Historical Fiction Episodes

In this episode, we dive into the rich and captivating novel Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, a Pura Belpré Award winner and a descendant of Sephardic Jews from Cuba. The novel follows the lives of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their country and start a new life. We discuss how the themes of home and belonging are explored in the novel, as each girl faces challenges and opportunities in her new environment. We also examine how the novel portrays the diversity and resilience of the Sephardic Jewish community, a minority within a minority that has preserved its culture and identity across so many seas. Join our chat with author Ruth Behar about her personal connection to the novel and her message to young readers. Join us for a fascinating and inspiring conversation.

Christian Meneses Jacobs, host of Latino Book Chat, interviews Adriana Erin Rivera, author of "Paloma: Song for Puerto Rico." They discuss various aspects of the book, including the importance of representing Puerto Rican history and culture accurately. Adriana shares her inspiration for the story, her collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino, and the challenges she faced while writing. They also discuss the complexities of Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States and the inclusion of Spanish language in the book. The episode concludes with a discussion about the upcoming release of Rivera's book and a call to support Latino Book Chat.

In this episode, we’re discussing Incident at San Miguel by A. J. Sidransky, a riveting tale of heartbreak, loss, and forgiveness set during the Cuban Revolution. We are going to explore historical fiction and the stories behind the stories. Incident at San Miguel follows the Cohen family, a Jewish Cuban clan whose lives are turned upside down by the political turmoil of the late 1950s. Two brothers, David and Isaac, find themselves on opposite sides of Castro’s uprising, and must face the consequences of their choices. It also sheds light on Cuba’s Jewish community, whose members built lives in that island paradise, and found themselves facing political terror. Join us as we talk to A. J. Sidransky about his inspiration for writing this book, his research process, and his collaboration with storyteller Miriam Bradman Abrahams. We’ll also learn more about the history and culture of Cuba, and how it influenced the characters and events in the novel. If you’re a fan of historic…

Acclaimed author Reyna Grande discusses her newest historical fiction novel "A Ballad of Love and Glory". Her story portrays the love saga of Ximena Salomé, a Mexican healer and nurse, and John Riley, an Irish soldier who deserts the US Army and becomes the leader of the St. Patrick's Batallion during the Mexican-American War. Reyna talks about her process, the years of research it took to write her novel, and crafting her unforgettable characters.