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Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation Hardcover – Illustrated, May 6, 2014

by Duncan Tonatiuh (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,404 ratings
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Seven years before Brown v. Board of Education, the Mendez family fought to end segregation in California schools. Discover their incredible story in Separate Is Never Equal, a picture book from award-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh.

Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner
A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

STARRED REVIEW *“Masterfully combines text and folk-inspired art to add an important piece to the mosaic of U.S. civil rights history.” ―Kirkus Reviews

When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school. But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend the Mexican school instead. Sylvia could not understand why—she was an American citizen who spoke perfect English. Why were the children of Mexican families forced to attend a separate school?

Unable to get a satisfactory answer from the school board, the Mendez family decided to take matters into its own hands and organized a lawsuit. In the end, the Mendez family’s efforts helped bring an end to segregated schooling in California in 1947, seven years before the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education ended segregation in schools across America.

Author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh writes in his notes, “My hope is that this book will help children and young people learn about this important yet little known event in American history. I also hope that they will see themselves reflected in Sylvia’s story and realize that their voices are valuable.”

Using his signature illustration style and incorporating his interviews with Sylvia Mendez, as well as information from court files and news accounts, Tonatiuh tells the inspiring story of the Mendez family’s fight for justice and equality, a fight that is as relevant today as it was 75 years ago.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    6 - 10 years, from customers
  2. Part of series
    Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)
  3. Print length
    40 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    1 - 4
  6. Lexile measure
    AD870L
  7. Dimensions
    9.38 x 0.5 x 11.38 inches
  8. Publisher
    Harry N. Abrams
  9. Publication date
    May 6, 2014
  10. ISBN-10
    1419710540
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1419710544
  12. See all details
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From the Publisher

Collect all of Duncan Tonatiuh's award-winning picture books!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY; SOCIAL AWARENESS

From Booklist

Pura Belpré Award–winning Tonatiuh (Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, 2013) makes excellent use of picture-book storytelling to bring attention to the 1947 California ruling against public-school segregation. The concise, informative text, with occasional and always translated Spanish lines, discusses how being banned from enrolling in an Orange County grade school because of her skin tone and Mexican surname inspired Sylvia Mendez’ family to fight for integrated schools. Soon they were joined by many others, including the NAACP and the Japanese American Citizens League, which led to their hard-won victory. Tonatiuh’s multimedia artwork showcases period detail, such as the children’s clothing and the differences between the school facilities, in his unique folk art style. An endnote essay recapping the events, photos of Sylvia and her schools, and a glossary and resource list for further research complete this thorough exploration of an event that is rarely taught. This would be a useful complement to other books about the fight for desegregation, such as Deborah Wiles’ Freedom Summer (2001) or Andrea Davis Pinkney’s Sit-In (2010). Grades 2-5. --Francisca Goldsmith

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harry N. Abrams; Illustrated edition (May 6, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1419710540
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1419710544
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 10 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD870L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.38 x 0.5 x 11.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,404 ratings

About the author

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Duncan Tonatiuh

Duncan Tonatiuh

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Duncan Tonatiuh was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he now lives. He travels extensively in the U.S., visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
1,404 global ratings
Before Brown v. Board of Education there was the Mendez family...
4 Stars
Before Brown v. Board of Education there was the Mendez family...
This quick read shares the story of a family that fought for all the children in their area to get equal education... when it came time to file a lawsuit they could have remained solely focused on their own children, but instead chose to recognize that they were fighting for all children... they way they went about it was clever, and quite possibly played an important role in their success.This book weaves a lot of information in to its story, and shares a lot of life lessons.
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Top reviews from the United States

Janice A. Krinsky
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for all classroom and school libraries as a rich text for discussing discrimination and fairness.
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2016
Verified Purchase
Duncan Tonatiuh, in telling this little-known story, has written a really important book - a must-have for school libraries everywhere. The true story of the Mendez family's successful fight against desegregated schools in post-World War II California is a rich source for conversations in the classroom about fairness, justice, prejudice, and historical chapters in our country's checkered past. As a school board member in a highly diverse Northwest suburb of Chicago with a large population of Latino immigrant families, and where more than 60 languages are spoken in the homes of our students, I have successfully read this book in dual-language and general ed classrooms around the district. This picture book has sparked deep, authentic, and brave conversations about race in classrooms with children as young as 8. I will be reading it in junior high classrooms as well in the coming weeks. I would recommend previewing the book starting with the front cover. It's very telling, but not at all surprising, that when asked what's going on in the picture, white children will say things like, "The children are not friends," whereas any brown child will say, "The white kids don't like the other kids," or "The white kids are superior - and I don't know why. They don't like the black kids." It's heartbreaking to hear this out of the mouths of 3rd and 4th graders, but allows children to voice what is their reality in this deeply divided country. And it's a chance to reassure them that light skin color doesn't make anyone superior. Another white 4th grader said, "I wouldn't swim there either if Mexicans aren't allowed to," in response to a picture of a segregated swimming pool. That comment provided an opportunity to talk about how we all can make choices and be counted when we stand up for what is fair. And that led to a conversation about the importance of participating in our democracy by understanding the issues and then voting. Another part of the book mentions Amicus Curiae briefs filed in support of the suit by organizations representing Latinos, Japanese, Jews, and the NAACP. It provides an opportunity to talk about historical discrimination - against the Jews and Japanese during WWII, and of course Blacks throughout US History. I told them about being called anti-semitic names as a young Jewish girl growing up in the 60s and about working at a large corporation that didn't hire Italians or Catholics (never mind Blacks or Jews) in the 1950s and on my very first day of work there in 1981 was "treated" to an antisemitic comment. This broadening of the conversation beyond children with black and brown skin really allowed the children to understand that the issue of fairness is broad-based. One Greek boy asked if Greeks were discriminated against in the past in our country. Knowing my history, I was able to tell him yes, a long time ago. He seemed almost relieved to know that he wasn't left out. Children of this age have such a finely honed sense of fairness, that being included is important to them. Finally, it's the story of a brave family who took on the injustice of a segregated educational system and, through perseverance, succeeded in fully integrating California schools seven years before Brown v The Board of Education, so that not only little Mexican children could go to desegregated schools, but so could all children, whether they be Japanese, Black, Jewish or from any other group. It was clear that the discussion and the responses from the children were reassuring to them all, but most especially to the children with brown skin who learned, if they had any doubt, that their teachers, friends, and classmates are solidly on their side. I cannot thank Duncan Tonatiuh enough for this beautiful, affirming book.
65 people found this helpful
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Nichol A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2023
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Kids loved it, Recognize it and want to look at the pictures. I love that the story broadens discourse around civil rights
3 people found this helpful
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M. Sheppard
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book about school segregation
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
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This beautifully illustrated book teaches our children (and us) about the court cases required to integrate schools in California. A lot of new vocabulary but the book also contains a glossary of terms to explain the new words and terms.
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Bee
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully llustrated Book
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2023
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I LOVE this book!!! It was way overdue!! Beautifully illustrated with renderings of each Mendez family member that evoke their ancestral ties to different indigenous groups in the United States of Mexico. The book trails their journey searching for a better life and overcoming challenges while doing so, similar to those experienced by immigrants, albeit their origins, when coming to the U.S.A. This family's courageous attempts to be accepted and their actions in combatting segregation in California schools paved the way to the landmark Supreme Court case "Brown v. Board of Education" which ended school segregation throughout the United States. Deepest thanks to author Duncan Tonatiuh and to Amazon for making this award winning children's book readily available. FOR ALL AGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6 people found this helpful
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momof2
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book.
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
Every school should have this book and its lessons should be taught in elementary schools and at home. When my attention was drawn to this book and the fact that the desegregation fight began with the Latino community I had to buy this book. I am a lawyer and was a child during the civil rights fight yet I was unaware that the first desegregation victory was not brown vs. board of education. A third grader could read this book him/herself. It is appropriate to read to second graders at the same time black history month is celebrated. It describes how persistent one has to be to attain justice, but that other good citizens will help you, and that justice (sometimes--my edit) will prevail. The artwork is Latino style and the text is straightforward. I am buying 2 copies -- one for each of my upcoming third grade teachers-,in the hopes they will cover this in class. Though we live in a community with a substantial Guatemalan population, the vocal parent have succeeded in excluding Latino-American history from the agenda. I am Caucasian and my children are from Guatemala. And the more things change the more they stay the same.
24 people found this helpful
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Barbara Reid
5.0 out of 5 stars Discrimination of hispanic people
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2023
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Based on a true story of discrimination of hispanics in American schools.
2 people found this helpful
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Nitya
4.0 out of 5 stars Highlights forgotten history
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
This was both fascinating and sobering to read. Public school education leaves a lot to be desired, even now. So to learn about one family's (and the Latinx community's) fight to desegregate schools YEARS before Brown vs Board of Education makes me proud, yet more determined to call out discrimination and systemic racism.

The author's note with the pictures of Sylvia and the schools is very unforgettable. I am glad kids now have media that shows forgotten/whitewashed moments in history! As this book reminds us, the civil rights movement was very recent and is FAR from over. And sadly segregation is still occuring, in more insidious ways.
13 people found this helpful
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Miyamoto02
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story that is easily understandable by children
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2020
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I read this story for my children so they can understand and appreciate the issues that contributed to segregation. My children found the story easy to understand and liked that it was mostly told from the perspective of the main character Sylvia Mendez. As an adult and a parent, I felt the story does a good job to tell about the harm that segregation and racism. I did not know this story about the Mendez lawsuit that desegregated the schools in California. A good book to introduce children to sensitive subjects.
14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Great educational book
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2017
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Good source of information for young minds including adult minds
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