The Meaning of Consuelo: A Novel

by Judith Ortiz Cofer

The Signe family is blessed with two daughters. Consuelo, the elder, is thought of as pensive and book-loving, the serious child-la niña seria-while Mili, her younger sister, is seen as vivacious, a ray of tropical sunshine. Two daughters: one dark, one light; one to offer comfort and consolation, the other to charm and delight. But, for all the joy both girls should bring, something is not right in this Puerto Rican family; a tragedia is developing, like a tumor, at its core.

In this fierce, funny, and sometimes startling novel, we follow a young woman's quest to negotiate her own terms of survival within the confines of her culture and her family.

magazine

"Judith Ortiz Cofer has created a character who takes us by the hand on a journey of self-discovery. She reminds readers young and old never to forget our own responsibilities, and to enjoy life with all its joys and sorrows."--Bessy Reyna, MultiCultural Review

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Latinx, Coming Of Age, Classics, Novels

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Judith Ortiz Cofer (born in 1952) is a Puerto Rican author. Her work spans a range of literary genres including poetry, short stories, autobiography, essays, and young-adult fiction.

Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 1952. She moved to Paterson, New Jersey with her family in 1956. They often made back-and-forth trips between Paterson and Hormigueros. In 1967, her family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she attended Butler High School. Ortiz Cofer received a B.A. in English from Augusta College, and later an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University.

Ortiz Cofer's work can largely be classified as creative nonfiction. Her narrative self is strongly influenced by oral storytelling, which was inspired by her grandmother, an able storyteller in the tradition of teaching through storytelling among Puerto Rican women. Ortiz Cofer's autobiographical work often focuses on her attempts at negotiating her life between two cultures, American and Puerto Rican, and how this process informs her sensibilities as a writer. Her work also explores such subjects as racism and sexism in American culture, machismo and female empowerment in Puerto Rican culture, and the challenges diasporic immigrants face in a new culture. Among Ortiz Cofer's more well known essays are "The Story of My Body" and "The Myth of the Latin Woman," both reprinted in The Latin Deli.

In 1984, Ortiz Cofer joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, where she is currently Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing. In April 2010, Ortiz Cofer was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.

In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story “The Latin Deli”. In 1996, Ortiz Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children’s literature.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Judith Ortiz Cofer captured the voice and thoughts of a young girl and then a young woman, coming of age, grappling with the responsibilities of having to meet tragedy head on. I liked the "realness" of their family life and also, how Puerto Rico was depicted. Well done culturally and language wise.

[Kristen Scelonge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade/Interest Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Reading Level: no Lexile Level available
Genre: Multicultural Literature

Main Characters:Consuelo and Mili (sisters)
Setting:Puerto Rico and the United States of America
POV:Consuelo

This story is centered around is the Signe family who are Puerto Rican and have two daughters named Consuelo and Mili. The two daughters are polar opposites. Consuelo, the older daughter is thought of to be a book worm, consistently in deep serious thought, and more intelligent than her younger sister. Consuelo however, lacks the bubbly personality that her sister has which draws more people to her instead of Consuelo. Mili is seen as vivacious, beautiful and a bubbly ray of sunshine. The two daughters create the mood of opposite parallels that exist within the story in a metaphorical sense. Throughout the story there is a tragedy brewing that is fully divulged towards the end. The way in which each sister handles the tragedy is based off of their individual personality traits. Consuelo offers comfort and consolation, the other to charm and delight. The name Consuelo means solace or consolation which is perfectly suited for this character and her personality.

I would use this book in my classroom to talk about the Puerto Rican culture and to help students learn that within an umbrella term like “Hispanic” for race there are several cultures that are very different. This story would also be useful to discuss the make-up of various families and teach students that families can look many ways, but one thing that is true much like in this book is that they are there for one another when they are needed the most.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is set in Puerto Rico, & the island itself functions as a character, with its uneasy relationship with the United States. The story of Consuelo's family, & the tragedia that builds up at its core, could even be read as a sort of allegory of Puerto Rico.

I'm not quite satisfied with the story's ending; I won't provide any spoilers, but Consuelo's individuation seems to be undertaken at a very high cost that is not taken seriously enough. Unless indeed the book is read as a tragic allegory . . .

[Sheryl Sorrentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer is both a stunning tribute to the island of Puerto Rico (and something of an indictment of U.S. development and its negative impact on the island’s culture and natural splendor) and a deeply affecting story of one family’s heartbreaking misfortune (the mental instability suffered by the family’s beautiful younger daughter, Mili). The story is told by Mili’s older sister, Consuelo, who is charged with keeping an eye on her sibling from the time they are toddlers. Against the subtle backdrop of Mili’s mounting mental illness, Consuelo tries to forge her own identity within her fractured family and the confines of the larger Puerto Rican culture of the 1950’s. She does this while trying to make sense of her budding womanhood, her puzzlement over Maria Sereno (the cross-dressing neighborhood outcast), and her attachment to her gay cousin, Patricio (who is something of a pariah in his own family).

This is a deeply moving story about the suffering of women and the fragile bonds that hold families together. It is so authentically rendered you will feel as though you are in the kitchen with three generations of Puertorriqueñas, drinking café con leche served through a stained cloth colander as they share their collective bewilderment over the tragedia befalling their otherwise upstanding, middle-class family. I reeled from the pain experienced by the Signe family. They tried so hard to keep it together and hold on to their façade of being gente decente—decent people, trying to avert a scandal surrounding Mili’s mental illness. As for Consuelo, I loved how she handled herself after losing her virginity to Wilhelm (her European classmate who spurned her practically the moment he wordlessly stuffed his penis back into his pants). That experience taught Consuelo a hard life lesson that is particularly prevalent in Latin cultures: The same sexual act renders the male participant at once victorious and victimized (and thus deserving of pardon), while causing his female accomplice to be shunned and solely condemned. Girls—and boys—everywhere could take a lesson from Consuelo’s silent outrage and unflappable personal pride, even in this era and setting. That girl didn’t just get mad, she got even like a lady—brilliantly, and without uttering a word.

The gut-wrenching ending was harsh, and I didn’t see it coming. But with her unhappy ending, Ortiz underscores the tough choices young adults must sometimes make: You can either drown with the sinking ship out of loyalty to your family, or run away and save yourself.

At 185 pages, The Meaning of Consuelo is supposed to be young-adult fiction, but it boasts a strength of character you often don’t find in adult offerings. Its combination of exquisite prose and keen human insight makes this otherwise fast and easy read a cultural emblem and literary treasure.

I will not soon forget The Meaning of Consuelo. Most books written for a mass audience suffer from a notable lack of depth and emotion. However well-crafted and entertaining they may be, they leave you hungry once you’ve finished, because all they offer is a sort of literary pabulum—a blandness akin to airline fare. But every now and again, along comes a hidden gem like The Meaning of Consuelo—poignant, quirky, heartfelt, and utterly unselfconscious—just like its protagonist. I would love to see more “Consuelos” topping the bestseller lists, but authors like Ortiz write from the heart, rather than pander to the masses.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another YA project book. This is another book that I picked up in the course of my project which I at first wasn't that interested in, but figured I would give it a try. I really enjoyed reading it.
"The Meaning of Consuelo" is the story about a Puerto Rican family in the 1950s, during a time of Americanization on the island. In this family, there are two daughters, Consuelo, whose name means "comfort or solace" and Maria Milagros or Mili for short, which means "miracle". Consuelo is the serious child and Mili is the bright happy one. Consuelo is best friends with her cousin Patricio, whose father takes him and leaves the island after realizing his son is gay and being embarrassed by him. Consuelo is growing up and becoming a woman before her parents' eyes, but they are too busy with her father's infidelity and dealing with Mili who is a handful at the best of times. As her sister becomes more and more strange, Consuelo becomes her protector and watches out for her. Eventually her sister is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and though her parents don't want to admit it, they know Mili needs help. Her parents decide to move to the United States and right before this happens, Mili suddenly disappears and the family falls apart. Even though Consuelo is sad about her sister's disappearance, she wants to be able to live her own life and knows she has fulfilled her role as protector of the family.

[K.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story of one Puerto Rican girl's story that resembled my own and differed so greatly. Cofer is a great storyteller and she reminds the reader that "to try to understand your story you have to read it backward, each scene examined from the end to the beginning for there to be any sense of narrative. The plot is the last thing you invent" (p180).

[Bellavida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started I couldn't put it down. I just had to find out what would happen next. The story is interesting and unique.

[samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these characters to pieces. The focus on femininity and purity culture in Latino cultures was important and refreshing. Consuelo is an inspiration, she is who I want to be. Her growth and embracement of her strength, with womanhood rather than in rejection of it, is inspiring. Maria Sereno deserves the world. I could talk for hours about the implication of how women are treated, how they find strength in one another, and what it means to be a culture of silence. Brilliant! And written in such a beautiful and often comedic way that you can sometimes forget the intensity of the situations until things reach their crescendo.

[Wendy Cotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The themes of this book are raw: coming of age, mental illness, treatment of sexual difference in a traditional Puerto RIcan culture, and betrayal. The main character is a young Puerto Rican girl living on the island who struggles with a family that is falling apart. There are some beautiful moments when the protagonist's voice shares incredible wisdom and insight, but the voice is fragmented and inconsistent, testing the reader's belief in her credibility. There is much angst here and young readers should read this novel with support.

[Cathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tender and bittersweet coming of age novel set in Puerto Rico. Young Consuelo is forced to grow up too quickly, becoming her mentally ill sister’s keeper, her mother’s confidant, and a young woman determined not to be burdened by the old traditions and roles. A unique neighborhood character and her odd cousin help her to find her voice.

[Hippiemouse420 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The timeline in this book was weird. For one thing, it started off with Patricio four years older than Consuelo, but they somehow morphed to being only two years apart. Also, there was a two-year gap between when Patricio injected the plants with dye and when they bloomed, yet it was told as though they occurred in the same season. Weird.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the writing, but it took more than halfway through the book to reveal the foreshadowed tragedy. Once it was revealed, the book quickly concluded. The book also shows how Consuelo grew, matured and came into her own. The tragedy was life changing and I was left empty not knowing how Consuelo evolved or even reinvented herself after the tragedy.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful coming of age story about a girl straddling two worlds. Have long wanted to read Ortiz Cofer's books, and am very sad that we've recently lost her.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed—read in one sitting!

[Kelleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age novel set in puerto rico,
what is expected of "good people" and male behavior vs female behavior.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

PR two sisters, Fulana. I read this becasue I wanted to read all of Judith Cofer's books. She's a good author and her sister-in-law was in one of my book clubs.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good lesson, but I can’t stand books that climax in the last chapter. I need more calm down time.

[Kimberly Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I loved it. It sucks you in immediately. Great book. A must read. And i finished quickly, didn't want to put it down.

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently the author Judith Ortiz Cofer passed away. I had long had one of her books tucked away among the many novels I seem to accumulate; always planning to read. Her passing finally led me to search through this ever growing pile. What a great book. The main character details her life as she leaves childhood behind, her family behind, and her island behind. It is a story that details the pain of family secrets and the process of change. The book was bittersweet, and made me regret not being introduced to this author sooner. Will have to search for her other novels now.

[Vamos a Leer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reflecting on The Meaning of Consuelo, Julia Alvarez expresses what one finds at the heart of the book that makes it both beautiful and sad at the same time: “A bittersweet tale of the price one pays to re-invent the story handed down by one’s antepasados and familia. Consuelo is both herself and every mujer, and her story her own and that of her island, torn between self-discovery and safety.”
It’s not a light read. How could it be? From the very first chapter, we realize that what follows is the unfolding of la tragedia that would forever change Consuelo and her family. The novel tackles a number of difficult themes such as mental illness, sexuality, gender, rejection, poverty, independence, tradition, and progress. Like many other books we’ve featured, this is a coming-of-age story. Our protagonist, Consuelo, struggles for the right to define herself at the same time that she grapples with the mental illness of her sister, society’s rejection of her gay cousin, and the growing tensions between the traditional Puerto Rican culture of gente decente and the increasing influence of progressive America.
I think it’s fairly safe to say that Consuelo’s family is a dysfunctional one. Her family fails to successfully handle the homosexuality of her cousin Patricio, or the mental illness of her sister Mili. The family appears unable to accept either situation, as these are not issues of gente decente. In different ways, the family loses both Patricio and Mili as a result of the decisions they make. This isn’t to say that the family is ‘all bad.’ We all know that families are complex, and they come with both the good and the bad. Tempered by the expectations of what it means to be a mujer decente, Mami’s family is one with a history of strong women. Surprisingly, it is Mami’s mother, Abuela, who is the most explicit in her support of progress toward gender equality. While she may cling to the traditions of past generations of women, she does embrace the technological progress that made life easier for women: “She then vowed to invest in every product that allowed her the luxury she had never had as a wife and mother—time for herself” (p. 26). To a certain degree, it’s painful to watch Consuelo’s relationship with her parents unfold as she ages. To her parents, Consuelo is the strong, dependable, serious child who needs little parenting or attention, and as a result, little love. She is certainly strong, but it is troubling to watch as she struggles through her teenage years not only alone, but also responsible for her mentally ill younger sister. As many of our students may also have to deal with equally complex family dynamics or feelings of isolation, the novel creates the space to connect those experiences to classroom learning and discussion.
There’s something difficult about watching Consuelo come-of-age on her own, with little support from her parents, but there’s also something empowering in seeing Consuelo decide for herself how she will be defined. The idea of being the outsider, el fulano or la fulana, is an important one in the story. At the beginning of the novel it’s used as a means to separate the gente decente from others; it’s a way to enforce the economic and social stratification of society. Both Consuelo and the reader are introduced to the complicated notion of the outsider through the neighborhood transvestite. He’s good enough to come through the backdoors to do manicures, but must be completely ignored if seen out in public. But by the end of the novel, something changes, at least for Consuelo. She’s realized that there is a certain power in embracing the idea of la fulana. Shunned for the choices she makes with her boyfriend, Consuelo accepts the role of la fulana, and is empowered in doing so. By refusing to play the role of the shamed fulana, Consuelo’s peers find they have little power over her. Other reviews have called Consuelo “gritty and brave.” I agree. Here is a protagonist that suffers through experiences that many of our students may be all too familiar with. She survives, and on her own terms. She chooses how she will define herself, not limiting herself to the traditions of her family or her society. This is the takeaway, the real lesson we want all of our students to master.
Our free educator’s guide is available on our wordpress blog Vamos a Leer at http://wp.me/P27SUF-1zn.

[Yennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I thought this book sounded like Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson, and I suppose there are similarities in the relationship between the two sisters. There's even mention of Jergens lotion in both books, weirdly enough. This book, however, delves into female identity across generations more than between siblings and provides an interesting look at gender roles in Puerto Rican culture.

I'm not sold on it as YA, though, since this is more of a look back on youth by an older narrator than it is a recount of something more immediate. The YA themes are handled with an adult's touch more than a tween's or teenager's, and lots of things are glossed over so that the author could write about four or five years of growing up in 185 pages. Teen sex, homosexuality, mental illness, adultery, gender roles, puberty, poverty/class, and cultural identity are all covered in this slim little novel, and I'm afraid that perhaps Cofer's attempted to tackle so much that little is really explored.

I'm also a little unsure about the effectiveness of the Spanish. If these characters speak only one language, then why do they say a word in Spanish and then say it again in English? Cofer seems to write these to assist readers who are not Spanish speaking, but the inconsistency takes me out of the narrative occasionally.

Overall, though, it's not a bad read. I guess I was just hoping for more.

[Salsabrarian]

Consuelo is a serious, contemplative 14-year-old girl who observes her family slowly crumbling as tragedia looms. Her father is a typical macho with women on the side. Her mother is una sufrida, the suffering wife with her cross to bear. Mami clings to the island and its traditional culture but Papi prefers the progress and new inventiveness that America is bringing to Puerto Rico. Consuelo's little sister Mili is the lively, social one of the family. But as she grows older she begins speaking to herself in a made-up language, escaping into inner trances, and wandering off. Her parents deny that anything is seriously wrong, that somewhere there is a cure. Meanwhile, Consuelo's solace is her cousin Patricio with whom she plays and confides. But it's suspected among the gossips that he is gay, and soon his father moves the two of them to NYC. Consuelo later embarks on an ill-fated romance and becomes the subject of scorn and gossip at school. She eventually derives strength from being the faluna, the outsider in her own family and at school, and recognizes that she must forge her own path away from Puerto Rico. After her sister's drowning, Consuelo prepares to leave for New York to stay with her uncle. Very strong sense of island and culture, lovingly portrayed.

[Cambrai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Rating: ****
Bookshelves: ENGL 420
Status: Read in September
Review:
Cofer tells the story of Consuelo, a Puerto Rican fifteen-year-old girl trying to discover the meaning of her life and relationships in 1950s Puerto Rico. Consuelo feels torn at home: her father encourages modern American living while her mother defends traditional Puerto Rican culture and her baby sister develops into a mentally challenged and emotionally unstable young girl. Consuelo battles between becoming a traditional Puerto Rican young women—like her mother and grandmother and aunts before her—and becoming her own women, no importa what the gossips say. This story deals with mature themes—infidelity, teen sex, homosexuality, mental illness, and death—themes that youth today can also relate with.

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Meaning of Consuelo transcended from being just the name given by her parents, with the meaning it was with to all the meaning she's acquired from the whole timeline the story. The meaning of Consuelo began with just being 'to console' which was an inevitable role that Consuelo had to take for her mother, to being Consuelo the girl who will take no beatings from the world she grew up in. All her experiences made Consuelo who she is, and it led to a great character development.

Also, other characters that helped both intentionally and unintentionally on how the meaning of Consuelo developed has been quite interesting. It felt like you want to get in their heads and get to know them, not just from Consuelo's point of view.

I had a lot to say about this beautiful masterpiece, but it seems they've drifted far from shore like some events in the book.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Meaning of Consuelo" is a heartening coming of age story about the joys and "tragedia" faced by Consuelo and her family. Although it is a work of fiction, it reads more like a memoir, narrated by the main character, Consuelo Signe. Consuelo, true to the meaning of her name, is the consoling daughter. She is smart, serious, responsible, and, for all those qualities "el fulana" (and outsider). She is a reliable voice, carefully relating the "cuentos" (stories) of her family amid the beauty and seediness of her birthplace, the "isla" of Puerto Rico. Ultimately, she strikes off to create her own "cuento".

Very well written, in a sparse but engaging style. The author makes every word and incident meaningful. Consuelo is a proud, resourceful girl who grows into a thoughtful and strong young woman -- someone you will cheer on through her journey to adulthood.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in the Fall for my Latino kid/YA class, and ended up writing my final paper on it, which was then accepted for a conference, so I guess I was able to convincingly muster up enough enthusiasm for it. It is a difficult read at times because of the nature of the plot, but I appreciated its honesty and realism. It pushes some boundaries for the YA genre (without being inappropriate), but I would recommend it to anyone looking to add some female characters or multicultural authors/stories to reading lists.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young Puerto Rican girl, Consuelo, tells stories about her family and neighborhood and about taking care of her outgoing younger sister. Her best friend is her oddball male cousin who moves to New York City with his father. While her whole family focuses on her adulterous father and socially stunted sister, Consuelo falls between the cracks. I felt heartbroken for Consuelo and frustrated with her distracted parents and cruel classmates. It was well written and interesting, but not one that will stick with me forever.

[Briana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 2.5


Although, this book wasn't my usual cup of tea it was very interesting. It gave an interesting perspective and narrative of the Puerto Rican culture from a girl who's desperate to become a woman in her family, but at the same time be someone more than what her family expects of her. The book is truly a coming of age story and it was interesting to see Consuelo's life progress in the timeline of the degradation of her sister's mind/family's life. Also, I love how sassy she got at the end. I still wish there was more though.. towards the end.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my mid-term paper and I was just blown away. Judith Ortiz Cofer did an amazing job with this book. I really enjoyed this novel and I was extremely touched by Consuelo’s perseverance. A must read.