This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Author category by the Pura Belpre Award. It was recognised by the Americas Award. It also was recognised in the High School category by the Delaware Diamonds Award. It was recognised in the Teen category by the Grand Canyon Reader Award.

This book has been graded for interest at 12-18 years.

There are 183 pages in this book. This book was published 2006 by Henry Holt & Company .

Margarita Engle is a Cuban American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She is the author of young adult nonfiction books and novels in verse, including The Surrender Tree , a Newbery Honor Book; The Poet Slave of Cuba ; The Firefly Letters ; and Tropical Secrets . She lives in northern California. Andrea Pinkney is the author of many award-winning books for children. Many were collaborations with her husband, illustrator Brian Pinkney. She is also an editor at Scholastic. They live in Brooklyn with their two children. Sean Qualls is the illustrator of a number of celebrated books for children