Brimner, Larry Dane. Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez ‡ Maya Gonzalez, Illus. Non-fic. Calkins Creek, 09/2021. [40]pp. $18.99 978-1-63437-195-2 OUTSTANDING GRADES 1-5.
In 1931 in Lemon Grove, California, the school board built a grand new school but sent all the Mexican American students to a wooden, barn-like building for instruction. Until the new school was built, all children had gone to school together. Because of this segregation and racial prejudice, families sued and won. The lead plaintiff in the case was Roberto Alvarez, an excellent student who was the ideal candidate to disprove that the Mexican American children were “unclean” and didn’t speak English. All children spoke English to prove this segregation was racial prejudice and won. The simply-told story with dramatic, full-color acrylic illustrations, will make a great classroom read-aloud, and the concluding author’s note offers a more detailed factual description of the case along with photos of Alvarez and the other children. This book has California specific content.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool