A lyrical biography of a Cuban slave who escaped to become a celebrated poet, from Newbury Honor author Margarita Engle. Winner of the 2008 Pura Belpre Medal for Narrative A 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty. Powerful, haunting poems and breathtaking illustrations create a portrait of a life in which even the pain of slavery could not extinguish the capacity for hope. Gr 7 Up—This 2008 Pura Belpré Medal-winning biography presents the true story of a Cuban slave who escaped to become a celebrated poet. Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano was denied an education but showed an exceptional talent for poetry. Qualls's breathtaking illustrations create a portrait of a life in which even the pain of slavery could not extinguish the capacity for hope. This title serves as a reminder that much of the history of the Caribbean was written on the backs of Black people. “An absolutely lovely book . . . that should be read by young and old, black and white, Anglo and Latino.” ― School Library Journal, Starred Review “Readers will hear the stories––and never forget them.” ― Booklist, Starred Review “A work of literary imagination. Engle's skillful portrait will spark readers' interest in Manzano's own poetry.” ― The Horn Book, Starred Review “The moving poetry and finely crafted story will draw readers in and leave them in tears and in awe.” ― The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review “A rare and stunning account . . . a tour-de-force.” ― Juan Felipe Herrera, winner of the Pura Belpré Honor for Laughing out Loud, I Fly: Poems in English and Spanish “I not only learned about an exceptional life--I felt it. Soul-stirring and direct.” ― Nancy Osa, winner of the Pura Belpré Honor for Cuba 15 “Only a poet with Engle's delicate sensitivity could have presented the complexity of Manzano's life and the depth of his soul in such a brief, accessible, and enthralling book.” ― Alma Flor Ada, winner of the Pura Belpré Medal for Under the Royal Palms “Every once in a while a book comes along that is so heart-achingly beautiful, so pure, you want to tear down the doors and make the world take notice. This is one of those rare works.” ― Cindy Wathen, co-author of Remembering Cesar: The Legacy of César Chávez “This beautiful, unique biography reads and sounds like a symphony. Lyrical, informative, and inspiring.” ― Teresa Dovalpage, author of A Girl Like Che Guevara “Through this impassioned story we plunge into the inhuman depths of slavery and surge up with the Poet Slave to triumphant freedom.” ― Anilú Bernardo, author of Jumping Off to Freedom Margarita Engle is the Cuban-American author of many verse novels, memoirs, and picture books, including The Surrender Tree , All the Way to Havana , Bravo! , Drum Dream Girl, and Dancing Hands . Awards include a Newbery Honor, Pura Belpré Medals, Golden Kite Award, Walter Honor, Jane Addams Award, PEN U.S.A., and NSK Neustadt Prize, among others. Margarita served as the national 2017-2019 Young People’s Poet Laureate. Recent young adult verse novels include Wings in the Wild and Wild Dreamers. Recent picture books include Water Day and The Sculptors of Light. Margarita was born in Los Angeles, but developed a deep attachment to her mother’s homeland during childhood summers with relatives on the island. She studied agronomy and botany along with creative writing, and now lives in central California. www.margaritaengle.com Facebook: Margarita Engle Twitter: @margaritapoet Instagram: @engle.margarita Sean Qualls illustrated the widely acclaimed biographies The Poet Slave of Cuba and Dizzy . He lives with his wife and son in Brooklyn, New York. The Poet Slave of Cuba A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano By Margarita Engle Square Fish Copyright © 2011 Margarita Engle All right reserved. ISBN: 9780312659288 Juan My mind is a brush made of feathers painting pictures of words I remember all that I see every syllable each word a twin of itself telling two stories at the same time one of sorrow the other hope I love the words written with my feathery mind in the air and with my sharp fingernails on leaves in the garden When my owner catches a whiff of the fragrance of words engraved in the flesh of succulent geranium leaves or the perfumed petals of alelí flowers then she frowns because she knows that I dream with my feathers my wings Poetry cools me, syllables calm me I read the verses of others the free men and know that I’m never alone Poetry sets me aflame I grow