Name: Your Heart, My Sky
Rating: 3.333333333333333 (3 reviews)
ISBN: 9781534464971

Margarita Engle

In Cuba's "special period in times of peace" of 1991, Liana and Amado find love after their severe hunger gives both courage to risk government retribution by skipping a summer of labor to seek food. Told in their two voices plus that of the stray dog that brought them together.

Love in a Time of Hunger

Your Heart, My Sky

Acclaimed author Margarita Engle tells a painful, poignant story of love in a time of hunger inspired by her own family’s struggles during a dark period in Cuba’s history. The people of Cuba are living in el período especial en tiempos de paz—the special period in times of peace. That’s what the government insists that this era must be called, but the reality behind these words is starvation. Liana is struggling to find enough to eat. Yet hunger has also made her brave: she finds the courage to skip a summer of so-called volunteer farm labor, even though she risks government retribution. Nearby, a quiet, handsome boy named Amado also refuses to comply, so he wanders alone, trying to discover rare sources of food. A chance encounter with an enigmatic dog brings Liana and Amado together. United in hope and hunger, they soon discover that their feelings for each other run deep. Love can feed their souls and hearts—but is it enough to withstand el período especial?

Kelsey Munson

Such a great book written in verse! Your Heart My Sky is set in the 1990's during Cuba's el período especial en tiempos de paz'-the special period in times of peace. A decade of extreme hunger, pain, and fear depending on the whims of their government. 

In this book we jump perspectives between two teens (and a dog!) as they navigate the 'Special Period' and how they are able to find love, strength, and survival in such a dark time of hunger and starvation. While the characters in this book are fictional, the story is based on real events in the 90's and authentic experiences from the author. This book is very eye-opening about events and experiences that are often overlooked in education or on the news, or simply swept under the rug altogether. Very quick to read, but the content packs a punch of awareness that I feel a lot would benefit to hear.

madie anne 

the verse writing style wasn’t my cup of tea, but the story was beautiful nonetheless.

Your Heart, My Sky Love in a Time of Hunger

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