A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez

? 2025 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLES LITERATURE ?Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident, this vivid and uplifting middle grade debut novel in verse about one young childs courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community is perfect for fans of ESPERANZA RISING and INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN.? Powerful and lyrical A moving portrait of community resistance. Kirkus, starred review? Empowering. Publishers Weekly, starred reviewTwelveyearold Roberto Alvarez is the youngest of his siblings, born on United States soil. Hes el futuro, their dream for a life away from the fire of the Mexican Revolution.Moved by antiimmigrant and antiMexican propaganda, the Lemon Grove school board and chamber of commerce create a separate Americanization school for the Mexican children attending the Lemon Grove Grammar School. But the new Olive Street School is an old barn retrofitted for the children forced to attend a segregated school.Amid threats of deportation, the Comit de Vecinos risk everything to stand their ground and, with the support of the Mexican Consulate, choose Roberto as the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school board in this vivid and uplifting novel in verse based on true events.From criticallyacclaimed author Mara Dolores guila (Barrio Rising) comes an inspiring novel in verse set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and Mexican Repatriation, based on the true story of the United States first successful school desegregation case, two decades before Brown v. Board of Education ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.