin to rehabilitate her back into the real world. Out of bed, using chairs, up and down stairs, going outside, from two crutches to one, and then finally no crutches, Ruthie learns to walk again.
Cheecho comes back form Mexico to live in Queens for the rest of the book, Ramu begins to write from India, and Danielle and Ruthie rekindle their friendship and visit daily.
The story as a whole takes Ruthie through the stages of grief.
Stories and Essays- Three were listed on her website, each with a link to read them.
Poems- Everything I Kept/Todo lo que guarde, Poems Returned to Cuba/Poemas que vuelven a Cuba, and The Broken Streets of My City/Las calles rotas de mi ciudad seemed to be her most popular and had a few excerpts on her website.
Another idea, in chapter 16, freedom is mentioned. We could discuss the ideas of what freedom means to students. There are freedoms given to us in the Declaration of Independence, but there are also freedoms that Ruthie lost like being able to leave a room. In the discussion, we could talk about the freedoms we are most thankful for.
Lucky Broken Girl
by Ruth Behar
Summary
Ruthie Mizrahi, a young Jewish-Cuban girl, lives with her mother (Mama), father (Papa), and little brother (Izzy) in an one bedroom apartment in New York City. Occurring in the late 1960's, Ruthie's family recently immigrated from Cuba, and her mother is still distraught from leaving her home country. Ruthie's Papa was expecting the American dream, but distinguishes that idea with his harsh, man of the house, old school rules. Ruthie and Mama are expected to have dinner prepared, be dressed nicely, cleaned up properly, and ready with a hug and kiss for Papa when he returns from work.
In the beginning, Papa mentions how boys, and Izzy, should never kiss their father, only handshakes or hugs. Castro and the downfall of Cuba is mentioned, explaining the reason they immigrated and why they feel the way they do about America. From page one, you can conclude that the Mizrahi family is low on money. The kids share a bedroom while Mama and Papa sleep on a pull out couch in the living room on the eighth floor. Mama constantly whines about wanting to return to Cuba while Papa mentions how bad it has become. Ruthie remembers the good times there, but we never hear much about Izzy's memories.
Ruthie, being new to America, is put in a remedial English class, which she refers to as the "dumb class". She insists time and time again to her teacher that she is ready for the "smart class". She has a few friends: a boy from India who speaks the "queen's English" and smells of curry and sandalwood (Ramu), a girl from Belgium who has the money to keep up with the latest fashion trends (Danielle), and an artist from Mexico (Cheecho).
Shortly after Papa buys Ruthie her much sought after white go-go boots and Izzy's Matchbox car, he comes home with their first car. The family, including some of Ruthie's extended family, load up into the car and end up in a horrific car accident due to a pile up. Ruthie is hurt the worst, a disfigured and broken leg. Izzy and Papa only suffered from head injuries while Mama luckily came out with scratches and bruises. Izzy suffered the worst due to laying down on her grandmother's (Baba) lap and tucking her legs underneath her.
Ruthie is stuck in a full body cast after they perform surgery on her leg. She stays in the hospital a bit longer, befriends an upset nurse, and is finally toted to her house after a week. Ruthie has few visitors, other than family. Ramu, her classmate and friend from India, sneaks over once while his mom is out with his littler brother, Aveek. A few days later, Aveek dies in a tragic, freak accident, making Ramu and his family return to India. Her other friend, Danielle, a well put together girl that lives in her neighborhood, rarely visits and seems scared to be with Ruthie alone.
After Aveek's death, a new neighbor moves into the apartment. A man from Mexico, Christopher, who prefers to be called Cheecho. He is an aspiring artist who was scolded by his father for it not being a proper job for a man, so instead he became an engineer of bridges. Cheecho visits often and builds a close bond with Ruthie, eventually painting her body cast and bringing supplies for her to paint.
Time continues to pass, Ruthie begins to heal, and her body cast is finally taken off. At this same time, Joy stops coming for home school sessions, Cheecho's father dies and decides to return to Mexico, and Ruthie does not want to walk for the physical therapists that come. Ruthie finally accepts a nurse that she connects with, and the two of them begin to rehabilitate her back into the real world. Out of bed, using chairs, up and down stairs, going outside, from two crutches to one, and then finally no crutches, Ruthie learns to walk again.
Cheecho comes back form Mexico to live in Queens for the rest of the book, Ramu begins to write from India, and Danielle and Ruthie rekindle their friendship and visit daily.
The story as a whole takes Ruthie through the stages of grief.
- Denial
- Ruthie does not want to accept what has happened.
- Anger
- Ruthie is angry with the boy who caused the accident for a majority of the book.
- Can't celebrate holidays with everyone else.
- Bargaining
- Consistent conversations with different religious gods to help heal her.
- Depression
- Stuck in her room.
- No visitors.
- Acceptance
Book Trailer/Interviews
A funny, informational YouTube video of Ruth explaining how she learned she won the Pura Belpre Award. After that video finished, I was immediately directed to the next video of her book trailer.Themes
Community, Cultural Differences, Education/Literacy, Finding One's Idenity, Immigration, and Trauma.Similar Themed Books
La Linea by Ann Jaramillo, Good Enough by Paula Yoo, and A Step From Heaven by An Na.Other Books by Ruth Behar
Books- Traveling Heavy: A Memoir in between Journeys, An island Called Home: Returning to Jewish Cuba, and The Vulnerable Observer: Anthropology That Breaks Your HeartStories and Essays- Three were listed on her website, each with a link to read them.
Poems- Everything I Kept/Todo lo que guarde, Poems Returned to Cuba/Poemas que vuelven a Cuba, and The Broken Streets of My City/Las calles rotas de mi ciudad seemed to be her most popular and had a few excerpts on her website.
Teaching Ideas
Introduce Cuba and compare and contrast it to your hometown. Prime examples can be found in the novel about the Cuban way of life versus the American way of life. Ruth, the author and main character, reflects on how easy going her life was in Cuba, nothing like the hustle and bustle of life in America. Ruth has a large family and lives in the same apartment building with a majority of them. A compare and contrast discussion could go on about Cuban families, American families, and other ethnic backgrounds. Students could talk about customs, traditions, language, foods, and day to day life in their household.Another idea, in chapter 16, freedom is mentioned. We could discuss the ideas of what freedom means to students. There are freedoms given to us in the Declaration of Independence, but there are also freedoms that Ruthie lost like being able to leave a room. In the discussion, we could talk about the freedoms we are most thankful for.
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