Nilda;: A novel

by Nicholasa Mohr

A young girl growing up in Spanish Harlem in the 1940's watches the secure world of her childhood years slowly erode away.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, New York, Latinx

292 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Nicholasa Mohr (born November 1, 1938) is one of the best known Nuyorican writers. Her works tell of growing up in the Puerto Rican communities of the Bronx and El Barrio and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States. She was raised in the Bronx. From 1988 through 1991, she taught at Queens College, City University of New York. From 1994 through 1995, she was Writer-in-Residence at Richmond College, the American University in London.

Reviews

[Patricia Vaccarino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely tale recounting the trials and tribulations of a young Puerto Rican girl growing up in New York, circa the 1940s. Nilda, a young woman of courage, ultimately finds true expression in her art. The characters are finely sketched, but there is a disconnect between the narrative, the dialogue, and the art. Some portions of the narrative are either too sophisticated or too rote and mundane to pair up with the musings of a child. Despite its flaws, the spirit of the story shines through.

[Harry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging story told simply. Until the end, when it gets extremely emotional.

"You asked me something, didn't you? Oh, yes. Am I happy? I don't know. But if I cannot see who I am beyond the eyes of the children I bore, then... it was not worth the journey, and I might as well have not bothered at all. Hold on to yourself, even if at times you have to let go some... but not all! A little piece inside has to remain yours always; it's your right, you know."

[Bianca Alagon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also find myself returning to that magical camp spot, Nilda.



Sort of weird, devastatingly beautiful book. I call it weird because a lot of adults were just straight up horrible to the little girl that is the protagonist.

[Christopher Bertram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic fictional narrative of immigrants from Puerto Rico. Their family lives intertwined with love, economic difficulties, and racism in the United States. Nilda is a smart and talented artist that seeks refuge in her drawings to escape poverty struggles and teenager anxieties of love and rejection. Nilda is the way she communicates at best with the world, and with her beloved brother serving in the ARMY. Is a phenomenal read!

[Amanda Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see so much of myself in Nilda. Read this book for a class on Puerto Ricans in the US and loved it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do I begin. A delightful read.. had me feeling nostalgic for times I have never experienced. I loved Nilda— she was a great protagonist. Even when I felt the book was dragging at certain points, I could always rely on my love of Nilda the character to get me through whatever point of the story I was at. She was strong, brave, funny, creative, and earnest. Her love of her mother was so endearing to me. And I love this book because as someone from a Nuyorican background and family, it got me thinking about my own family’s history, and prompted me to ask questions to my parents about their childhoods. So thank you to this book and Nicholasa Mohr for that. The drawings were incredible. And these quotes:

“Do you have that feeling, honey? That you have something all yours … you must … like when I see you drawing sometimes, I know you have something all yours. Keep it … hold on, guard it. Never give it to nobody … not to your lover, not to your kids … it don’t belong to them … and … they have no right … no right to take it. We are all born alone … and we die all alone …”

“Hold on to yourself, even if at times you have to let go some … but not all! No … Nilda … not ever. A little piece inside has to remain yours always; it’s your right, you know. To give it all up … entonces, mi hijita … you will lose what is real inside you.””

Reminders to myself to keep the thing that I have always known to be mine, as mine forever. To never give it up or become strangers with it.

[Marilyn Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nilda is one of the best books I've read this year. The story is told by Nilda, a ten-year-old Nyuerican (a person of Puerto Rican heritage born in New York) We follow her life in the 1940s through the WW2 era where she faces racial prejudice, poverty, and joy. Nilda is an artist like the author and there are wonderful graphics in the hardcover book. I'm sad that this author, who is still alive, is not more well-known since she has inspired many artists, including, "Hamilton" and "In the Heights" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. This is a book where social issues are shown, not told. These include gender and ethnic prejudice and how art can define social issues. Nilda is "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" Nyuerican style.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had it been written today, and not in the early 1970s, it may have been classified as a middle grade or young adult novel. Instead, it has become one of the classics of children's literature. While it is most widely recognized as "Hispanic" literature, its reach extends far beyond the Puerto Rican community in which Nilda and her family live. By choosing to set her story around the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she makes Nilda's story one that everyone can relate to. People who may have looked away otherwise find themselves drawn to a story that is connected to their own. As a result, they end up learning about life in Spanish Harlem and realizing that it is not so different from the lives they lead.

Ten-year-old Nilda does not fully understand how much her family has to struggle to get by, and that is a testament to how much they care about her. She does her part to help out and does not complain (too loudly) when she has to do without something for the benefit of the family. She truly appreciates the little treats that she gets when she gets them, unlike the other children who are able to do things like buy milk and cookies every day at school. She may resent having to give up her room when the new baby is born, but she loves her nephew very much, helping take care of him in any way she can.

Nilda's story is one that a lot of kids today could learn a lot from. It does not have a hugely obvious central theme, and Mohr does not spend the novel hitting the reader over the head with it. There are a number of important themes addressed in the novel - poverty, racism, gender, class - and the reader can learn a lot from the example set by Nilda and her family in their handling of all of them.

Nilda is a beautiful story about a girl growing up in a less than beautiful world, and it is well worth the read.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent coming-of-age story of a Puerto Rican girl growing up in East Harlem. Altho it is from 1973, remains relevant today when immigration is such an important issue. And this touching book was one of 5 in the running for One Book New York in 2019 (not the winner, but a great honor to be nominated).
Good one to pair with Esmeralda Santiago's "When I Was Puerto Rican" and "Almost a Woman," about a Puerto Rican girl growing up in another borough of NYC: Brooklyn.

[Cynthia Haeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but compelling read. Would recommend.

This is a well-written story following the life of an eleven year old Puerto Rican girl growing up in UES Manhattan in the 1940s. The author does a good job of showing oppression through the eyes of an eleven year old. It both simplifies and mystifies racism, showing the affects that it has, especially at a time when the USA was at war.

[Documenting Books]

The most acclaimed novel of this writer. The first Latina write rto publish literary works in the USA. The life seen thorugh the eyes of a 10 years old kid named Nilda growing up Latina in New York during the II World War years.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/TIDFGcmHMYs
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@documen.../vi...

[Guadalupe Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nilda is a book that will make you cry for sure.This book is abot a girl who lives with her mother and her older brother. She lives in the streets of New York. She goes threw alot of emotional things. When you read this book it will make you cry cause it made me cry.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The writer’s ability to use word pictures to tell the story of a time, culture and a people that some might not otherwise have the privilege of meeting provided a wonderful experience.
I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Lily Peabody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this novel. Love how it was written from the young girls perspective so things happen that aren’t fully revealed in an adult manner but from the view of a kid. Appreciate that innocent approach to some really tough life events.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for book discussion.... interesting.. easy to read... think it's intended for young adults or ?? whatever, it's a good read...Puerto Rican child's life

[Stefanie Gonzalez-adorno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it!

[Brit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child in 6th grade & have been wanting to read it again!

[Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems very contemporary even though it is 40 years old. Funny, sad, uplifting snapshot of a young girl growing up.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a 15 year old girl growing up in a Puerto Rican neighborhood in the 70's. To this day this book has remained in my mind. Helped me grow up in many,many years. Gracias!

[Juliebrown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars as youth fiction.

[Felicia Roff Tunnah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Terrific YA book and really captures the Puerto Rican experience in NYC in the early 1940’s.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

was not at all expecting the gut-punch of an ending

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A special book that will always hold a place in my heart.

[Hanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

lin manuel miranda said this book rocked his world when he was in sixth grade.

[Tanisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but instead it was about a Puerto Rican family living in El Barrio.

[Clarissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Takes place during WWII. Honestly felt like there was no plot to the book. The main character faces hardship after hardship in the book, which I completely understand considering it’s a coming of age book taking place during WWII, but the author completely missing the whole coming of age- it’s like Nilda learned nothing? It’s like she just went through these hardships for nothing- which is how life is sometimes- but what was the point? What does she learn?

[Neomi R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published over 50 years ago, and it’s a great read. Life seen through a young Puerto Rican girl as her family struggles through life the 1940’s. Although things are different now, however, in some ways still remain the same. Page 234-235 had me in emotional.

[Fei K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, beautiful book. Truly thought provoking and opens up a whole new world and perspective.

[Ana Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very realistic story kind of reminds me of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicholasa Mohr's is about the titled character, Nilda Ramirez, growing up in Manhattan from July 1941 to May 1945. It also describes how life was for Puerto Rican immigrants dealing the cops and other forms of authority.

However, Nilda has an escape: her eccentric family who encourage her artistic abilities while they all deal with financial difficulties, the onset and end of World War II. Most importantly, the deaths of her stepfather and later her mother.

Nilda is one of the One Book, One New York finalists. It didn't win, that went to Patty Smith's Just Kids. I have never of this book or this author before. That was strange because I have read a lot of Puerto Rican literature.

I really liked Nilda. It was nice to see how WWII affected a family as her three older brothers decided to join the military. Since I'm Puerto Rican, I feel that book like these, especially the three part autobiographies by Esmeralda Santiago, give me insight to how life was for my mother.

Although, this period in time is too early for my mother's lifetime, I feel that certain aspects, like having a brother in the military and translating for my grandmother in the welfare office, still apply.