Going Home

by Nicholasa Mohr

Felita's whole life seems to change the year that she turns twelve. Her mother begins to insist that her brothers go with her everywhere, and she's not allowed to hang out like she did last year. Nothing about growing up in a strict Hispanic household seems fair. Then Felita learns that one of her dreams will come true—she'll be spending the summer in Puerto Rico with her uncle Jorge. Even though she'll miss her family and her friends—especially Vinny—Felita knows she'll be happy.

But Felita's summer isn't at all what she expected. At first none of the girls wants to be friends with a Nuyorican, and Felita desperately wants to go back home. But by summer's end, Felita has grown up a little bit, and what she takes back to New York City is a deeper understanding of herself and her homeland.

Mass Market Paperback

Published April 3, 1984

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

[VY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felita has Puerto Rican heritage, despite the fact that she has never lived there. One summer, her parents decide that she is to spend the summer in Puerto Rico, instead of staying in New York. The first half of the story explores how Felita deals with her background and culture while living in America. The second half of the story chronicles the attitudes that some of the Puerto Rican children have towards Felita when she joins them at their summer camp.
I thought that the novel touched on some important topics, but also ignored others. One thing that I would have liked the author to have explored more, however, was the relationship between Felita and her uncle. Felita rarely treated Tio Jorge with much respect, and there seemed to be more of a story there than was shared.

[Rafi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm reading going home by Nicholasa Mohr, what i has read is about that they are planning to go to Puerto Rico, a propoced that his dad tell to Fefita family long time ago. Finally they deside to go right school finish.

[Brandon Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings me back memories of Puerto Rico. Like Felita I spend my summer vacation in Puerto Rico and even though my spanish was not that good, I had fun and came back knowing more spanish. At first Felita was bored, and missed her friends in New York and had a hard time getting use to Puerto Rico life style. She meets Provi at church and they become good friends. She experienced how Puerto Rican from the island made her feel like an outsider because she was New Yorkrican.
The kids gave her a hard time at the carnival were she participated drawing and painting the Tainos background of the stage. The sooner she learned to stand up for herself, her trouble ends.

[Kim VanDrunen-Fletcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I would have liked this if I had read it in 1986, when it was written. I picked it up 30+ years later, a book my 6th grader was assigned as a class group read. So dated. Didn’t like the ending, either. Anita and Marta have to live in that village. Felita was only there for two months and then back to NYC. Not very fair they end up permanently excluded in their own hometown for picking on Felita.

[Georgene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with a group of 6th grade girls and we all really liked it, except I was bothered by the constant use of the word "gonna" in dialogue. The book presents a realistic look at the Hispanic culture.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me learn that being bullied by other people does not make anything better. Felita has showed her spirits and aren't running away just because Anita and her gang are saying mean things about her. This is a very nice book.

[Cuiyi Ye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very awesome. I feel addictive to this book, because the story is very meaningful, and it talk about how the main character change when she turn 12, and it's romantic and about true friends. I love this book.

[Linda Torres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Keeping this one in my collection and one day when I visit PR I will reread.
However, even in the states among fellow Hispanics, you get the criticism and rudeness she experienced in the book.

[dara8E]

I think that this book is really good because it's about a girl named Felita and she's going to Puerto Rico it's like a dream come true.

I got this book from Ms.Drinan.

[Tyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite young adult books.

[Sophie]

I am reading this book for school. I am going to be doing a book report on this book.

[Christy Ye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. How Felita felt when she growing up, and how her family became strict to her.

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14606369