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Before We Were Free

by Julia Alvarez
Before We Were Free

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ISBN13: 9780375815447
ISBN10: 0375815449
Condition: Standard
DustJacket: Standard

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Awards

Winner of the 2004 Pura Belpre Award for Best Latino Writer

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

Anita de la Torre never questioned her freedom living in the Dominican Republic. But by her 12th birthday in 1960, most of her relatives have emigrated to the United States, her Tío Toni has disappeared without a trace, and the governments secret police terrorize her remaining family because of their suspected opposition of el Trujillos dictatorship.

Using the strength and courage of her family, Anita must overcome her fears and fly to freedom, leaving all that she once knew behind.

From renowned author Julia Alvarez comes an unforgettable story about adolescence, perseverance, and one girls struggle to be free.

Review

"Alvarez...proves as gifted at writing for adolescents as she is for adults....A stirring work of art." Publishers Weekly

Review

"[A] powerful first-person narrative....[A] story that imagines so clearly for American readers the travails of all-too-many Latin nations then and now." Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Julia Alvarez grew up in the Dominican Republic before emigrating to the United States at the age of 10. She now lives in Vermont, where she is a writer-in-residence at Middlebury College.

Reading Group Guide

1. Throughout the book, Anita watches her mother to judge the situation in the compound. Her mother often changes her approach to Anita-sometimes treating her as an adult, sometimes as a child. Why do you feel Anitas mother does that? How does Anita react, and how do you think she would like to be treated? Do you feel she is old enough to be hearing the truth, or should her mother shelter her more?

2. In the beginning of the book, Anitas extended family suddenly flees the country, leaving only Anita and her immediate family behind. The family lives in a compound and is extremely close. What role does the family, immediate and extended, play in this book? Does Anita realize that not everyone has the relationship her family experiences?

3. Anita is at a stage of her life where questioning authority becomes a common occurrence. In this book, there are several different authority figures that are forcing her to behave in certain ways, such as the government, the opposition army, and her family. How does she deal with this authority? How does she get around some of the rules?

4. Anita and her sister have a typical relationship that most readers can understand. Does this attitude toward each other represent a determination to keep a certain level of normalcy in a very frightening and often dangerous situation? How do both of their attitudes change once the quinceañera occurs?

5. Discuss the importance of the compound in this book, specifically the loss of the familys freedom to go outside the gates, as well as the areas inside the compound that were off limits.

6. In order to shield the rest of the family, Anitas father and the group running the opposition speak outside of the house, not realizing that Anitas window is right next to their meeting place. How did hearing these conversations affect Anita? Do you feel she was better off knowing the truth, or did the whole situation make her grow up faster than necessary?

7. After the compound becomes unsafe for Anita and her family, Anita and her mother secretly move to a safe house location and live in a closet. Compare this experience to historical events that caused people to go into hiding, to be detained because of their beliefs or nationalities, and to be threatened with death. Is there any particular person that she reminds you of?

8. Anita befriends an American boy, Sam. At her tender age of 12, she is divided between her child-like view of the world and her adult emotions. How does her ever-changing view of life affect her relationship with Sam and with her friend Oscar, who is from her country?

9. What role does American culture play in this novel? Specifically, discuss the quinceañera and the Sweet Sixteen rites of passage and the idea that Anita and her family recognize American holidays, such as Thanksgiving.

10. At the end of the novel, Anita has lost some of her family to the violence in her native country. How does she feel about the sacrifice that her family had to make? Does she truly understand the impact that her family made on her countrys history?


5 1

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 5 (1 comments)

`
Lady.boss , July 05, 2012
By the summary persuading about this book you can tell its gonna be an interesting book beacuse its from dominican republic and all the books she mad are were heart breaking but in a good way. its has all the details you need and all the questions you ask.its just a very simple book!!!!

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780375815447
Binding:
Hardcover
Publication date:
08/01/2002
Publisher:
BALLANTINE BOOKS
Pages:
176
Height:
8.64 in.
Width:
5.92 in.
Thickness:
.65 in.
Age Range:
13-17 and up
Grade Range:
from 7
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2002
UPC Code:
2800375815449
Author:
Julia Alvarez
Subject:
History
Subject:
Family life
Subject:
Dominican Republic
Subject:
Children s-Historical Fiction-Other
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History
Subject:
Revolutions

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