A Sea of Lemon Trees

By María Dolores Águila

A young boy leads a fight against school segregation in a landmark case.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 867 ratings

304 pages· 17,705 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

In the shadow of the Great Depression, twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez faces a segregated school system in Lemon Grove. Chosen as the lead plaintiff, he stands against injustice, backed by his community and the Mexican Consulate. As threats loom, Roberto's courage and the community's determination ignite a historic legal battle, setting the stage for the first successful school desegregation case in the U.S. Will their fight for equality prevail against the odds?

From the publisher

This Newbery Honor-winning book is based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident. Vivid and uplifting, this middle grade debut novel-in-verse follows one young child’s courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community. 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.