Forest World

Margarita Engle's "Forest World" is a compelling novel in verse for middle grade readers, ages 7-11, that introduces Edver, a Cuban-American boy sent to Cuba to connect with his estranged father. There, he discovers a half-sister, Luza, whose life has been vastly different from his own. As they navigate their new sibling relationship and cultural differences, they stumble upon a dangerous wildlife poacher threatening their local jungle. The book beautifully weaves themes of family reunion, cultural identity, and environmental activism into an engaging adventure. Parents will appreciate the accessible verse format, which makes complex themes digestible, and the opportunity to discuss family dynamics, conservation, and cross-cultural understanding.

Sent to Cuba to visit the father he barely knows, Edver is surprised to meet a half-sister, Luza, whose plan to lure their cryptozoologist mother into coming there, too, turns dangerous.