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Beyond Mud and Vines is the story of Sabina and her
grim upbringing in the hills of Puerto Rico. She's a bright little
girl with a thirst for knowledge. But her parents are against educating
girls, since they will only become wives and mothers.
Being denied an education is painful for Sabina, but then, so are
many other things. Even her white skin, blond hair, and green eyes
bring her agony. She's the only light child in a family of eight
dark siblings and dark parents. They call her "white-eyed with
yellow hair" among other unpleasant names.
Sabina is forced to do chores no one else in the family would do.
She's left alone in a dark jungle during a violent storm, where
she must keep the fire burning under the rum-making apparatus. Her
father warns her not to leave the site, while he goes home to sleep
through the storm. Terrified by the deafening roar of wind and rain,
she adds wood to the fire, and changes the rum filled gallon jugs.
Through the roar, Sabina hears voices far away. Shielding her eyes
with her hands, she watches as a couple with children trying to
cross the creek gets washed away by the raging muddy water. Sabina
sees the people disappear one after another, but she must endure
the fear and never leave the rum-site unattended.
Sabina dreams of running away from home, but she must wait for the
proper time. But one day her drunk father threatens her with his
sharp machete, and she has no choice but to run unprepared. She
runs at the edge of the river, hoping to reach a city on the west
end of the island. The river wraps around the bases of several mountains.
She falls into the rushing water and is quickly spun into a whirling
pool where, after a long struggle, she surrenders herself to die.
She awakens miles away, clinging to a dead branch at the river's
edge. She coughs out water, then continues on her journey. She makes
a promise to herself. If she finds someone who will help her, she'll
come back to take her younger sisters and brothers away. She'll
teach them love and compassion - something they will never learn
from their abusive parents. 
Don't miss the sequel, Yearning
to be American.
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