Overview

The empowering true story of the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, in which Mexican families in southern California won the first Mexican American school desegregation case in US history. Twelve-year-old Roberto Álvarez loved school. He, his siblings, and neighbors attended the Lemon Grove School along with the Anglo children from nearby homes. The children studied and played together as equals. In the summer of 1930, the Lemon Grove School Board decided to segregate the Mexican American students. The board claimed the children had a language handicap"" and needed to be ""Americanized."" When the Mexican families learned of this plan, they refused to let their children enter the small, inferior school that had been erected. They formed neighborhood committee and sought legal help. Roberto, an excellent student who spoke English well, became the plaintiff in a suit filed by the Mexican families. On March 12, 1931, the case of Roberto Álvarez v. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District was decided. The judge ruled in favor of the children's right to equal education, ordering that Roberto and all the other Mexican American students be immediately reinstated in the Lemon Grove School. The Lemon Grove Incident stands a major victory in the battle against school segregation, and a testament to the tenacity of an immigrant community and its fight for educational equality.

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9780892394272

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Reviews

"* ""This work sensitively and accurately depicts the racist repercussions of segregation and also shines a light on the power of unity and community in action. Extensive back matter, including photos, reproductions, source notes, and quotations, will encourage further study. This court case should be celebrated alongside Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. A must-have, illuminating gem."" -- Booklist, starred review * ""Opening with a corrido, a traditional Mexican story-song, the bilingual text in Spanish and English presents a lesser-known chapter of U.S. civil rights history in clear, compelling prose, centering the story in immigrant community action... Essential and enlightening."" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * ""Bilingual text and eye-catching illustrations join a treasure of additional resources to create this significant text. Highly recommended for nonfiction collections for young readers."" -- School Library Journal, starred review ""An essential springboard for further meaningful discussion of this relevant and divisive topic."" -- Kirkus Reviews Hale skillfully uses visual techniques- large halo shapes, split panels, and views from behind- to depict the unfolding events, while also drawing attention to aspects of everyday life in this small agricultural town. Sheet music for the ""Ballad of Lemon Grove"" begins the book and sets context, while photographs, notes, and a rich bibliography flesh out the back matter. -- The Horn Book Junior Library Guild Selection, JUnior Library Guild Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education Notable Children's Book, American Library Association (ALA) Notable Books for a Global Society, International Literacy Association (ILA) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction, Recommended Title, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Best Books for Kids, New York Public Library"

"* ""This work sensitively and accurately depicts the racist repercussions of segregation and also shines a light on the power of unity and community in action. Extensive back matter, including photos, reproductions, source notes, and quotations, will encourage further study. This court case should be celebrated alongside Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. A must-have, illuminating gem."" -- Booklist, starred review * ""Opening with a corrido, a traditional Mexican story-song, the bilingual text in Spanish and English presents a lesser-known chapter of U.S. civil rights history in clear, compelling prose, centering the story in immigrant community action... Essential and enlightening."" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * ""Bilingual text and eye-catching illustrations join a treasure of additional resources to create this significant text. Highly recommended for nonfiction collections for young readers."" -- School Library Journal, starred review ""An essential springboard for further meaningful discussion of this relevant and divisive topic."" -- Kirkus Reviews Hale skillfully uses visual techniques- large halo shapes, split panels, and views from behind- to depict the unfolding events, while also drawing attention to aspects of everyday life in this small agricultural town. Sheet music for the ""Ballad of Lemon Grove"" begins the book and sets context, while photographs, notes, and a rich bibliography flesh out the back matter. -- The Horn Book Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education Notable Children's Book, American Library Association (ALA) Notable Books for a Global Society, International Literacy Association (ILA) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction, Recommended Title, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Best Books for Kids, New York Public Library"

"* ""This work sensitively and accurately depicts the racist repercussions of segregation and also shines a light on the power of unity and community in action. Extensive back matter, including photos, reproductions, source notes, and quotations, will encourage further study. This court case should be celebrated alongside Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. A must-have, illuminating gem."" -- Booklist, starred review * ""Opening with a corrido, a traditional Mexican story-song, the bilingual text in Spanish and English presents a lesser-known chapter of U.S. civil rights history in clear, compelling prose, centering the story in immigrant community action. . . Essential and enlightening. "" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * ""Bilingual text and eye-catching illustrations join a treasure of additional resources to create this significant text. Highly recommended for nonfiction collections for young readers."" -- School Library Journal, starred review ""An essential springboard for further meaningful discussion of this relevant and divisive topic."" -- Kirkus Reviews Hale skillfully uses visual techniques- large halo shapes, split panels, and views from behind- to depict the unfolding events, while also drawing attention to aspects of everyday life in this small agricultural town. Sheet music for the ""Ballad of Lemon Grove"" begins the book and sets context, while photographs, notes, and a rich bibliography flesh out the back matter. -- The Horn Book Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education Notable Children's Book, American Library Association (ALA) Notable Books for a Global Society, International Literacy Association (ILA) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction, Recommended Title, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Best Books for Kids, New York Public Library"

* This work sensitively and accurately depicts the racist repercussions of segregation and also shines a light on the power of unity and community in action. Extensive back matter, including photos, reproductions, source notes, and quotations, will encourage further study. This court case should be celebrated alongside Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. A must-have, illuminating gem. -- Booklist, starred review * Opening with a corrido, a traditional Mexican story-song, the bilingual text in Spanish and English presents a lesser-known chapter of U.S. civil rights history in clear, compelling prose, centering the story in immigrant community action. . . Essential and enlightening. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * Bilingual text and eye-catching illustrations join a treasure of additional resources to create this significant text. Highly recommended for nonfiction collections for young readers. -- School Library Journal, starred review An essential springboard for further meaningful discussion of this relevant and divisive topic. -- Kirkus Reviews Hale skillfully uses visual techniques- large halo shapes, split panels, and views from behind- to depict the unfolding events, while also drawing attention to aspects of everyday life in this small agricultural town. Sheet music for the Ballad of Lemon Grove begins the book and sets context, while photographs, notes, and a rich bibliography flesh out the back matter. -- The Horn Book Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education Notable Children's Book, American Library Association (ALA) Notable Books for a Global Society, International Reading Association (IRA) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction, Recommended Title, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Best Books for Kids, New York Public Library

Author Information

CHRISTY HALE has illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, including Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building and several other titles for Lee & Low Books. She is also an art educator and has introduced young readers to the lives and works of many artists through Instructor magazine's Masterpiece of the Month feature and accompanying workshops. Hale lives with her husband in Palo Alto, California. You can visit her online at christyhale.com. Christy Haleis the author and illustrator of several acclaimed children's books, including four published by Lee & Low, and she has illustrated numerous other award-winning picture books as well. Hale also works in the children's book field as an art director, a designer, and an educator, offering programs at schools, libraries, and museums. She lives with her husband in Palo Alto, California. You can learn more about her at christyhale.com.

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