Winner of a Pura Belpr├® Award, this middle grade Cuban American coming-of-age novel is inspired by the author's own experience. When Julian's parents make the heartbreaking decision to send him and his two brothers away from Cuba to Miami via the Pedro Pan operation, the boys are thrust into a new world where bullies run rampant and it's not always clear how best to protect themselves. "Inspired by Flores-Galbis' experiences as a Pedro Pan refugee, the fast-moving story should easily hook both historical-fiction and adventure readers." "Flores-Galbis ably portrays the harsh realities these young Cuban immigrants faced: little hope of reunification with family members, dwindling resources, and insufficient government support, while also conveying their resilience in the face of emotional upheaval."
"Drawing on his own experience as a child refugee from Cuba, Flores-Galbis offers a gripping historical novel…This is a seldom-told refugee story that will move readers with the first-person, present-tense rescue narrative, filled with betrayal, kindness, and waiting for what may never come."
"This novel is deeply affecting…the writing is poetic, yet clear as glass, and the gorgeous sentences do not slow down the briskly paced plot." "The story is simple, as are the characters and the language…the entire novel is easily accessible and highly readable, building to a heart-pounding if somewhat truncated climax. Lacking any objectionable content, 90 Miles to Havana is a well-written story inspired by true events."
