Publishers Weekly
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In this empowering verse novel, Águila (Menudo Sunday) fictionalizes the history of the 1930–1931 court case Roberto Alvarez vs. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District—known as the Lemon Grove Incident—as seen through the eyes of Mexican American middle schooler Roberto Alvarez. Bookish Roberto loves studying at Lemon Grove Grammar School, named for the Southern California town tucked between “a sea of lemon trees” and “blinding glimpses of the Pacific Ocean.” But when school administrators segregate Mexican American students, including Roberto, into a separate facility—una caballeriza “where/ farm animals live”—the tween’s tight-knit neighborhood files a lawsuit against the school board that casts Roberto as lead plaintiff. Brief, stirring free-verse poems elucidate 12-year-old Roberto’s frustration in feeling caught between Mexican and American cultures as well as between his childhood and approaching adulthood. As he grapples with the lawsuit’s gravity, his personal anxieties about his role in it, and his shifting friendships, some of which end abruptly, Roberto learns to embrace his own multitudes. This impeccably researched account, told via lucid, moving free verse, imparts timely, heartening messages about community activism (“When many people/ are brave together/ we can do things/ that seem impossible”) that will resonate. A historical note and bibliography conclude. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lindsay Auld, Writers House. (Sept.)

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident court case, picture book author Águila’s middle-grade debut follows unsettling changes that upend and galvanize a community. Over winter break, Roberto’s classmate Socorro’s cousins arrive in San Diego, driven away from Oklahoma by deportation raids on Mexican families. When break is over, Roberto, an eager student who excels in his studies, is barred along with other Mexican American students from Lemon Grove Grammar School. They’re told to attend the new Olive Street School, which is housed in a renovated barn. Roberto knows this is wrong. The barrio residents quickly organize as el Comité de Vecinos de Lemon Grove and take legal action. Twelve-year-old Roberto becomes the lead plaintiff in what will become a life-changing desegregation case—the first successful one in the U.S. Despite threats and the looming fear of retaliation, the community stands firm. Families raise legal funds, face truancy charges, and suffer the deportation of loved ones. Ultimately, the court rules in their favor, but the victory is bittersweet after the losses they’ve endured. This evocative novel in verse is beautifully crafted with both gravity and heart. Roberto’s voice is powerful and lyrical, capturing feelings of fear and solidarity. An informative author’s note provides historical context about the Lemon Grove Incident and the Mexican Repatriation of 1929-1939, making this an especially timely and poignant read. A moving portrait of community resistance and a young boy’s quiet courage. (historical note, bibliography)(Verse historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.