A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
by María Dolores Águila
Ages 8-12
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 child’s 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.
★ John Newbery Honor Book ★
★ Pura Belpré Honor Book ★
★ Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner ★
★ Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction Winner ★
★ NCTE Charlotte Huck Children’s Book Award Winner ★
★ 2025 National Book Award Longlist Title ★
★ New York Times Best Book of 2025 ★
★ New York Public Library Best Book of 2025 ★
★ Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2025 ★
WHEN INJUSTICE GROWS, RESISTANCE BLOOMS.
Twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez is the youngest of his siblings, born on United States soil. He’s el futuro, their dream for a life away from the fire of the Mexican Revolution.
Moved by anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican 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 Comité 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 award-winning author María Dolores Águila (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.
Praise for A Sea of Lemon Trees
“Stunning….I hope that children of every color, in every neighborhood, can have access to beautiful and moving stories like A Sea of Lemon Trees.” —Newbery Medalist Matt de la Peña for the New York Times
“A Sea of Lemon Trees belongs in every U.S. History classroom.” —Andrea Beatrice Arango, Newberry Honor Award-winning author of Iveliz Explains it All
★ “Powerful and lyrical… A moving portrait of community resistance.” —Kirkus Reviews
★ “This impeccably researched account imparts timely, heartening messages about community activism that will resonate.” —Publishers Weekly
★ “This National Book Award longlisted title is both a history lesson and a spotlight on a century of advocacy by the Latino community in the United States.” —Shelf Awareness
★ “This well-written story of underexplored history makes a large impact . . . sure to entrance readers.” —School Library Journal
“A beautiful and essential lesson in courage.” – William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets
“A deeply moving and poignant story about the strength of community, the ties that bond, and the power of coming together in the face of social injustice. A heart wrenching novel in verse that will have you crying with both outrage and triumph. – Monica Mancillas, author of Sing it Like Celia
“A must-read. Aguila sweeps us into our not-so-distant past with beautifully crafted verses full of heartache and hope–and with a timely eye to our own futures.” – Tracy Badua, author of Freddie Vs. The Family Curse
“The parallels to today left me breathless… This beautiful novel in verse about Roberto Alvarez, the young man who, along with his community, stood up to the injustices the community suffered, gives us hope that if we stand up for our rights, justice can prevail.” – Terry C. Jennings, author of The Little House of Hope and the Definitely Dominguita series
“A lyrical and engaging read celebrating community standing together against oppressors. Águila’s beautiful telling of this landmark civil rights case reminds readers that courage is a seed that is nurtured by family, community and belief in justice. This book is a beautiful tale of determination, family and unity.” – Lizz Huerta, author of The Last Dreamer