Remember Me: A Spanish Civil War Novel

Mario Escobar

Sep 2020 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

Amid the shadows of war, one family faces an impossible choice that will change their lives forever. From bestseller Mario Escobar comes a 20th-century historical novel of sacrifice and resilience inspired by Spain’s famed Children of Morelia and the true events that shaped their lives.

Madrid, 1934. Though the Spanish Civil War has not yet begun, the streets of Madrid have become dangerous for thirteen-year-old Marco Alcalde and his two younger sisters. Marco’s parents align themselves against the new fascist regime, unaware that their choice will endanger the entire family—nor do they predict the violence that is to come.

In a desperate bid for safety, the Alcaldes join many other Spanish families in making an impossible choice to send their unaccompanied children across the ocean to the city of Morelia, Mexico—a place they’ve never seen or imagined, but whose government promises their children protection. Young Marco promises to look after his sisters in Mexico until their family can be reunited in Spain, but a harrowing journey ensues.

As the growing children work to care for themselves and each other, they feel their sense of home, family, and identity slipping further and further away. As their memories of Spain fade, they begin to wonder if they will ever see their parents again or the glittering streets of the home they once loved.

Based upon the true stories of the Children of Morelia, Mario Escobar’s Remember Me—now available for the first time in English—paints a poignant portrait of an immigrant family’s sacrificial love and endurance, detailing just how far we go for those we love.

“Luminous and beautifully researched, Remember Me is a study of displacement, belonging, compassion, and forged family amid a heart- wrenching escape from the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War. Fans of Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Chanel Cleeton, and Lisa Wingate will be mesmerized.” —Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration

• Perfect for book clubs: Includes discussion questions, research notes from the author, and a historical timeline
• Based on real historical events: Full-length, 90,000-word historical novel based on the true stories of the Children of Morelia
• Researched and written by a subject-matter expert: Mario Escobar has a master's degree in modern history and lives in Madrid

Ratings and reviews

I received an ARC of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, author Mario Escobar, translator Gretchen Abernathy, and publisher Thomas Nelson. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. Remember Me is an outstanding look into the civil war of Spain from November 1934, and the story of the Children of Morelia, the Spanish children in exile in Mexico from May of 1937 through the end of 1940 when the decision was made to return the children to Spain. We focus on the three Alcalde siblings, Marco (16), Isabel, and Ana The author tells us that the Spanish Civil War was a river of tears and blood. All civil wars are bad - brother against brother, but the Spanish Civil War was tragic to a degree impossible to fully understand. The conflicts between the rebels and the Republican government and It's loyal citizens began in 1934 and by the time of the coup in July 1936 the citizens of the country were already hungry, afraid, and without much hope. By 1937 thousands of Spanish children had been dispursed into European countries, from Russia to England, Belgium, and France, and some to Argentina and Chile in South America. But Europe was now very unstable, and Mexican President Cardenas and his wife Amalia Solorzano made provisions to handle up to 500 Spanish children in the small town of Morelia, Mexico. By the summer of 1937, many Spanish families had decided to send their children across the sea to safety in Mexico at this invitation of the Mexican government. 470 children were sent by train to Bordeaux, France, and then by ship across the turbulent Atlantic to Vera Cruz, and then to a boarding school set up to continue the education of those Spanish children, along with a few Morelia Mexican children. It was many months after the children's arrival in Mexico before the parents of those in exile were given their location and address to write them. And of course, mail at that time took months to travel from Madrid to Mexico. Communication between the family members was sporadic and months went by between letters. In September 1939 Poland was invaded by Germany, and World War II was declared and grew to include most of Europe and Asia. Family members' children in Mexico were just hanging on, uncertain of their future, afraid for their families back home. When can they go home? Is there home and family left to return to?

I struggled with this emotive and heartrending story. While it was informative and well written the emotional tone was intense and heavy with anguish and tragedy. Combine that with the described abuse, neglect, senseless brutality, and unfathomable atrocities the powerless children and citizens suffered; and it is easily understood why I frequently needed to put my Kindle down and seek out something more pleasant before my heart ruptured. I confess to being completely ignorant of this period of history as well as of the history of Spain in general. Although I do have a keen memory of seeing a picture of the ruthless dictator Franco while dressed in his resplendent uniform in my 5th grade elementary school textbook and wondering if he was part owner of the canned pasta company that made my Spaghettios. Apparently, history has never been my forte! Amongst the heinous scenarios of corruption and unobstructed abuse at the hands of the religious figures and institutions set up for their care were gripping storylines that led to profoundly deep and insightful observations, inner musings, and revelations as experienced through the eyes of a young adolescent in untenable circumstances. These passages were written with thoughtful prose that was so poignant it was almost lyrical and caused me to read them several times while stealing my breath and burning my eyes and throat. Mario Escobar broke my heart – he has mad skills.