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A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
CCBC Review:
Fifth grader Roberto Alvarez lives in la colonia, a neighborhood of Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants in Lemon Grove, California. Roberto says goodbye to his principal on the last day of school before Christmas break in 1929 unaware he won’t be welcomed back. When school starts again, Roberto and his friends from la colonia find out they can no longer attend their grammar school; all Mexican students must now attend Olive Street School in a converted barn. Roberto’s genuine, appealing voice and engaging details of his life with his family, friends, and community ground this first-person verse novel recounting their battle against school segregation. The families of la colonia organize to fight the order. The children face expulsion for truancy when their parents keep them home. Roberto’s best friend David and his family face deportation, despite David being a U.S. citizen. Roberto, a high-achieving student who loves school, is chosen to be lead plaintiff in la colonia’s legal case against the school board. Roberto doesn’t always understand the intricacies of what’s happening, especially the legal terminology, and when he testifies in court the questions feel repetitive and overwhelming. But his Papá’s loving look reminds him of the words he’s been told so often: “Eres el futuro.” “He is right / I am the future, / and I will act like it.” An excellent Author’s Note provides more information on Roberto and this case, which the families of la colonia won, as well as source material. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: 9-13
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
20th Century
Discrimination and Prejudice
Historical Fiction
Judicial System
Mexicans and Mexican Americans
Novels in Verse
Racism
School
Segregation
U.S. History
Diversity subject:
Latine
On CCBC Booklists:
School Stories: Selected PreK-12 Literature about the School Experience
Race and Racism: Selected Books for Pre-K to Grade 12
Publisher:
Roaring Brook
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781250342614
CCBC Location: Fiction, Aguila