Porridge & Cucu : My Childhood

PORRIDGE & CUCU is the poignant tale of Yamila—from her earliest memories of Panama. One major character is her ninety-eight year old grandfather, who shares with her the ghost stories of his childhood. Other characters are her grandmother, her parents, and her brother. When Yamila’s mother–a teacher--leaves to attend the University of Missouri, Yamila becomes a boarding student at St. Michael’s School for Girls. She tries to overcome a loneliness she had never experienced before. Once her family leaves for the USA (to re-unite with her mother), she re-adjusts to a new school, new relatives, and a new life. At novel's end, Yamila witnesses an indigenous girl’s rite of passage ceremony, and experiences one herself. The book cover features Panama's beautiful indigenous art.