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Before We Were Free (Readers Circle) |  | Author: Julia Alvarez
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy Used: $0.40
as of 11/21/2009 10:05 CST details
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Seller: atlanta-book-company
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 150525
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 192
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7 x 4.2 x 0.6
ISBN: 044023784X
EAN: 9780440237846
ASIN: 044023784X
Publication Date: April 13, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
What would life be like for a teen living under a dictatorship? Afraid to go to school or to talk freely? Knowing that, at the least suspicion, the secret police could invade your house, even search and destroy your private treasures? Or worse, that your father or uncles or brothers could be suddenly taken away to be jailed or tortured or killed? Such experiences have been all too common in the many Latin American dictatorships of the last 50 years. Author Julia Alvarez (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents) and her family escaped from the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic when she was 10, but in Before We Were Free she imagines, through the stories of her cousins and friends, how it was for those who stayed behind. Twelve-year-old Anita de la Torre is too involved with her own life to be more than dimly aware of the growing menace all around her, until her last cousins and uncles and aunts have fled to America and a fleet of black Volkswagens comes up the drive, bringing the secret police to the family compound to search their houses. Gradually, through overheard conversations and the explanations of her older sister, Lucinda, she comes to understand that her father and uncles are involved in a plot to kill El Jefe, the dictator, and that they are all in deadly peril. Anita's story is universal in its implications--she even keeps an Anne Frank-like diary when she and her mother must hide in a friend's house--and a tribute to those brave souls who feel, like Anita's father, that "life without freedom is no life at all." (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell
Product Description
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 government’s secret police terrorize her remaining family because of their suspected opposition of el Trujillo’s 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 girl’s struggle to be free.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 27
 Worst Book Ever June 26, 2009
Anne D. Marsh (MInnesota)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I Choose this book for a summer reading. I had a list of multiple books. I went on amazon and read the reviews for this book and thought it was really exciting. Out of all the books i had to choose from this one caught my attention. I now have read the book and have to say i am very disappointed. The back cover of the book was way better than what was actually in it. This book moves slow and is very secretive. The author does not give you enough details about what is going on. Maybe if this book was not a summer reading thing i would have liked it but i am now stuck with a paper to write that wont be interesting at all.
 "Before We Were Free" Book Review by Leslie Wheatley June 8, 2009
Jude Bakeer
"Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a story about a twelve year old girl's, Anita de la Torre, coming of age in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's. In the Domincan Republic during the 1960's there was a big secrete political and social movements to overthrow the dictator at the time Rafael Trujillo. Anita's father and maternal uncle are members of the secrete opposition of the Dictator or El Jefe.
Due to her father and uncle's involvement with the opposition Anita's family is often placed in some very awkward and uncomfortable situations. For example Anita's family always whispers because Trujillo's Secrete Police or Policia Secreto have bugged there house. Everyday to school and on trips outside the family compound they were constantly followed by black cars. There are often secrete meetings in there backyard and her father constantly talking about Las Mariposas (The Butterflies, a group of sisters who where unjustly murdered because of their involvement with and in the opposition in the 1960's.)
Amongst all the drama and the political backdrop of her country Anita is still struggling to come of age. Anita, not yet wanting to be a woman and no longer wanting to be a girl, is trying to define her place in the world. Readers experience her first crush or love, her first period, kiss, the emptiness she feels after her friends and sister flee the country and what is like to have so many unanswered questions floating about. Alvarez really draws the reader into the story through the character of Anita.
Lastly but not least I really enjoy how Alvarez encompassed the Dominican culture in the book. Alvarez floods the pages with Spanish phrase, include some Santeria/Voodoo, and traditionally dishes of the country while still remaining true to history of that time. Through Alvarez's writing I had a good idea about Dominican culture and way of life. This is definitely a book I would recommend to read it is highly enjoyable and very rich and colorful.
By Leslie Wheatley
 Before we were Free book review January 4, 2009
Jeanette Mihill
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
Before we were Free by Julia Alvarez was a book about a young Dominican girl named Anita. She lives in the Dominican Republic that is lead by a dictator named El Jefe. Anita and her family live in a neighborhood with alot of family and one other family from the United States. They help Anita and her family escape to America one by one. But during a party in their house El Jefe comes and tries to take Anita's sister as one of his mistisses. Anita's dad has to do something before El Jefe takes his daughter away. He decides to do something drastic at the climax of the book.
Liam's opinion December 1, 2008
Do you know how it feels to go through a dictatorship? Anita de la Torre is living through a dictatorship. She and her family are having a really hard time with the dictator El Jefe. Anita is a young girl living with her family and is trying to escape from the Dominican Republic.
Anita's father and uncle, Papi and Tio Toni have tried to do harm to the dictator in the Dominican Republic. Anita and her mom have to hide in a closet from the SIM, the dictator's police. Anita and Mami are the only people left in the family that haven't gone to New York City. They make a plan to get on a plane and get out that way. They don't know if they will be caught or if they will escape successfully.
Julia Alvarez' work of historical fiction shows how hard it is living through a dictatorship. I love the repetition that the author uses in this book. I could never put the book down especially at the last few chapters of the book. I recommend this book to anybody who likes reading. All age groups will like this book. To find out the ending, you will have to buy and read the book.
Seventh grade review December 1, 2008
What if you didn't feel safe in your own country? What if you didn't feel safe in your own home? Anita de la Torre, 12 years old, can sense secrecy lurking in every aspect of her life. It wasn't always like this; Anita's home was safe. She thought her country was just, but everything changes when the majority of her family emigrates to New York, leaving her and her immediate family behind. The government raids her home, and a long lost uncle comes out of hiding.
Author Julia Alvarez takes us deep inside the dangerous history of the Dominican Republic through the eyes of a young girl. This novel is enriching for the young mind as well as the older. Alvarez gives the reader perspective on how it is to live in a dictatorship and what it feels like to stand up for the greater good.
Death is a common event in this story of a girl whose family rebels. Their journey requires patriotism and the resulting sacrifices. This is an eye-opening narrative and a sometimes shockingly realistic way to feel the emotions of a girl who endures the pains of political strife.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 27
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