THE TASTE OF SUGAR

Narrator Kyla Garcia highlights the mistreatment of Puerto Rican farmers during the Spanish-American War in this tense audiobook. When the Puerto Ricans who were devastated by a hurricane in 1899 migrated to Hawaii in hope of a new life, they didn't expect to be treated inhospitably. Garcia commendably portrays the characters with laid-back pacing. As Vicente Vega, she shows resilience in facing harrowing work and living conditions on the sugar plantations. As Valentina Sanchez, Vicente's wife, she depicts a sweet and intelligent woman who sacrifices comfort for love. The audiobook is peppered with Spanish words that may distract those who don't speak the language. Nonetheless, this is an important portrait of the first Puerto Rican settlement in the Aloha state. A.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2021]