Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner
A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
STARRED REVIEW *"Masterfully combines text and folk-inspired art to
add an important piece to the mosaic of U.S. civil rights history."
―Kirkus Reviews
Seven years before Brown v. Board of Education, the Mendez family
fought to end segregation in California schools. Discover their
incredible story in this picture book from award-winning creator Duncan
Tonatiuh.
When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young
Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school.
But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend
the Mexican school instead. Sylvia could not understand why--she was an
American citizen who spoke perfect English. Why were the children of
Mexican families forced to attend a separate school?
Unable to get a satisfactory answer from the school board, the Mendez
family decided to take matters into its own hands and organized a
lawsuit. In the end, the Mendez family's efforts helped bring an end to
segregated schooling in California in 1947, seven years before the
landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education ended
segregation in schools across America.
Author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh writes in his notes, "My hope is
that this book will help children and young people learn about this
important yet little known event in American history. I also hope that
they will see themselves reflected in Sylvia's story and realize that
their voices are valuable."
Using his signature illustration style and incorporating his interviews
with Sylvia Mendez, as well as information from court files and news
accounts, Tonatiuh tells the inspiring story of the Mendez family's
fight for justice and equality, a fight that is as relevant today as it
was 75 years ago.
