Letters from Cuba

Examine the role of writing in the text. How does writing help Esther’s self-development and shape her character arc? What wider significance do writing and storytelling have within the text?

Consider all the different people Esther meets in Agramonte. How does each one help or challenge Esther and Papa? How do these characters illuminate different aspects and forms of cross-cultural understanding?

Describe the rise of Nazi power and the effects of Nazi hatred in Europe. How does the novel engage with its historical context of antisemitism? How does Behar blend fact and fiction in her work to offer commentary on Nazism and the dangers of intolerance more generally?

What is the role of family in the text? How do conceptions of family shape the characters in terms of characterization, motivation, and/or values?

How are religion and religious faith depicted in the text? How does religion’s role help to illuminate some of the novel’s key themes and ideas?

Doctor Pablo agrees with Fernando Ortiz that “it’s good to learn about each other’s customs and traditions” (114). How does Letters From Cuba explore and illustrate this idea?

Research more about immigration to Cuba in the 1930s. What was the immigration process and experience in Cuba like at this time, for both general immigrants and refugees? How does Letters From Cuba embody common aspects of this experience and reflect this sociohistorical context?

Compare and contrast Letters From Cuba with Behar’s other novel, Lucky Broken Girl. What are some common themes shared between the two novels? How are their heroines different or similar?