Dolores Huerta Stands Strong

August 15, 2018
Meet community organizer Dolores Huerta, who travels from poverty to political victory, becoming only the second Mexican-American woman in history to be honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom.A biography for the times, Brill's narrative tells the story of a farm laborer's daughter born during the Great Depression. Raised in Stockton, California, where her father, brother, and nearly everyone she knew picked vegetables and fruits for a living, Dolores lamented the poverty and the brutal conditions under which her community was forced to labor. Her sense of injustice only grew when the excellent work she did at school earned her an accusation of plagiarism. Spurred to action by her life experiences and a desire to help her people, Dolores joined forces with César Chávez to start the United Farm Workers Union. Borrowing Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent protest, they set out to change the way their people were treated with a successful grape strike that gained them nationwide sympathy. Weaving in quotes from Huerta and others, Brill paints a vivid picture of her subject and calls attention to a civil rights leader who was often overshadowed by her male counterpart even as she fought sexism in her own community. A helpful timeline, glossary, and "Did You Know?" sections in each chapter serve as aids in this historic biography. An excellent read for anyone hoping to believe one person can make a difference.Young readers will recognize Dolores Huerta's rallying cry "Yes, we can!" even as they are inspired by her vision for a better world. (Biography. 7-14)

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October 1, 2018

Gr 5-8-Though Dolores Huerta is an indispensable advocate for the rights of farmworkers, especially during the mid-to-late 20th century, she often took a public backseat to César Chávez. Despite being an effective organizer, negotiator and speaker, "sexism kept her hidden." While her successful campaigning and leadership is impressive by itself-she was instrumental in forming the first union for farmworkers, among many other achievements-she did this while raising 11 children, often as a single mother. Huerta's activism eventually grew to include campaigning for women's rights. Brill's writing is clear and accessible for middle grade readers; she takes complex issues, such as unionizing, collective bargaining, and Communism, and makes them comprehensible for the intended audience. Many of the issues Huerta championed-workers' rights, the living conditions of immigrants, women's equality-are still timely topics that will resonate with today's youths. Photographs help bring Brill's text to life, and the extensive back matter will lead readers to further research. VERDICT This well-told, age-appropriate account of a vital and essential activist deserves a place in all middle grade collections.-Melissa Kazan, Horace Mann School, NY

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