Find Me in Havana, Serena Burdick

Find me in Havana is the story of Nina and her mother, movie star Estelita. Written in back and forth perspectives like letters to the other, Find me in Havana takes the reader from 12-year old Nina's experiences of growing up with her mother and grandmother, to being kidnapped by her father and taken home to Mexico, to being rescued by her mother and taking her to Cuba and then back home to the United States. We follow Estelita through her numerous relationships, her acting and singing career and motherhood.

The two are bound not only by the mother-child relationship, but by their struggles, traumas, and successes. There is a lot going on in this book and Serena Burdick does a great job keeping the reader on track. I found the beginning a bit tough to sink into and the ending was a little lack luster.

Find Me in Havana is worth the read but not my favorite by Ms. Burdick.