Best Believe: The Tres Hermanas, a Sisterhood for the Common Good

by NoNieqa Ramos, Nicole Medina (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet the Tres Hermanas: Evelina Antonetty, Lillian López, and Elba Cabrera.

They moved from Puerto Rico to New York City as children and grew up to become leaders in their Bronx community. Evelina, an activist for social causes, founded United Bronx Parents. Lillian became a librarian and administrator who fought for Spanish and bilingual books and Spanish-speaking library staff. Elba worked closely with Evelina and became an ambassador and advocate for the arts.

Rhythmic verse by NoNieqa Ramos and vibrant illustrations by Nicole Medina provide a stirring look at three dynamic changemakers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728494005
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/06/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 9 Years

About the Author

Raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, NoNieqa Ramos is an educator and literary activist. Their work includes the young adult novels The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary and The Truth Is, as well as the picture book Hair Story. They believe Halloween is a lifestyle, not a holiday. If you're in Virginia, you might catch NoNieqa getting motorcycle lessons from their soulmate Michael or going indie bookstore hopping with their preciosos Jandi and Langston. Connect with their works on www.nonieqaramos.com or on the Latinx collective www.lasmusasbooks.com.

Nicole Medina is a first generation Latina American and proud. She's a Philly based illustrator with a love for art history, horror movies (the good and the bad), fun pattern and bold color.

Editorial Reviews

"The sisters' fiery spirit runs through the text, which frankly calls out disparities and celebrates the Tres Hermanas' many victories as they passionately defended the rights of Puerto Rican Americans and lifted up their culture. . . Illustrations channeling the sisters' Puerto Rican roots feature saturated colors, tropical flower embellishments, moving portraits of the family and community, and a clean, modern aesthetic."—starred, Booklist

From the Publisher

2023-12-16
Remarkable sisters changed life for the better in the Bronx.

Evelina Antonetty, Lillian López, and Elba Cabrera emigrated from Puerto Rico to New York in the 1930s. They worked hard to improve their communities and pushed back against discrimination. As a teen, Evelina, who spoke English and Spanish, used her bilingual abilities to support and advocate for her community. In 1965, she created an organization to empower parents to fight for better, more equitable public schools in the Bronx. Along with Elba, she advocated for bilingual education and school meals. Later, the sisters helped found Hostos Community College. Middle sister Lillian became the first Puerto Rican administrator in charge of all Bronx libraries. She fought to fund libraries in Black, brown, and poor communities when they faced budget cuts that their white counterparts did not face. The work of the Tres Hermanas reverberated during their lifetimes and beyond. Upbeat verse, punctuated by the phrase “you best believe,” drives home these siblings’ accomplishments. The art, a vibrant tapestry of jewel-tone colors that leap off the pages, creates a visual feast for young readers. Dynamic and expressive, the illustrations captivate the imagination and beautifully bring to life the warmth of the sisters’ inspiring bond.

Stories of important Puerto Rican women, told vividly. (author’s note, source notes, glossary, timeline, bibliography, further reading, photographs) (Picture-book biography. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews