All for the Better: A Story of El Barrio (Stories of America)

Rating:
Summary: Ms. Mohr touches upon the heart of Puerto Rican pride.
Review: In this book, Ms. Mohr gets at the heart of Puerto Rican pride with the touching story of a young girl sent to the mainland, so her family on the island of Puerto Rico won't be so burdened financially. Evelina Lopez is 11 years old at the start of the story. She is saying her good-byes to her mother and two sisters. She is leaving to live with her aunt and uncle in New York during the Depression Era. Evelina faces this event with great courage, albeit with great sorrow at having to leave her family. When she gets to New York, her aunt and uncle greet her and she is taken to their home and shown her room. The school year has begun and soon Evelina is enrolled and attending her first classes in English. She is smart and learns quickly. She has run-ins with some girls but handles herself well and makes friends easily. Evelina is a doer. She has a clear way of seeing things and acts on her beliefs. She is strong, fair, helpful, and good. She figures out a way to get food for many neighbors who are too proud to accept charity. During this time of great hardship, Evelina is a symbol of hope. I would like to have met Evelina Lopez. Her life seems to have been an inspiration.