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 2025Based 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. Twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez is the youngest of his siblings, the last one 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 & anti-Mexican propaganda, the Lemon Grove School Board and Chamber of Commerce create a separate "Americanization" school for the M
