Patti Sheehy

As a young boy in Cuba, Frankie saw all of the changes that took place when Castro came into power. He spent nearly 10 months in Fidel's literacy program, where young boys were supposed to teach peasants how to read. He was then sent to a top school, where he was taught the virtues of communism. After leaving the school and returning to public school, he was drafted into the army, where he was chosen to work in Special Forces. During all of this time he fell in love and decided to do whatever it took to escape Cuban and join his girlfriend in America.

Overall, this was a fascinating book, it was hard to put down. I was amazed by the courage and determination of Frankie, and the lengths he went through to escape. My only criticism is the epilogue. All it really said was that I had to wait until the next book to find out anymore about Frankie. I found this extremely annoying and disappointing. Although the book was an incredible read, I doubt that I'll pick up the next one.… (más)

Book Review & Giveaway: The Boy Who Said No: An Escape to Freedom by Patti Sheehy is fiction but it’s based on the real life story of a Cuban refugee who escaped to the U.S. How could I resist a story like that for the week leading into America’s Independence Day? Sometimes real life is just as dramatic as fiction. The events surrounding the Cuban Revolution, and how it impacted the lives of the people living on that island nation, definitely falls into that category. Hold onto your hats because it’s going to be a bumpy ride for Frank Mederos. Oh, to make it even more special, the publisher has given us two advance readers copies to use in our giveaway - enter at http://popcornreads.com/?p=6152.… (más)

Frank Mederos was just a boy when the Batista reign ended and Fidel Castro took control of Cuba. He learned at the knee of his grandfather and his father and mother what was right and wrong and he could see with his own eyes and by his own experiences what was happening to his country and his people was not a good thing. He was a solider in Castro’s army as a young man without many choices until it became clear that there was only one clear choice to make. In a time when dissenting Cubans were disappearing at an alarming rate he along with the family of his beloved made the only decision they thought they could. Escape.
Ms. Sheehy brings us a true life adventure of one man’s journey to freedom. She takes us through his very personal experiences, his feelings, his gains and his losses. Her narrative style is diary-esque yet with an on the edge of your seat thriller novel feeling that gives the reader the feeling of being there on the front lines with Frank, his friends and his loved ones. She tells it in words that anyone at any age can understand and appreciate and she gives us a hint at the end that this is just the beginning.
Patti thank you for a wonderful, eye-opening look behind the Cuban curtain I can’t wait to see where you take us next. Brava on a great debut!!
Be sure and check out my interview with Patti -http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/2013/06/interview-with-debut-author-patti.html… (más)