The Horn Book Guide

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Tonatiuh, Duncan

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation

40 pp. | Abrams | May, 2014 | Trade ISBN 978-1-4197-1054-4 $18.95

(2) K-3 In 1947 the Mendez family fought for--and won--the desegregation of schools in California. Tonatiuh uses a child's viewpoint to succinctly capture the segregated reality of Mexican Americans. The straightforward narrative is well matched with illustrations in Tonatiuh's signature style, their two-dimensional perspective reminiscent of the Mixtec codex but collaged with paper, wood, etc. to provide textural variation. An author's note with photos is appended. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2014