As an anthology, not every part of this sizable volume is great, but as a whole, it's pretty darn good! I learned so much about Puerto Rico and am excited to be able to share this knowledge with my teen patrons.

This was a very powerful and inspiring graphic novel. It beautifully illustrated the struggles that the nation was facing but also showed how hardships bring people together and make them stronger as a result.

This is a great collection of stories from a talented group of artists. I found the stories engaging, educational, and entertaining. I would strongly recommend this.

This is one tough anthology to review because while some of the stories left a huge impact on me emotionally and were very informative, others felt like fillers, things I would forget the moment I finished the book. I must admit the art, on the other hand, was spectacular throughout and made me power through this anthology. In some stories though, the words could've been better, a possible reason for some of the stories being not very memorable.

Generally, I really liked stories like "Pasitos Grandes", "Areytos", "A Broken P.R.O.M.E.S.A" and "Thanks For Nothing" which gave context to not only Hurricane Maria but provided a succint glimpse into Puerto Rican history which as a history buff is something I really enjoyed. The stories which introduced Taino culture to me were fascinating as well.

I appreciated the inclusion of the stories "La Operacion" and "The Puerto Rican Birth Control Trials" which were major eye-openers (if that's a word) and immensely heartbreaking to read but so so important because they discussed the illegal sterilization of Puerto Rican women and how they were treated like lab rats by rich American experimenters - utterly disgusting to read but reading them I felt like I learnt something I never would have, if it weren't for this collection.

All the family based stories were heartwarming and easy to digest and a good mix with all the depressing and informative stories - "The Dragon of Bayamon", "Cocinar", "On Traditions and Being Homesick", "I Dream of Home", "Hope", "La Casita of American Heroes" .

My favourite story (as hard as it was to select) was "Resilience By Lamplight" because of the sheer perfection of the art and the words that perfectly complimented it and left me with a burning urge to ask the question that why is that people today think about shutting people out who are in need rather than as the last lines of the story said, ask the question "Why don't you join us where it's bright?" because light in my opinion is endless and abundant and available for everyone as long as people are willing to share.

Overall, this anthology was informative, culturally rich, diverse and contributes to a great cause, thus, I recommend it and would definitely buy a copy myself!

As a lesbian, I have always recognized the importance of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement. However, I had never considered how, as an adult, I needed to see my culture, my history,my viewpoint, until I read this collection.

Profits go to Hurricane María relief efforts and, trust me, we still need them.

This anthology features different styles of art so it was easy to like a few of them. I appreciate the effort in putting this together and the history lessons presented in some of the stories. My main issues have been shared my other reviewers here, some of the stories are too short and most are not very memorable.

I'll probably purchase a physical copy for my library.

My thoughts:
As someone who lives on an island, as someone who is Indigenous to a nation that has been colonized and illegally overthrown by the United States, I know a little bit about the struggles of living and thriving on an island. I know that when times get tough, we rally together because if not us, who? If not now, when?

That island survival mentality is what makes Puerto Rico Strong so powerful. This is comics at its most political and most powerful. The authors/artists saw that help for their people was not coming from the US, and they were left with the questions if not me, who; if not now, when? The introductions tell a moving story of why them and why now.

These 21 pieces in this anthology are different in voice, style, coloring. However, what they all have in common is the immense pride and love they have for Puerto Rico. These stories educate, entertain and imagine a future for Puerto Rico that carries forward culture, values and sovereignty. These stories privilege what we Hawaiians call aloha ʻāina, in simplistic terms not just a love for land but a political connection to the land, her people, her culture.

This is a book worth owning and all profits go to the disaster relief and recovery programs.

Description:
Puerto Rico Strong is a comics anthology that explores what it means to be Puerto Rican and the diversity that exists within that concept, from today's most exciting Puerto Rican comics creators. All profits will go to towards disaster relief and recovery programs to support Puerto Rico. Despite being a US territory, Puerto Rico is often thought of as a foreign land, if it's even a thought in the mind of the average American at all. Its people exist in all corners of America; some of them have parents who immigrated from the home island, others are a part of families that have been on the mainland for generations. Then there are those who have come to the states in search of a dream but struggle to integrate into an unfamiliar culture, while there are those who have lived in the United States all of their lives but still have the same struggle because of the color of their skin or their sexual identity. These stories follow individuals from diverse walks of life but are all part of the culture that is Puerto Rico.Puerto Rico Strong features art and writing by Rosa Colon, Vita Ayala, Naomi Franquiz, Javier Cruz Winnik, Sabrina Cintron, Ronnie Garcia, Fabian Nicieza, Joamette Gil, and many more!

I received an advanced digital copy from Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.

<i>If this is to be our lives, we must live them, with compassion and pride</i>
- Desiree Rodriguez, co-editor

Puerto Rico Strong: A Comics Anthology Supporting Puerto Rico Disaster brings together many of Puerto Rico’s best comics creators in response to the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year. As in any anthology, I liked some of the stories better than others and that is also true of the art. Some of the stories are personal, even romantic but the majority and the ones I most appreciated highlight the culture, the history, and the diversity of the Puerto Rican people. And, of course, the beauty of the island that is reflected in the colouring that is vibrant throughout.

There are also stories about the effects of the hurricanes and the dismal response of the American government as well as many in the US population who seem to be unaware that Puerto Rico is a part of the US. Sadly, as some of the stories about the history of the island show, this response was not an aberration limited only to this time period or this Administration perhaps because Puerto Rico, as an unincorporated territory can't vote. One story especially, The Puerto Rican Birth Control Trials by Ally Schwed was particularly shocking as well as poignant; I was previously aware of coerced sterilization not only of Puerto Rican women but of African American, First Nations, and even poor whites but I was completely unaware of these tests.

For anyone interested in the culture and/or the history of Puerto Rico as well the government”s response to the disaster last year, this is a must-read. And to make it even better, the monies earned from the sale of this graphic novel will go to UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to Support Puerto Rico.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Diamond Distributors/Lion Forge for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

*I received this book as an eARC from Lion Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This comics anthology features stories from all different aspects of the Puerto Rican people. There are stories about the history of the island and its people, the present day reach of the Puerto Rican people, and the future. There's romance. There's historical facts, mythology, and more. There's even some fantasy and sci-fi stories.

I wasn't familiar with the Taino culture before this. The island has such rich history, merging many different cultures through many different means. I loved seeing a peek into a world I'm not very knowledgeable of.

This comics anthology is a great effort to raise support for and knowledge of the Puerto Rican people. Every story is full of so much heart. I give this book a 5/5.

'Puerto Rico Strong' is a comics anthology with the proceeds going to disaster relief for Puerto Rico.

After many pages of introduction, we get a series of short stories, and in some instances, single pages of art. The stories are focused on the people and history of Puerto Rico. Quite a few of the stories take place around the recent hurricane devastation. Many are about family left behind and the memories that brings up. Throughout, the pride and feelings of a people group come through. All the contributors get to have a closing thought at the end of the book.

The art varies in style, but there is something here for everyone. The stories are a good mix of past, present, and even some future. I learned more about Puerto Rico than I knew and I'm glad I got a chance to read this.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I really enjoyed reading this comics anthology. Not only can you find great illustrations and narratives with various expressions and techniques, you can also finds stories of among other things the culture, history and folklore from Puerto Rico. A big bonus is that all the proceeds go to UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to Support Puerto Rico.

For the longest time, I didn't know Puerto Rico was part of America, as they didn't teach us this in school. They should have every right that us on the Mainland have.

It was great learning more about their culture.

Wonderful idea, so-so execution.

Spurred by the Drumpf administration’s shameful response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, not to mention the misinformed and callous attitudes of so many mainland American citizens, writers, editors, and artists came together to create a comics anthology to support disaster relief on the island. The proceeds from PUERTO RICO STRONG will benefit UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to Support Puerto Rico – and the many #ownvoices contributions will hopefully combat the dangerous and often racist beliefs about PR and those who call the island home.

I wanted to love this collection more than I did. It’s a great idea to support an admirable cause, and I love that so many of the artists are of Puerto Rican descent. Yet, as is the case with many anthologies, the comics are uneven, both in terms of the storytelling as well as the artwork. I have no desire to single anyone out, but some of the art is simply terrible; in one particular strip, the humans resemble lumpy potatoes with misshapen biceps the size of their equally misshapen heads. Many of the comics feel short; too short to cover any given topic in anything but the most shallow and perfunctory way. More often than not I came away from a piece feeling as though there was so much more to be said.

I feel like I learned quite a bit from PUERTO RICO STRONG, yet considering my starting point this isn’t a huge compliment. Like many white readers (probably), I don’t remember learning much, if anything, about Puerto Rico in my high school American History class. (For shame!)

My favorite comics were those that explored Puerto Rican history, from coercive sterilization (“La Operación” and “The Puerto Rican Birth Control Trials,” both by Ally Schwed), to the institution of the Jones Act of 1917 and the racist military drafting policies that soon followed (“Macondo, Puerto Rico” by Javier Morillo and Dan Méndez Moore), and the history and religion of the Taíno Indians (the island’s native Arawak inhabitants). There’s also some pretty neat sci-fi that imagines the place Puerto Rico might occupy in humanity’s future, fifty or more years down the road (see, e.g. “Pasitos Grandes,” by Tristan J. Tarwater and Cynthia Santos).

I want to love this book. I really do. But I couldn't.
I really appreciate all the information and stories inside this graphic novel, especially for someone who has little knowledge about Puerto Rico, like me.
I feel like there are too many stories. It made me somehow confused. But there are few stories that I gained a lot from :)

A book that is well-meaning, and done very well, but also one that is rather too polemical, and far too bitty and abrupt in jumping us from one piece to another. Bound to be of interest to those proudly claiming Puerto Rican heritage, though – and the tales of sterilization and illegal drug trials for the contraceptive pill will open anyone's eyes.

I really enjoyed reading Puerto Rico Strong! This book is such an excellent resource to learn about the rich history and culture of Puerto Rico! This book is also eye opening on the current state of the island and the devastation and hardships the people are still enduring. The illustrations are all awesome and I love how it is laid out in comic book format! This is great reading for kids and adults alike, and is a celebration and recognition of the beautiful island of Puerto Rico!

A great non-fiction graphic novel. We'll definitely get this for our library.

I didn't like all of the stories, but then again, no one generally likes everything in an anthology. They share a common thread of the island, and many of them focus on the history of the island and its people. My favorite was "My Father's Stories," because I felt that it could have been written by myself or a sibling. It verbalized everything we've said aloud in the past few months. There was history that I didn't know, and I liked the one that projected into the future as well. As a "white" Puerto Rican, there were times in the stories that I felt judged upon for not being "of enough color," but to each his own. This is a book that I'll be reading with my children, as they keep their heritage close.

Remember Puerto Rico? That island surrounded by water? The one had got hit by not just one hurricane but two? The one that still hasn’t had its electricity completely restored? Yeah, that one.

This book is a compilation of different artists who either live or have lived in Peurto Rico. And unlike some anthologies that just says things like, hey, buy this book and help raise fund for brining Puerto Rico back from the brink, this one educates. I make it a point of knowing indigenous peoples history. I tell people everything I know, and the wrongs we have done, as white people, as colonists to the people who were here first, but wow, there is stuff in this book that I didn’t even have a ingling of.

There are stories of the original indigious peoples that lived on the island before first contact with Columbus, and the disaster that that brought. There are stories of the horrors of what the Spaniards brought, and then the Americans. There is even a story where the father is retelling history of the Spaniards, where the Indiginous peoples are taken care of, and live well. Even though there are no “tribes” of the original people left, most of the people in Peurto Rico have the DNA of those peoples.

So, while this is a good book to buy to help raise money for Puerto Rico’s recovery, this is also an excellent book to get educated with, while being entertained...and outraged at what the Puerto Rican’s have had to endure in the past and are still enduring.

Even though this is a review copy, I damn well am going to go out and buy this when it is published. It is a great collection to own, and learn from.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.