90 Miles to Havana

by Enrique Flores-Galbis
90 Miles to Havana cover
Good Books rating 4.13
Historical Fiction
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  • ID: 7509
  • Added: 2025-12-14
  • Updated: 2025-12-14
  • ISBN: 9781429969673
  • Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
  • Published: 2010-08-03
  • Reviews: 3

90 Miles to Havana tells the story of Julian, a young boy sent away from Cuba to Miami during the Operation Pedro Pan in 1961. Along with his two brothers, Julian faces the daunting task of adapting to a new culture and environment, where bullies and unfamiliar rules make life difficult. The novel explores themes of family, resilience, and the struggle to find one's place in a new world./n/nThe book is a 2011 Pura Belpre Honor Book for Narrative and a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year, highlighting its significance in children's literature. It offers a poignant and historically rich narrative that sheds light on the experiences of Cuban refugees during a pivotal time in history.

Reviews
Kristen Emily Behl's Blog · Kristen Emily Behl · 2024-04-30
engaging 4.50

The story is timeless despite being set in the 1960s, and the characters are well-developed. The narrative effectively captures the essence of the Cuban Revolution through a child's perspective.

Kristen Emily Behl highlights how Enrique Flores-Galbis skillfully makes the story feel timeless, even though it is set in the 1960s. The characters are well-developed, and the narrative effectively captures the essence of the Cuban Revolution through the eyes of a young boy. The reviewer appreciates the historical context and the emotional depth of the story, making it a compelling read. The book's ability to resonate with readers across different generations is particularly praised.

Quick quotes

    Flores-Galbis does a great job of making this story timeless, despite the fact that it is actually set in the 60's.

    It very much felt like a story that could have happened at any time, which is a testament to the author's skill.

    The characters are well-developed, and the narrative effectively captures the essence of the Cuban Revolution through the eyes of a young boy.

Whitefish Library · 2022-12-01
great 4.00

The book is simple yet powerful, making it accessible and enjoyable. It is praised for its emotional depth and historical significance.

The reviewer from Whitefish Library appreciates the simplicity of the book, which makes it accessible and enjoyable. Despite its simplicity, the book is powerful and emotionally deep, making it a compelling read. The historical significance of the story is also highlighted, as it sheds light on a crucial event through the eyes of a young boy. The reviewer gives the book a high rating, indicating their overall satisfaction with the read.

Quick quotes

    I really like the book and out of 5 I'd give it a 4.

    The book wasn't very complicated which I like but other readers may feel different about.

    The historical significance of the story is also highlighted, as it sheds light on a crucial event through the eyes of a young boy.

Goodreads · 2010-08-03
good 3.90

The ending was slow, but the family reunion left a positive impression. The story is engaging and well-told, with a satisfying conclusion.

The reviewer on Goodreads notes that while the ending of the book was slow, it left a positive impression with a family reunion that felt satisfying. The story is engaging and well-told, with a conclusion that ties everything together nicely. The reviewer appreciates the emotional depth and the way the story unfolds, making it a worthwhile read. The characters and their journeys are particularly highlighted as strengths of the book.

Quick quotes

    The ending was pretty slow, but I liked how everything was left off on a good note, no stings attached, just a family reuniting.

    This entire story was engaging and well-told.

    The characters and their journeys are particularly highlighted as strengths of the book.

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