The poet slave of cuba 1-end

The Poet Slave of Cuba

Juan Francisco Manzano is a slave in Cuba in 1797. He was a different kind of slave though. They would be treated better then other at first. He would be a like a poodle. Well that how he would call him self that. While other thought that he was treated more like a prince. They would teach him how to say word that would seem funny. His mother loved her son but, the other mother (Juan’s owner) wanted him too. By the way I thought that she kept him for her use. Juan’s owner was named La MarQuesa de Prado Ameno. His real mother was named Maria Del Pilar.

Juan is a very clever boy because he would know how to make poems. He would read other poems then take the form and main point to put it in his own words. Juan wanted to learn and because of his owner he was able to. Though when his owner got mad at Juan she would get the overseer and whipped him. For nine days he would be in a room and tied him up. Owww!! If you loved him and never want to leave him then why make him suffer. His real mother would cry ever time he was in there being whipped!

But one day they thought he had stolen a coin. Poor Juan and yes he said he did it because Juan thought she was right. They hurt him so much that they broken his nose.

Ever since they would blame thing on him. One time he was hit so hard that he couldn’t walk. Thanks to the overseer Juan was alive because the overseer wouldn’t hit him anymore behind Juan’s fake mother.

When she is nice to Juan she lets him stand behind her while playing cards. When she wins money she would give it to Juan.

His real mother saved up money to free Juan and her but when she did the other mother didn’t want to. They sometime would both be whipped. Juan loved his real mother that when she tried to stop his mother from crying. He did this by whisper in her ear poems about angles.

Then owner’s son named Don Nicolas takes Juan and becomes his owner. Now instead of bothers Don Nicolas is his “father“. Juan felt free though he couldn’t go outside with out Don Nicolas. While living there he would be challenged in a poem challenged. He would win every time. They called him the Poet Salve. Poet as his first name and Slave as his last name. He was famous and his fake mother and want him back home.

So, it was the same he gets blame and puts him in the room were he is whipped. Then she takes him back home feeling bad. She gives him money when she wins in the card games. Every bit she wins goes to him. Though he and his fake mother more like a step mother now would spend time, Juan would still make time for his real mother. Still one day she left and left money so he can be free. Instead he bout candles, paper and Ink to write poems at nigh when he is not working.

Though one day he found true love. Juan would send flowers to her. But not even that would be enough. So, one day he took off. Juan is a run away slave now and that’s the ending of the Poetic Slave. Juan wanted to be free.

I think Juan’s obstacle was that he didn’t know what he wanted until the end of the story. Like he didn’t know what side of the line he wanted to be on. The one where he is free or the one were he is with his step mother. Well that’s what I think. Juan’s adversity was His fake mother because she never wanted to let go of him. She would stop him from doing what he wanted which was to be free and write poems. I can learn from Juan is that it’s never too late to choice your life style. Like when at the end he ran away. I can put this in my life by think things though it might take you years.

What I liked was that Juan would be there for his real mother no mater what. He would tell her poems about angles so she would stop crying. Juan grows up faster to rilzes that he had to help his mom. To do that he had to heal him self. I didn’t like that for nine days Juan and sometimes with his mother would be in the room whipped too. That harsh if she cared about him so much that she wanted to be his mother.

I think someone that likes history and poems would like this because this was real. Juan is a real person and if you don’t understand poems then you can’t read this. If you get lost easily then don’t read this book. I rate it a 5 because I get lost sometimes. I think 11 and older can red this because of the harsh things that happen.

Tahis Arias

BOUND.....GOOD!!! :)

I read charters 1-10 of Bound, by Donna Jo Napoli. Its based on the story Chinese Cinderella. If you liked the book then you will this one too. It's about this girl that is thridteen years old. Both mother and father pasted away. Her mother pasted away when she was seven. Then he married Stepmother. He died leaving half sister (Wei Ping) and Xing Xing. Half sister was tried better. Xing Xing was tried unfair:(. I think that she should have the same right because she works hard so her big sister can eat.
Master Tang is nice to Xing Xing because; her father were good friends. He gave her lessons. Father too gave her lesson before he died. She is good friends with him. I think that's kinda good knowing no matter what she has someone.


Xing Xing has this boy that kinda likes her. But she was too busy with doing what Stepmother says and taking care of her father's spirit. So, she returns the favour meaning their is nothing going with them.

She find three blind kits that were blind. They were a Bondon by their mother. Xing Xing was mad that they were alone. She killed two so they don't die more painfully. For example like starving t deaf. She kept one and bought it home. When Stepmother saw the kit she said she feed it till it is big. After that she killed it to eat. Half sister wanted as a pet. But Stepmother said it would be a poor pet. i think that's really sad. I would be the first one to cry lol.

She is a slave and if her half sister didn't get marry before all the pots were sold then, she be sold for a new one.
When she bought a smile to her half sister with something important Xing Xing has Stepmother approval. She wish that she can see the face again.
After the day at night she was under the stars. She remember her mother's very words that brought hate within Stepmother. That's why Xing Xing is a slave. When mother's word came out before she died no one cared but, Xing Xing.
Well back in China there was something called banged their feet. Woman would do this so their feet would be smaller. If not no man would marry them. Xing Xing is lucky that stepmother didn't do it on her. Half sister has too. It's such a pain. Ow! Ewe!
Leave me without a husband. I don't want go through that pain.


I think that's good. To much info.

I wonder if Xing Xing will get marry?

I wonder if that slave boy will marry her?

What do you think this means: Fine beauty and great wealth.

My reaction is silly that Xing Xing wouldnt like that slave boy to be her boo or something. That might be her only one that might want to marry her. What a shame. lol.

My other reaction is that i like that she makes her half sister happy. No matter what she gives her courage.

-Tahis Arias

Chinese Cinderella / End!!!!

Adeline Yen Mah I finish my book! i don't want to give you the ending so, instead I will say that sadly she was orphan. yes that's mess up i know. The woman above is Adeline now.

she wrote the book. i think she is strong to talk about her past.

my reaction was that she is a strong girl when she was left. i cant imagine to have to stay their in the orphaned.

i think that she will never want to remember this cuz i wouldn't.

-Tahis Arias =]

Whipped in Shame

Now that i have read charters 10-20 something joyful. She has found a friend that walks with her though she was rich and can have Someone to drive her.I think that's very nice of her to do that for Adeline. Chun-Mei was her name and she plays with Adeline. Then, PLT (Precious Little Treasure) came along. Though you wonder who is PLT well she is a duckling that Mr. and Mrs. Huang gave Adeline. Adeline loves PLT.
Big sister gets marry! By the way i never thought that she would because she is curl to her sister Adeline. She was getting marry to the doctor Dr. Sung's son. He was much older then big sister. Adeline said that she wouldn't marry someone that is older then her. i would agree with her because want to enjoy life before i have to stay with one man. When the gift for big sister came in Niang took the best one for her. And if you don't know who Niang is she is the step mother. Then after their wedding they went on their honeymoon.

Her friend wants Adeline to go to her b-day party. And by the way her duck PLT died.Adeline knew that she can't go. So, she sneaked in to her party.Adeline went home so they think she was home and not to a party.When she got their Niang slapped her for not answering her question. The question was were did she get the money. She thought that poor Adeline has stole money from her but, that's was not it she got it from Aunt Baba.Adeline had to say it. Niang was mad cuz she and father had told her not to give her money. Then her Friend got worry and called her home to see when will she be back. Guessed who answered Niang. She was real mean to her after what she heard. She told her she doesn't belong in that house any more and that she was to stay in her room with nothing to eat till her dad came home. That will take hours till he comes home. When he did came home she was whipped. which I think he should of talk to her and ask and not take it on her. He said that Aunt Baba was bad and that she soils her to much. Ye Ye doesn't want Adeline to be like the rest of them. mostly big sister.
I think i gave to much Info so i think you should read it if you liked this summary from above that i talked about.

My reaction when father whipped Adeline was that why such thing. Why can't he talk it over or someone said something. I was in anger cuz really someone that no ones cares about shouldn't be bother that much. They don't care so why do they have the right to do that. leave her alone she never was cared. Maybe that's the reason she acted that why. I can feel it in side though i have never been whipped. It's hard to talk about what you thought about it.

Q1: why didn't ye ye want Adeline to be like big sister.

Q2: why didn't Adeline didn't ask why doesn't go to places.

- Tahis Arias

Chinese Cinderella/ Poor 4 year old

I have started reading Chinese Cinderella. I read charter 1-10. This is a true story about the author Adeline Yen Mah real life.When i started reading thid book i was worried about the little girl named Adeline. She was an unwanted daughter because she was "bad luck". This was because when her mom gave birth to her she died. She grows up being blamed for her mothers death. The only one that looks out for her is her Aunt Baba. One reason she looked out for her was because not getting marry at any point so, instend she was order to take care of her.I think that was good idea cuz if she was going to be unwanted their is someone to love her. After her mom died her dad married Niang (step mother). Niang had two kids that are spoil.Niang didn't want father to worry about the other kids but, about her and money.The other five are tried like one preason. Father worked in the office.Then he stared working with these powerful chinese people. Something has happen. They had to move or father would go to jail.When they move Adenline becomes more less depend on then the other when, they move to a place french.

Why doesn't father say anything to Niang about being fare with all of his kids?

Why can't they have someone to drive them if Ye Ye is giving them money?

My reaction to big sister telling a four (Adenline) year old that she is a "bad luck". this is because a little kid can be marked for life. meaning that she can mess her life by believing that she was the reason why everyone is sad, and have a bad life.

-Tahis Arias