Abandoned on foreign soil in a world where language and customs are a
mystery, Sophia James, the eldest of six Californian children, is in
charge-and she is only eleven. Told through the eyes of the
sixty-year-old Sophia as she sits with oils painting a large canvas, The
Smell of Sugarcane is based on a true story. Traveling through time with
Sophia, the reader witnesses the strength and power that can be found
when a human spirit is determined to survive and succeed. As she
advances her painting, a remarkable story unfolds in a place where love
is hidden and dangers abound and children hold tight. Rich with tropical
colors, the book revolves around the island of Puerto Rico. Its factual
and descriptive narrative keeps the reader captive as the painting
progresses. The reader will skip a heartbeat in moments when the
children are in danger and will cry for their fears and injustices or
laugh and celebrate victories. The Smell of Sugarcane is about the
importance of instilling strong principles and good values at an early
age. Without these, the children would have been lost. This book is
about picking up the torch of life and holding it high while running
with all one's might. Ultimately, it is about good profoundly triumphing
over evil.
