Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez

                I just finished reading Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez. This book is about the story of Anita de la Torre, who is a twelve year old girl living in the Dominican Republic in 1960. Anita’s family has been involved in the assassination of their dictator, El Jefe. Most of Anita’s family leaves and moves to New York where they can live in safety. While reading this book, I recognized that nature comes up a lot. I think that nature symbolizes freedom and  how Anita and her family will end up in the safest place for them eventually, but there will be obstacles along the way.

                One example of this symbol comes in the beginning of the book. Anita is eavesdropping of her father’s phone call when she hears him talking about butterflies. Anita’s father happened to be talking with someone else who was going to try to escape as well. Anita runs back to her room and starts trying to figure out what this could mean. Soon after, the secret police begins to bother Anita and her family and this is when Anita realizes that something is very wrong. This is one example of why I think that nature is a big symbol in Before We Were Free.

                Another example of this continuing symbol happens on page 47. Anita is talking to her crush Oscar whose family is trying to help Anita’s escape from the Dominican Republic. Anita starts to talk about sunshine and how she feels like there is a burst of sunshine in her heart. Although Anita is using this description while explaining her feelings about Oscar, I think that the author placed this in the book to show how her family will break free and be able to live a bright, happy life after all of the hard times that they are going through.

                The final example of this symbol comes at the end of the book once Anita and her family are free. They are having Thanksgiving dinner at their cousin’s house in Queens, New York when it begins to snow. I think that this symbolizes how they have finally been set free and they have been released from all of the terrible things that have happened throughout their journey to safety.  As Anita is watching the snow she says that it comes down “freely, heavily, and beautifully”. I think that this event is also allowing Anita and her family to let go of all that has happened and be open to a new life where they are free.

                I really enjoyed reading Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez. I think that this is a great book because it really opens your eyes to events that really happened in the world. I really liked reading Anita’s story and I felt like this book allows the reader to discover things, wonder about things, and be upset or happy about things along with Anita. This book was also very funny to read because Anita was always expressing her curiosity with her friends and family and they always had mixed feelings about this. All in, this was an amazing book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction or anyone who just wants a young girls inspiring story.