Cuban writer Margarita Engle honored for children's book

Cuban-American writer Margarita Engle's verse book The Surrender Tree (Henry Holt & Company, 2008) was named a Newbery 2009 Honor Book, the first such distinction for a Hispanic author. From the Newbery Medal website: "The Surrender Tree utilizes compelling free verse in alternating voices to lyrically tell the story of Cuba's three wars for independence from Spain. Combining real-life characters (such as legendary healer Rosa La Bayamesa) with imagined individuals, Engle focuses on Rosa's struggle to save everyone--black, white, Cuban, Spanish, friend or enemy."

The book also won the 2009 Pura Belpré Award and was named an honor book by the 2009 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award.

Margarita Engle's Historic Newbery Honor (School Library Journal)
Guanabee Interviews Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor-Winning Author of The Surrender Tree (Guanabee.com)