Across So Many Seas
Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, published by Penguin Group on May 20, 2025, is a 272-page novel that explores the journeys of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family. Set against the backdrop of significant historical events, the narrative begins in 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition, following Benvenida and her family as they are banished from Spain. The story unfolds through the centuries, highlighting themes of emigration and the quest for belonging as each girl faces her own challenges and transformations.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of experiences as the novel delves into the lives of these characters, from Benvenida’s journey to Istanbul to Reina’s dislocation to Cuba in 1923, Alegra’s activism in 1961, and Paloma’s exploration of her heritage in 2003. The book addresses social themes such as prejudice and racism, family dynamics, and the multigenerational impact of migration. Through their stories, the girls are connected by their shared history and the enduring strength of their ancestors, reflecting on the beauty and complexity of their identities.
Official synopsis Publisher
NEWBERY HONOR WINNER
SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD HONOR WINNER
Spanning over five hundred years, Pura Belpré Award winner Ruth Behar’s epic novel tells the stories of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their country and start a new life.
In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Benvenida and her family are banished from Spain for being Jewish. They journey by foot and by sea, eventually settling in Istanbul. Over four centuries later, in 1923, shortly after the Turkish war of independence, Reina’s father disowns her for a small act of disobedience. He ships her away to live with an aunt in Cuba. In 1961, Reina’s daughter, Alegra, is proud to be a brigadista, teaching literacy in the countryside. But soon Fidel Castro’s crackdowns force her to flee to Miami, leaving her parents behind. In 2003, Alegra’s daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by all the journeys that had to happen before she could be born. A keeper of memories, she’s thrilled to learn more about her heritage on a trip to Spain, where she makes a momentous discovery.
Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by their desire to belong and to matter, and by the haunting beauty they find in sad Spanish songs–and each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of her courageous ancestors.
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