Before We Were | Free

The transition from childhood innocence to political awakening.

The assassination of dictator Rafael Trujillo. 🔑 Key Themes Before We Were Free

It provides a accessible, humanized look at living under a brutal dictatorship. Before We Were Free

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Anita goes from being silenced by fear to writing her truth in a diary. Before We Were Free

Julia Alvarez's historical novel follows 12-year-old Anita de la Torre as she lives through the terrifying final days of Rafael Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. 📌 Quick Overview Setting: Dominican Republic, 1960–1961.