Publishers Weekly
09/02/2019
Although he was an American citizen, José de la Luz Sáenz (1888–1953) was beaten up and denied access to local Texan businesses because his parents were of Mexican origin. He determined to fight back: “Luz knew that knowledge was a weapon that helped you defend yourself against those who were mean to you and ignored your rights.” First a teacher, he joined the army and shipped out to Europe to fight in WWI. Quick to learn French, he was promoted to intelligence work, but he was never given a higher rank or more pay. His friendships with other Mexican-American soldiers led him to help form the League of United Latin American Citizens, an organization that advocated for equal rights for Latinx Americans. Characteristic illustrations by Tonatiuh (Danza!) use carved-stone faces and formal, ceremonial postures to represent the characters in this picture book. An inspiring introduction to an underrepresented figure who pursued his lifelong vision for equality and justice. Ages 6–8. (Sept.)
Horn Book Magazine
"Informative and inspiring story."
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Tonatiuh unfurls this story in a streamlined narrative, enlivened by touches of Spanish phrasing and quotes and paraphrases from Sáenz’s own diaries, that sets up the situation quickly and effectively yet still flows naturally . . . Youth literature has been limited in its coverage of Latinx civil rights, and this will be a useful and readable introduction to one of its originators."
Booklist
**STARRED REVIEW** "Using kid-friendly language that doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of prejudice and war, Tonatiuh expertly crafts an informative and engaging picture book biography supported by primary sources. If the straightforward text doesn’t grab young readers, the arresting pre-Columbian inspired art will."
From the Publisher
**STARRED REVIEW** "Using kid-friendly language that doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of prejudice and war, Tonatiuh expertly crafts an informative and engaging picture book biography supported by primary sources. If the straightforward text doesn’t grab young readers, the arresting pre-Columbian inspired art will."—Booklist
**STARRED REVIEW** "Using kid-friendly language that doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of prejudice and war, Tonatiuh expertly crafts an informative and engaging picture book biography supported by primary sources. If the straightforward text doesn’t grab young readers, the arresting pre-Columbian inspired art will."—Booklist
**STARRED REVIEW** "The author's insightful use of Sáenz's war-diary entries boldly introduces this extraordinary American's triumphs and struggles . . . An important contribution to this volatile chapter in U.S. and Mexican American history."—Kirkus Reviews
**STARRED REVIEW** "The author's insightful use of Sáenz's war-diary entries boldly introduces this extraordinary American's triumphs and struggles . . . An important contribution to this volatile chapter in U.S. and Mexican American history."—Kirkus Reviews
"Tonatiuh unfurls this story in a streamlined narrative, enlivened by touches of Spanish phrasing and quotes and paraphrases from Sáenz’s own diaries, that sets up the situation quickly and effectively yet still flows naturally . . . Youth literature has been limited in its coverage of Latinx civil rights, and this will be a useful and readable introduction to one of its originators."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Tonatiuh unfurls this story in a streamlined narrative, enlivened by touches of Spanish phrasing and quotes and paraphrases from Sáenz’s own diaries, that sets up the situation quickly and effectively yet still flows naturally . . . Youth literature has been limited in its coverage of Latinx civil rights, and this will be a useful and readable introduction to one of its originators."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"An inspiring introduction to an underrepresented figure who pursued his lifelong vision for equality and justice."—Publishers Weekly
"An inspiring introduction to an underrepresented figure who pursued his lifelong vision for equality and justice."—Publishers Weekly
"Informative and inspiring story." —Horn Book Magazine
"Informative and inspiring story." —Horn Book Magazine
Booklist
**STARRED REVIEW** "Using kid-friendly language that doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of prejudice and war, Tonatiuh expertly crafts an informative and engaging picture book biography supported by primary sources. If the straightforward text doesn’t grab young readers, the arresting pre-Columbian inspired art will."
FEBRUARY 2020 - AudioFile
With Spanish words and phrases rolling off his tongue, narrator David DeSantos immerses young listeners in the life of Mexican-American José de la Luz Sáenz. Luz took to heart his father’s admonition to be proud of his roots and who he was. As a teacher and later when he was in the Army during WWI, he urged his students and then his fellow soldiers to do the same. DeSantos briskly delivers Luz’s wartime accomplishments, emphasizing Luz’s dismay at discrimination against Mexican-Americans in the service. Upon his return, he continued to champion equality and in 1929 founded the League of United Latin- American Citizens. The production concludes with an extensive author’s note, a source list, timelines, a bibliography, an index, and a glossary. A.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2019-07-24
In 1918, José de la Luz Sáenz left his teaching job and enlisted in the United States Army, where he joined thousands of other Mexican American soldiers.
"He wanted to demonstrate that Mexican Americans loved America and would give their lives fighting for it," writes Tonatiuh. Luz felt that the white people of Texas would start treating Tejanos (Texans of Mexican descent) fairly after seeing their sacrifice. Once in France, Luz taught himself French and was assigned to the intelligence office to translate communications, but he was not given credit or promotions for this vital work. After the war, he and other Tejano veterans found prejudice against them unchanged. They organized and became civil rights leaders. In 1929, 10 years after the end of World War I, they formed the League of United Latin American Citizens. Together they fought against school segregation, racism, prejudice, and "for the ideals of democracy and justice." The author's insightful use of Sáenz's war-diary entries boldly introduces this extraordinary American's triumphs and struggles. In Tonatiuh's now-trademark illustrations, Luz crouches with other stylized doughboys in French trenches as shells explode in no man's land and mourns a fallen fellow Mexican in a French cemetery. Extensive backmatter includes an author's note, war timeline, timeline of LULAC's successful civil rights lawsuits, glossary, and bibliography.
An important contribution to this volatile chapter in U.S. and Mexican American history. (Picture book/biography. 6-8)
