Telex from Cuba

In her debut novel, National Book Award Finalist Rachel Kushner captures the coming-of-age story of young Everly Lederer and K.C. Stites amid the pre-revolutionary landscape of Cuba, where American expatriates cultivate their lives on a vast United Fruit Company sugarcane plantation under Batista's regime. As the children navigate a world of indulgence, betrayal, and hidden violence, their lives intersect with the burgeoning revolutionary movement, marked by the arrival of a cabaret dancer and a French agitator. Set against the backdrop of a looming political upheaval, the narrative reveals their awakening to the brutal realities of colonialism and the impending changes that will reshape their lives and the island's future. Kushner's beautifully written tale offers a haunting glimpse into a pivotal moment in history.