Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation
Duncan Tonatiuh, Author and Illustrator
Abrams Books for Young Readers, Biography, May 6, 2014
Awards: 2015 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book; 2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
Suitable for Ages: 6-9
Themes: Mexican-Americans, Sylvia Mendez, Segregation in Education, Racial persecution, Mendez vs. Westminster School District, Multicultural
Opening: Sylvia had on her black shoes. They were shiny-new. Her hair was perfectly parted in two long trenzas. It was her first day at the Westminster school. The halls were crowded with students. She was looking for her locker when a young white boy pointed at her and yelled, “Go back to the Mexican school. You don’t belong here!”
Synopsis: Sylvia and her two brothers moved with their family to a farm near Westminster, California. Her father, a field-worker, finally got a lucky break to lease a farm and be his own boss. Sylvia was excited about starting a new beautiful school as a third grader. When they went to enroll at the school, her parents were told their children couldn’t attend the white school. They had to enroll in the Mexican school. Sylvia was confused because she wasn’t Mexican. She was an American citizen and spoke perfect English. Was she banned because she was brown, had dark hair and her last name was Mendez? That fall Sylvia and her brothers attended the small run-down, inferior Mexican school where the teachers didn’t care about teaching. The school was surrounded by a cow pasture. There was no beautiful playground, just dirt. And, there was no place for the children to eat their lunch.
After approaching the school board with no success, Sylvia’s father, Gonzalo Mendez, began to organize an association of Mexican parents. They filed a lawsuit against the school district to integrate the schools. Sylvia Mendez and her family helped bring an end to segregation in California, which led to the 1947 Supreme Court ruling for equality for all children in America.
Why I like this book:
Duncan Tonatiuh’s compelling book brings Sylvia’s important story to life in a manner children will easily understand. He cleverly weaves Sylvia’s inspiring story with factual information. The text also includes Spanish words and phrases. I especially like how Sylvia’s story shows children that they can make a difference in their communities, country and world.
Tonatiuh’s bold and unique illustrations are done in muted tones with a Latino flare. They significantly contribute to Sylvia’s story and emphasize the theme of separatism and inequality. The cover is magnificent!
I was surprised to discover that the movement to desegregate schools for children of all ethnicities and races began with Latino children in the 1940s with Mendez vs. Westminster School District. There would be no “Brown vs. Board of Education” Supreme Court ruling without Sylvia’s original lawsuit. This book belongs in every school library. Children read a lot of books about the civil rights era, so it is important to introduce this important piece of Latino history into Black History month.
Resources: The author includes detailed information at the end of the book from court files, newspaper accounts and update information and photos of the real Sylvia Mendez, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2011.
For tweens, parents may want to check out a middle grade novel, Sylvia and Aki, which is a more in-depth story about Sylvia and her relationship with Japanese-American girl, who has been sent to an internment camp.
Wonderful book! So glad to see you shining some more light on it, AND mentioning Sylvia and Aki, another favorite of ours at Reach And Teach. Add “Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged” to the same list (aka the Canadian Rosa Parks).
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I am late to review this outstanding story. Thank you for the book recommendation. I haven’t read about Viola Desmond.
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Wonderful book that deserves all the honors and accolades it has received. Nice review Pat.
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Thank you Cathy! I knew the story through Sylvia and Aki, but had not read the PB. Love the illustrations!
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I love this book! I hadn’t learned about this case in any of my education classes. Important and powerful.
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I know I wasn’t taught about this powerful story in school. Once again, thank you authors for writing these important stories.
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This book just jumped to the top of my list of books to check out or reserve at my library. What a fabulous review!
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Thank you. I’m glad that you are so moved by Sylvia’s story. I am glad this story is written and illustrated as a PB!
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I agree, this is a memorable and important book that ought to be in every library.
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I’m so pleased that your enjoyed the book. It does belong in school libraries.
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I didn’t know this story. Thanks for reviewing the book!
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I’m glad you saw my review. Don’t you just love that cover!
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Wonderful book, Pat!
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Yes, it is. Perfect for young readers. Love the illustrations.
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A little-known fact about American history. It is good that it is in a picture book format for children to learn about at an early age. I like the drawings on the cover and am pleased to hear the book has won awards. A great review as always, Pat.
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It’s an important fact in American history and should be included with Black History month reading. The cover and illustrations are so wonderful!
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I read Brown v Bd of Education way back when in law school, studied the Civil Rights Era In a graduate American History course, but never heard of the Mendez case. Thank you for featuring this book. I agree: this should be part of every school library!
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Wow! You would have thought you would have heard about it in law school.
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I didn’t! But that was back in the early 1980s. Also, it was Constitutional law, so only US Supreme Court cases.
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Great review. I’ve not heard of this case – I’ll have to check out the book!
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You’ll love the PB story. But, there is a MG novel that goes even further with Sylvia’s relationship with a Japanese-American girl, who ends up in an internment camp. That’s how Sylvia and her family had the opportunity to run a big farm. “Sylvia and Aki.”
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This sounds like a wonderful book! I didn’t know about the Mendez case either. I really like the author’s voice from the small snippet you shared as well.
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It’s such an inspiring and important story for kids and adults to read! Thank you for visiting!
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Another great review, living in the UK I wasn’t aware of this case, but the book certainly sounds relevant to issues we have here in some places.
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There are many people who aren’t familiar with Sylvia Mendez and how this Mexican family helped bring an end to segregation in California, which ultimately led to the 1947 Supreme Court ruling for equality for all children in America. This book should be used during Black History Month. Glad you liked it.
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