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

by NoNieqa Ramos, Nicole Medina (Illustrator)

Meet the Tres 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.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Biography, Nonfiction, Family, Childrens, Librarianship

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

NoNieqa Ramos is an educator and writer of picture books and young adult literature.

Their debut picture book YOUR MAMA illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara earned starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Kirkus. The Virginia Center for the Book selected YOUR MAMA as Virginia’s GREAT READ for 2021 highlighted by the Library of Congress’ Center for the Book at the National Book Festival. YOUr MAMA was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, a School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2021, a Kirkus Best Picture Book of the 2021, and a National Council of English Books Notable Poetry Book.

They wrote THE DISTURBED GIRL’S DICTIONARY, a 2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens, a 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection, and a 2019 In the Margins Award Top Ten pick. It earned starred reviews from Booklist, Voya, and Foreword.

Lilliam Rivera, author of DEALING in DREAMS, selected their sophomore YA novel THE TRUTH IS as a Bustle Book Club selection. Hip Latina included TTI in the “10 of the Best Latinx Young Adult Books of 2019.” Remezcla included TTI in the “15 Best Books by Latino and Latin American Authors of 2019.”

Lerner books released their picture book HAIR STORY illustrated by Keisha Morris, October 15th, 2021. Versify will publish BEAUTY WOKE illustrated by Paola Escobar, February 15th, 2022. NoNieqa is a proud member of Las Musas Books collective and the Soaring 20s PB debut group.
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Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another slice of history to learn more about! I wasn’t familiar with The Tres Hermanas but I’m so glad to have read this book and learn more about all the hard work they’ve done for the Bronx community.

[Emily Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Believe is the story of how three sisters made a change in their community in different ways. Their goal is for equality, and each sister focuses on different parts including equal education, women's rights, and housing. This book is suited for readers in about grades 2-3. This book could appeal to children from Latinx backgrounds (and non-Latinx) who may benefit from positive role models. This book would make a great addition to a classroom library because it shows how it's possible to make a difference in your community at any age. Key themes and topics of this book include: Puerto Rico, activism, education, justice, community, cultural pride, sisterhood, and equity.

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous, lyrical book celebrates three sisters who epitomized the belief that "taking care of one another in times of need is the superpower of community." Three sisters from Puerto Rico who, through both quiet, steadfast work, and loud activism, took care of their immediate Bronx community while also expressing to the world at large the notion that "what you deserve has nothing to do with having a lot of money" -- good schools, access to books, safe housing, good food, and equal opportunities in the world. They set a courageous example for children, and everyone, to follow.

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful book. Three sisters - Evelina, Lillian, and Elba - migrated from Puerto Rico to the Bronx as children, became activists at a young age, and never stopped advocating for their communities. This is the story of many things: of injustice, of hope, of organizing, of envisioning something new, of standing up, of sisterhood. The language in this book is poetry, as are the gorgeous, hibiscus-colored illustrations. One of my favorite lines is, “The Bronx is a library of stories.” This book, with its stories of Evelina, fighting against inequity in education, Lillian, fighting for access to Spanish and bilingual books in libraries, and Elba, educating a nation on the art and music of her community, earns its own spot in this expansive library. Many readers will be happy to recognize themselves and feel seen in a picture book, and readers of all ages, from toddlers to adults, will find something to love about this book. The glossary and timeline in the back make this a wonderful resource for classrooms, too.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book is written mostly in English but with many Spanish words used in appropriate ways. I can read a little Spanish and there was nothing I couldn't understand. The three sisters who were born in Puerto Rico and moved to the Bronx grew to become college graduates, activists, one a librarian, motivators for social change, and the importance of learning and library access for all.
They helped others to learn that "taking care of one another in times of need is the superpower of a community." There is also a glossary, a timeline, a bibliography and more.
The book is brilliantly and delightfully illustrated by Nicole Medina.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age, great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your public library!
I requested and received a temporary electronic copy on Adobe Digital Editions from Lerner Publishing Group, Carolrhoda Books ® via NetGalley. Thank you!

#Latinex #PuertoRico #UnitedBronxParents #SpanishBilingualBooks #SpanishSpeakingLibraryStaff.

[Gayatri Sethi Desi Book Aunty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uplifting celebration of storytelling and community in the form of a book.
This book is informative, dynamic and beautifully composed.
Educator notes:
The back pages are fantastic resources for creating lessons/ learning activities.

[Venessa Vida Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure. As a New York Puerto Rican myself, I’d never known the story of The Tres Hermanas, though if I had been informed, I’m positive my education on their impacts to the Bronx community would never have been delivered in such an engaging and empowering way!

It’s staggering the way NoNieqa Ramos manages to take a topic—even a “herstorical” one—and turn it into poetry, with purposefully chosen words doing double duty by delivering an important history lesson about resistance and community mobilization while also challenging the very vocabulary we use to describe the past. The end result is an almost musical narrative journey into the injustices experienced by the Bronx New York community and the activism that uplifted it.

As a parent and as a descendent of Puerto Ricans who made the same harrowing journey from Borikén to NYC, I’m eager to share this story with my children, as it provides a beautifully illustrated roadmap for finding the power within oneself to rise up and pursue solutions in a world that would devalue and silence people for their ethnicity, race, ability, gender, and on and on. Married with Nicole Medina’s illustrations, the phrase “best believe” in Ramos’s hand becomes an intentional call to action against oppression, injustice, and erasure while celebrating the joy and resilience of community.

Speaking solely on the art: I found Nicole Medina’s illustrations well matched to the story, enveloping Evelina, Lillian, and Elba’s experiences in colors and patterns evocative of both the Caribbean and the Barrio’s colorful mosaic of people. The effect is a bold and joyful treatment that vibrates off the page.

All in all, a beautiful book inside and out. 5/5!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for an ARC of this book.

Best Believe caught my eye because the cover was so incredibly eye catching. Bright vivid colors and of course three strong women on the cover. Having never heard of The Tres Hermanas, I definitely wanted to give this one a read.

The formatting of the ARC was not great (obviously not the book's fault) but I managed to get it situated to where I could read it. All in all, I found the illustrations to be really nice and like the cover, full of color! The story of the sisters hit what I'm assuming were the highlights of their lives. What was covered in the book was definitely enough I think for younger readers to understand the impact these women had within the Bronx.

The issues I had with the book were simple things -- I'm not a huge fan of the word "herstory" but that's just a personal preference. I also wished I had known that there was a glossary in the back because I definitely thought there were words in the book that younger readers would likely not know... so the glossary is definitely a great inclusion. I just wish that was mentioned at the start of the book somewhere.

All in all, this would be a good book for general use in a classroom but also a really great one for Hispanic Heritage Month. And while I don't think it is a must-buy, I think it could definitely be a great addition to a classroom or library.

[CallmeJames · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐬, 𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐍𝐢𝐞𝐪𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚

‍👩🏽‍👩🏾👩🏾✊🏽 Best Believe: The Tres Hermanas, a Sisterhood for the Common Good is a vibrant and inspiring story that follows three sisters as they come together to make a positive impact in their community by embracing their identity, roots and shared visions. Through their journey, they learn the power of unity, resilience, and the importance of standing up for what is right and claiming it.

‍👩🏽‍👩🏾👩🏾✊🏽 I thoroughly enjoyed both the graphic novel and the audiobook versions of this story. The graphic novel is incredibly colorful, lively, and filled with hope. Bringing the characters and their world to life in a way that is both engaging and visually stunning. The audiobook, on the other hand, adds an extra layer of spirit to the narrative, with the narration enhancing the emotional depth and making the story even more enjoyable.

‍👩🏽‍👩🏾👩🏾✊🏽 In this tale, the Tres Hermanas—three sisters with distinct personalities and strengths—band together to tackle challenges and support their community. Their journey is filled with lessons about sisterhood, perseverance, and the impact of collective action. The story beautifully illustrates how even small efforts can lead to significant change when driven by a shared aspiration for the common good.

[Anitra Rowe Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Best Believe" is a picture book about three sisters devoted to their community, and the enormous impact of their contributions. The Tres Hermanas - Evelina, Lillian and Elba - worked to ensure opportunities for the people of the Bronx, the New York City borough they called home. When the sisters came to the U.S., in pursuit of the American Dream, it seemed instead to be "a land of broken promises." But when encountering adversity, time and again The Tres Hermanas took action - protesting evictions, bringing neighbors groceries, helping newcomers learn English, organizing activist groups, and advocating for change. You "Best Believe" this convicting story resolves with an empowering reminder: That The Tres Hermanas believed in YOU, and every reader of their tale. Rich in narration and backmatter, this nonfiction biography makes a memory-mark, just as did the lives of the book's main characters.

[Sheila Colón-Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Believe is a picture book featuring three Puerto Rican sisters who became powerful figures—some would say “royalty’’— in the Bronx. Through beautiful rhythmic prose by NoNieqa Ramos and gorgeous, vibrant illustrations by Nicole Medina, we learn about Las Tres Hermanas: Evelina, Lillian, and Elba. I was not familiar with these pioneers, and found the story of how these three sisters migrated from Puerto Rico to the Bronx as children, and became activists for equal opportunities in housing and schooling, as well as champions for access to books and nutritious food, inspiring. I also appreciated the backmatter with a timeline and additional reading resources helpful.

[Hope Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring story about three sisters from Puerto Rico who epitomized what it means to be “a good human being” to each other by building a strong community through bravery, belief, and compassion with their hard work and vision in the fields of education, books, and arts. Their lifetime action and dedication to lifting others up are true visions of community building and love for all. NoNieqa Ramos’s beautifully written verse is perfectly paired with vibrant illustrations in this remarkable non-fiction.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great backmatter with a timeline, sources, additional reading, and author's note with real photos (my favorite in any nonfiction picture book). Little bit of Spanish incorporated throughout. I thought the writing style was sometimes a bit clunky or dense? I personally didn't like the use of phrases like "herstory" used throughout the text; I think it can be hard to follow, especially for kids. That said, I'm glad to add this nonfiction picture book about three Puerto Rican sisters to our collection.

[Kidlitsoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You best believe" this beautiful picture book masters the art of poetic oration. Confident, rhythmic prose immediately wins the reading audience over to the cause of The Tres Hermanas, three Puerto Rican sisters who became powerful figures of Bronx legend. The monumental and moving portrait of their lives--stunningly illustrated in yellow, teal, magenta, and maroon--transports listeners to a time when belief, courage, and vision were all some people had and needed to have to make momentous change.

[Elisa Boxer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an impactful book with vibrant illustrations and a bold, inspirational voice. Through these three sisters who migrated from Puerto Rico to the Bronx, we see the power of grit and perseverance to create meaningful change by holding people and institutions accountable for discrimination. After learning how these tres hermanas have lived their lives, readers can't help but be motivated and empowered to create change themselves.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelina Antonetty, Lillian López, and Elba Cabrera wanted to change their community for the better. They decided to get involved and work towards goals that would allow their community to have more of a voice when it came to educational choices that were being made by people who had no connection to their community - a problem that still goes on today in so many places.

[Lindsay Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another NoNieqa Ramos winner! This powerhouse of a biography packs in lessons about community, resilience, and equality with a flourish of Ramos' distinctive and sharp voice. Nicole Medina's rich, warm illustrations pack even more heart into each spread. A wonderful introduction to three sisters and the different ways they engaged in the grassroots fight for equity in the Bronx.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brightly colored and well written, this is a nice addition to a picture book biography section about three women my library patrons may never have heard of. Most picture book biographies are light on historical detail, so some readers might like a little more context, but the text is clear and offers a positive impression of three very important women.

[Patricia Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of hope and change that empowers as it uplifts. I love finding unknown stories like this one. The tres hermanas make our lives richer simply by knowing about their dedication to humanity. A worthy read!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three strong sisters move from Puerto Rico to NYC. They work hard and help lots of people. They make changes in Harlem. I think this would be a much more impactful book for people in NYC, who would know more about these sisters.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really interesting premise, really visually striking, unbelievably dense text that I think will work only for kids who are very motivated to learn about these people, or with grown ups ready to retell much of the story. This would be painful to try to read aloud.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Believe by NoNieqa Ramos is a lovely short children's book about three exemplary Puerto Rican sisters who paved the way for many Latinos in the U.S. and New York. With accomplishments such as starting Hostos Community College, these women broke barriers and led Latinos to new heights.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Alysses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hostos is a beautiful school. It was great to read about its founding member. Boricuas from all over should pick up this book.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful biography of three sisters who migrated from Puerto Rico to the Bronx and transformed the neighborhood.

[Lesli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is an important story, but it was quite long and I wish the prose was more interesting.

[NoNieqa Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

THOUGHTS TO COME...

[Shoshanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring!!!

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another story about hidden figures that we don't learn about in school. I'm thrilled to add this to my school library's biography section and highlight it for Latinx Heritage Month!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary level picture book biography of three sisters who campaigned for education equality in the Bronx NY.