Publishers Weekly
★ 04/29/2024
In this activist picture book, a child living in San Diego’s Barrio Logan vividly narrates, in English and Spanish, a story of individual and collective strength. In their Chicane neighborhood, which now sits adjacent to a freeway and a junkyard, Elena and Mami encounter jacaranda blossoms, close-knit neighbors, and a tiendita, as well as vehicle fumes and noise. Elena is excited to see construction, believing it’s the start of a long-requested park, but the community soon learns that the workers are breaking ground on a planned police station. Defying “men in hard hats, and police with squawking radios,” the residents join hands and surround the equipment, and the bravery of a protesting neighbor inspires everyone to stand their ground—until their efforts, step by step, result in community-built Chicano Park. In a powerful work that celebrates community engagement at any age, Mora’s pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and digital illustrations contrast hard-edged concrete and metal with cloudlike jacaranda blossoms and vivid hand-rendered murals. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A history of the park and an author’s note conclude. Ages 4–8. (June)
From the Publisher
*“A blossoming young activist joins her neighbors in the fight to build Chicano Park in Águila and Mora’s celebratory tribute to San Diego’s Chicane community. . . . Charged with soft purples, vivid greens, and bold reds, Mora’s lush digitally colored charcoal and watercolor artwork dreamily elevates this tale of social achievement, depicting pivotal scenes like a series of interconnected murals. Águila’s sharp, evocative text touches upon crucial moments: the community’s peaceful takeover of the disputed site, clashes with the police and city officials, and the arrival of allies in neighboring communities and across the state.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
*“In this activist picture book, a child living in San Diego’s Barrio Logan vividly narrates, in English and Spanish, a story of individual and collective strength. . . . In a powerful work that celebrates community engagement at any age, Mora’s pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and digital illustrations contrast hard-edged concrete and metal with cloudlike jacaranda blossoms and vivid hand-rendered murals.”—PW, starred review
“Águila weaves together images of daily life in Barrio Logan with community members’ experiences of the city’s lengthy neglect and environmental racism against their community, to tell the story of the fight to build the park, which was ultimately successful. . . . Mora employs a blend of vivid colors, sepia tones, and pastel hues to highlight the intensity of the struggle and the everyday beauty for which the protesters were fighting, ending with depictions of the inspiring murals that residents eventually painted in the park.”—Horn Book
“Told with lyricism, this picture book presents kids with a real-life community experience of advocacy. Readers will come to understand how the trials and tribulations of a group of vecinos uniting created something beautiful. Recommended for all collections, especially those serving Chicano communities.”—School Library Journal for El barrio se levanta
“This true-to-life title is a worthy addition to picture book collections, sure to spark conversation and inspire young readers.”—School Library Journal for Barrio Rising
“Chicana poet Águila employs lyrical language to depict a thinly fictionalized account of the April 1970 protest by San Diego's Barrio Logan residents . . . Aztec and Mayan cultural symbols appear throughout, reflecting the actual artwork in the park. Appended with a more detailed history of this event and additional resources, this is a welcome addition to Chicane resistance and resilience literature.”—Booklist
"A heroic, triumphant picture book."—WackyMommy.org
School Library Journal
06/01/2024
Gr 1–3—In an inspirational picture book inspired by a true story, a community comes together to fight for their rights and bring something beautiful to their neighborhood. A young girl and her mother walk through their neighborhood on their way to the mercado, passing by friendly neighbors along the way. After years of having eyesores such as a junkyard added to the neighborhood, everyone is excited about the park that is being built. That is, until a neighbor discovers that it won't be a park after all—it will be a police station. Members of the community decide that they have had enough and begin to protest, fighting for the park they were promised. The young girl is inspired by her neighbors and by her mother, who tells her to be valiente. Gathering her courage, she joins her neighbors, while also helping to cook meals for them as long days pass and the protest continues. The community rejoices when they secure a guarantee that the park they were promised will become a reality. Readers will notice the contrasts in the beauty and friendliness of the neighborhood with other parts, such as the junkyard. As the barrio comes together, the artwork includes not only illustrations of the people and their homes, but reflects Mesoamerican art and references to protests of the past. Text is largely in English with Spanish words sprinkled throughout, with plentiful context clues. An author's note and additional information accompanies the text. VERDICT This true-to-life title is a worthy addition to picture book collections, sure to spark conversation and inspire young readers.—Selenia Paz
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2024-02-03
A blossoming young activist joins her neighbors in the fight to build Chicano Park in Águila and Mora’s celebratory tribute to San Diego’s Chicane community.
On her way to the tiendita with her Mami, Elena walks through the streets of Barrio Logan, her home neighborhood by the bay. The impacts of industrialization on Barrio Logan are evident throughout their journey: pollution from a diesel truck, the colossal frame of the Coronado Bridge, and the “roar of cars racing on the freeways.” Under the bridge, bulldozers sit, a promise of a park within reach. But soon, news of the city’s intent to build a police station instead of a park in the Chicane neighborhood spurs Elena and her community to action. Charged with soft purples, vivid greens, and bold reds, Mora’s lush digitally colored charcoal and watercolor artwork dreamily elevates this tale of social achievement, depicting pivotal scenes like a series of interconnected murals. Águila’s sharp, evocative text touches upon crucial moments: the community’s peaceful takeover of the disputed site, clashes with the police and city officials, and the arrival of allies in neighboring communities and across the state. A brief appended historical overview of Chicano Park provides much-needed context on Barrio Logan, celebrates key figures of the movement, and draws a line from those 12 days of protest in 1970 to the park’s current status as a cultural hub.
A marvelous testament to barrio-based might. (further resources, author’s note, photo) (Picture book. 4-8)
