Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

On January 1, 1959, the Cuban Revolution resulted in the defeat and exile of the existing ruler, Fulgencio Bautista, often called a “brutal dictator.” This revolution changed the shape of Cuba’s government as well as the way of life for most people. Think about what it might mean to live somewhere that undergoes a “revolution.” How would a revolution change a person’s life? What do you know about or what do you imagine changed in the lives of people in Cuba because of this revolution?

Teaching Suggestion: As students may not be familiar with the Cuban revolution specifically, use this prompt as an opportunity to introduce the concept of a revolution in history. This question directly links with the setting of the novel, and can also be used as either an in-class discussion question, incorporating the links below in the material for class, or as an at-home research assignment. For the purposes of this question as well as the novel, students should understand that the policies enacted by the Cuban government post-revolution led to a dramatic increase in emigration of many Cubans from their country of origin to neighboring nations, such as the US.