Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her family’s fight for desegregation – Duncan Tonatiuh

Image from amazon.com

• Age Range: 6 – 9 years
• Grade Level: 1 – 4
• Lexile Measure: AD870L
• Series: Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (May 6, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419710540
• ISBN-13: 978-1419710544

EXCERPT from Amazon.com:
A 2015 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book and a 2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Mendez was denied enrollment to a “Whites only” school. Her parents took action by organizing the Hispanic community and filing a lawsuit in federal district court. Their success eventually brought an end to the era of segregated education in California.

Rationale for Inclusion:
Here is an excellent book that informs young readers about sensitive, yet important, topics like segregation, racism, and community organizing. Beautiful illustrations and lyrical writing complete this award winner.

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