Initially excited by the promise of Castro’s revolution, Zeida, a teacher and single mother, becomes increasingly disillusioned and betrayed, leading her to take extraordinary measures to protect her daughters and defend her principles. 

Marina uses excerpts from her mother’s writings, interviews with friends and family members, and her own memories to tell her mother’s story. Full of the same spirit her mother brought to her life, Leaving Castro’s Cuba: The Story of an Immigrant Family recounts their journey while weaving a rich tapestry of familial sacrifice, courage, and love.

In Leaving Castro's Cuba, Marina Villa poignantly recounts her middle-class family's experience in the aftermath of the revolution and their painful separation from their homeland. This is an entirely unique narrative and one richly worth sharing...

 – Tom Gjelten, author of Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba

The book is available here

See images from Zeida's story here