Paloma’s Song for Puerto Rico: A Diary from 1898

by Adriana Erin Rivera, Adriana Erin Rivera

Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino, Nuestras Voces shares inspiring Latino stories. It is 1898, and twelve-year-old Paloma lives in Puerto Rico with her Papi, Mami, and little brother, Jorge. They are coffee farmers, and Paloma loves the chickens and fruit trees that she helps to care for. She also loves music―the song of the coquí frogs who sing her to sleep, and the melodies from Papi’s tiple guitar. But Paloma’s world begins to change when war arrives on Puerto Rico’s shores. What will happen to their culture, the island? As Paloma and her family navigate changes they can’t control, they hold tightly to each other and hope for a better future. In diary format, the Nuestras Voces series profiles inspiring characters and honors the joys, challenges, and outcomes of Latino experiences.

Genres: History, Childrens

112 pages, Library Binding

Published July 31, 2023

About the author

Adriana Erin Rivera is an award-winning author of Puerto Rican descent. Her writing has been published in Barzakh Literary Magazine, Footwear News, Latina Magazine, and Metro New York. She is also a singer and songwriter, and has written theatrical pieces that have been performed on New York City stages. A magna cum laude graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications. Her middle grade historical fiction novel, PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898, a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum for the American Latino, won the Gold Medal for Best Educational Chapter Book at the 2024 International Latino Book Awards. A Spanish-language edition will be released in August 2025. Based in Westchester County, NY, she works as Marketing Manager for a university in New York.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does your homeland mean to you?
How would you feel if you know your home is in the mid of a war?
How would you be with your family and friends in such a situation? Would you be able to appreciate the little things in life? Would there be anything that would ease the pain and anxiety of being in such a position?

This is the story that happened in the middle of the Spanish American war in 1898. A young girl tells her everyday experiences in her diary. Most of the parts in this story are based on real life events as is explained towards the end of the book.

This book sparks joy and warmth the entire time despite the gloomy background. The writing is so good. I would say this much charm in the writing is a rarity for me despite having read so many middle grade, young adult and adult fiction.

The illustrations made more charm I would say. The artsyle is subtle and minimal which I feel totally reflects the mood of the book.

Short chapters. Beautiful warm characters. Cosy writing. Important cultural representation. Subtle beautiful artwork. What more can I ask for?

Please do read this book to experience the joy I have just had. There are many resources and references given in the book which would help us getting educated about the era as well as the community in Puerto Rico that has endured the war and has come out more resilient and inspirational.

Thank you, Capstone, for the advance reading copy.

[Maria Steffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Liked:
I chose this book for the audience age, the cultural / historical relevance, and to see if I could identify any connections from my recent vacation to Puerto Rico. I chose well. I loved the refreshingly functional family relationships. I loved that it was a quick read and written in diary format. I loved learning about the Spanish-American war. And, yes, I loved reflecting on the roosters and coqui frogs that I had witnessed.

What I Didn't Like:
I'm not sure if this is something that I did NOT like, but I thought it peculiar that the diary covered the span of only 15 days... Until it jumps 27 years ahead. However, I did look into this and the entire operation in Puerto Rico was only 3 weeks, so I appreciate that reality.

Book Promo:
2nd-4th
Have students list the wars that they have heard about. Most likely, the Spanish-American war will not come up. Show students Puerto Rico on the map and tell them a bit about the story:
-Paloma is 12, living in Puerto Rico during this time frame
-Play recording of coqui frogs
-Advertise as a book written in epistolary format
-Compare to I Survived or I Am America series

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

DeeplyTouched My Heart

As I began reading Paloma's Song, I felt a strong connection that deeply touched my heart. The author's descriptions made me feel as if I were right there with Paloma experiencing and feeling everything with her. I could visualize the palm trees and see the workers in the sugarcane fields. I could feel the ocean breeze, hear the coquí singing and so much more.

I also felt a strong connection because of my own background. The book reminded me so much of stories that my own family had shared with me about life in Puerto Rico. So many beautiful memories came flooding back to me as I read the book and reflected on my own family's stories, making Paloma's Song that much more special. However, if you don't have the connection of family stories that echo Paloma's Song, no worries. Just read the book and you too will be transported to another time and place that is sure to deeply touch your heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

[Ms.Caprioli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received the ARC for this book as part of my participation as a volunteer for the local book festival.

I LOVED Paloma’s Song. It’s a short, accessible book for middle grades that tells the story of the US landing in Ponce through the eyes of a local twelve-year-old girl. It shows the joy and hope of liberation and the worries that independence might not be as easy as it seemed. It also makes the connection to the Puerto Rican diaspora. I hope many schools adopt this book so students can have a better understanding of the Spanish American War by the time we reach the topic in our history curriculum, and can become familiar with the Harvest of Empire, which they can hopefully read before the end pf high school.


Semi-spoiler: I really wonder if Paloma’s daughters are named Ana and Lydia as an homage to the great Puerto Rican author Ana Lydia Vega.

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a well done book in diary form. I thought Palmoa was such a great main character. It was interesting to read about the people who lived in Puerto Rico during the Spanish rule and right before The United States came in to fight the Spanish and "free" the people from their rule. Paloma is a twelve year old who lives in a village with her Mama and her Papi and little brother Jorge. Her Papi works on a coffee farm and sells the products at the market to make money for the land lord. I have not read anything about how Puerto Rico became apart of the United States and their history. I think this is a good start for children who are learning about different cultures. This would be an easy read and easy to understand.

[Amandasaved · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paloma's Song was such a sweet and positive story about a turbulent time. It gave readers a first hand experience on what was going on in Puerto Rico during the Spanish American war. The mention of hats, instruments, prayers and foods locals to Puerto Rico lend an authenticity to this story that I very much enjoyed.

I think the most enjoyable aspect of this book was the daughter's relationship with her father. Unlike so many Latino stories, Paloma's father was not some mysterious authoritarian. We readers got to know him over the course of the story. This was very refreshing.

I think the only weakness of the book was the gap in time between the day before the war let loose and the end of the novel which was 25 yrs later. This chapter became more like an epilogue which let us know everything that happened to the people whom we had come to love in the story. For this I take away one star.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Paloma’s Song for Puerto Rico and I’m in love with it! I’m Bangladeshi-American but I grew up surrounded by Puerto Rican culture in the melting pot that is NYC. It was wonderful to experience Puerto Rican history and culture through Paloma’s eyes and to feel those unexpected connections across our different backgrounds. Thank you for writing something so heartfelt and resonant!

[Carolina Familia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt transported to the Puerto Rican Island during a more simpler time. Paloma recounts in her diary the events that happened in her life during the summer of 1898. The same year of the Spanish/US war. You see her love and pride for her family and country and also the fear she has of war and change. Lovely story and great way to learn more about the history of Puerto Rico.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible middle grade series highlighting various historical Hispanic experiences.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1898, after being gifted a diary, Paloma tells some of the basic history of Puerto Rico along with her personal story. Paloma details her fight for independence along with the battles occurring on the island.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short middle grade historical fiction book is a delight to read. There are simple illustrations throughout that work very well with the story, set in 1898, when the US invaded to push Spain out. There are resources at the end to learn more about this time period. This story was written in collaboration with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino.

"Tomorrow will always be different from today," he said. "Do not distrust change, Paloma."

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher, Capstone, for a digital review copy. Publish date August 1, 2923.