The Last House on the Street, written by Diane Chamberlain
One woman bucked the expectations of her family in 1965 and chose to defend civil rights, encouraging black people to register to vote. One designed a home with her husband, then moved into it as a widow with a small daughter. The evil experienced by the former and the danger faced by the latter intertwine in this novel about love, hate, loyalty, and betrayal, all wrapped up in heartbreak and secrets.
Letters from Cuba, written by Ruth Behar
A Jewish girl from Poland joins her refugee father in Cuba, then they work together to bring the rest of their family to safety. As a way to remain connected to her sister while they're separated, she keeps a journal of letters documenting her experiences to share once they're reunited. The book is a work of fiction, but it's heavily inspired by people in Behar's family.
p. 55, Books are precious, aren't they? I can't imagine how we'd live without them. They're powerful too - I guess that's why there are people in this world who hate books so much that they burn them.
p. 114, He says hatred comes from ignorance. That's why it's good to learn about each other's customs and traditions.
p. 143, His hatred is like a shard of glass in his eye that distorts his vision.
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