“. . . filled with wisdom, history, joy . . . I wanted to sit with the viejos and all the love and chaos in their multi-generational home and hold on to Abuela and her stories forever.”—Marjan Kamali, USA Today best-selling author of The Lion Women of Tehran and The Stationery Shop In this sweeping, historical, yet intimate memoir, the author details her family’s transformation from pro-Castro revolutionaries in a scrappy Havana barrio to refugees in a New Hampshire mill town—a timeless and timely tale of loss and reinvention. Ana Hebra Flaster was six years old when her working-class family was kicked out of their Havana barrio for opposing communism. Once devoted revolutionaries themselves but disillusioned by the Castro government’s repressive tactics, they fled to the US. The permanent losses they suffered—of home, country, and loved ones, all within forty-eight hours—haunted her multigenerational family as they reclaimed their lives and freedom in 1967 New Hampshire. There, they fed each other stories of their scrappy barrio—some of which Hebra Flaster has shared on All Things Considered— to resurrect their lost world and fortify themselves for a daunting task: building a new life in a foreign land. Weaving pivotal events in Cuba–US history with her viejos’ —elders’—stories of surviving political upheaval, impossible choices, and “refugeedom,” Property of the Revolution celebrates the indomitable spirit and wisdom of the women warriors who led the family out of Cuba, shaped its rebirth as Cuban Americans, and helped Ana grow up hopeful, future-facing—American. But what happens when deeply buried childhood memories resurface, demanding an adult’s reckoning? Here’s how the fiercest love, the most stubborn will, and the power of family put nine new Americans back on their feet. 2025 International Book Award Winner in Creative Nonfiction 2025 Discovery Book Awards Winner in Nonfiction “Candidly eloquent, emotionally engaging, exceptionally well written, and an inherently fascinating read from start to finish . . . extraordinary and unreservedly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review "Ana Hebra Flaster’s writing moves smoothly between past and present, helping readers see how history shapes personal experiences. The women in her family shine in this story, their strength and wisdom coming through in a way that feels honest and inspiring. She balances the pain of leaving home with the hope of new beginnings, showing the difficulties of starting over while celebrating the traditions that keep a family grounded." — Readers’ Favorite , 5-star review "Hebra Flaster has produced an exceptional memoir that blends Cuban history with her family’s memories and stories. Beautifully written with warmth, pathos, and humor, she movingly describes her struggles and search for identity yet ensures Property of the Revolution is also a celebration of matriarchal ties, familial bonds, and resilience, qualities that were birthed in the barrios and which became crucial to surviving and, eventually thriving in America." — IndieReader “. . . Hebra Flaster’s memoir is rich with layers, blending personal anecdotes and political history into a seamless, engrossing narrative. It remains busy and dynamic, brimming with moments that compel the reader forward. From suspenseful accounts of political oppression to heartfelt recollections of her father’s sacrifices, the book pulses with life. . . .” — Literary Titan , 5-star review “. . . an unflinching look at a revolution that never delivered on its promises and at a family that, amazingly, embodied everything that is good and right about the Cuban soul. What a triumph! What a book!” —Mirta Ojito, The New York Times Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, and author of Finding Manana and Deeper than the Ocean “. . . funny and wise . . . Property of the Revolution is a paean to family, to the bonds that bind more strongly than any bias, ignorance or jealousy that attempts to pry it apart.” —Anthony DePalma, former foreign correspondent for The New York Times , and author of The Cubans “Written with the vividness of a poet and the reflexivity of an auto-ethnographer . . . a classic story about displacement, resilience, and triumph, Property of the Revolution offers fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding of the intersectional meanings of home, country, and family.” — Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, author of The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood. "Ana Hebra Flaster builds her story from memories of her family’s journey . . . with the lyricism of rootlessness. An unforgettable book about losses and encounters, by an author in great command of language." —Armando Lucas Correa, author of The German Girl "In her beautiful, big-hearted memoir Property of the Revolution , Ana Hebra Flaster intimately explores the psychology of choosing and adapting to exile. Everyone interested in getting past ideology to t