That's Not Fair!: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice / ¡No Es Justo!: La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia

by Carmen Tafolla, Sharyll Teneyuca, Terry Ybïïez (Illustrator)

Overview

A vivid depiction of the early injustices encountered by a young Mexican-American girl in San Antonio in the 1920's, this book tells the true story of Emma Tenayuca. Emma learns to care deeply about poverty and hunger during a time when many Mexican Americans were starving to death and working unreasonably long hours at slave wages in the city's pecan-shelling factories. Through astute perception, caring, and personal action, Emma begins to get involved, and eventually, at the age of 21, leads 12,000 workers in the first significant historical action in the Mexican-American struggle for justice. Emma Tenayuca's story serves as a model for young and old alike about courage, compassion, and the role everyone can play in making the world more fair.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780916727338
Publisher:	Wings Press
Publication date:	04/01/2008
Edition description:	Bilingual
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,055,758
Product dimensions:	12.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD650L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Carmen Tafolla is one of the most anthologized of all Latina poets, with poems for both adults and children appearing in more than 200 anthologies. She is the author of the Bluebonnet Award-nominated Baby Coyote and the Old Woman. Sharyll Teneyuca is a social justice lawyer and the niece of Emma Tenayuca. Terry Ybáñez is the illustrator of Christmas Tree: El Árbol de Navidad and Hairs/Pelitos. They all live in San Antonio, Texas.

Editorial Reviews

"This inspirational story, illustrated with brightly colored, touching artwork, will teach readers that one determined person can make the world a better place. Highly recommended for all schools and public libraries." —Críticas, starred review



"Striking illustrations . . . an important book celebrating the struggle for justice and civil rights. —School Library Journal

"Tells of Ms. Tenayuca's life, not as an organizer, orator, or leader but as a girl whose sharp mind and compassion for others sows the seeds of activism." —National Catholic Reporter

"Carmen Tafolla is a pioneer of Chicana literature and a unique Southwestern voice. Her poems and stories will teach you as much as touch your heart." —Ana Castillo, author, So Far from God


"That’s Not Fair! is a coming-of-age story of a child who is moved to action by the poverty and injustice she witnesses all around her . . . . Emma the child, learning from her gentle grandfather, matured into Emma the organizer who led the mostly Mexican, mostly women pecan shellers . . . is a story that will resonate with young children . . . . An important book about a child’s confronting injustice and growing up to make a difference, That’s Not Fair! Emma Tenayuca’s struggle for justice / ¡No Es Justo! La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia is highly recommended." —Beverly Slapin, decoloresreviews.blogspot.com

From the Publisher

Gr 2-6

The title of this bilingual biography echoes the theme of the life of a legendary Mexican-American activist in Texas during the 1920s and 1930s. The story moves from Tenayuca's childhood introduction to the poverty and unfair treatment of Mexican Americans living in her hometown of San Antonio to her increasing awareness of the injustice they suffered, and ultimate fight for their civil rights. Their plight made her angry: "She saw so many people go to work when it was still dark and not come home again until late at night. Many worked so many hours that they were coughing and sick, and still they did not earn enough to feed their children." In 1938, at the age of 21, she led a successful strike of 12,000 pecan shellers whose pitiful wages had been cut from six cents to three cents an hour. In an afterword, which includes photographs of Tenayuca, the rest of her story is related: jailed many times, forced to move, she eventually worked her way through college and returned later to San Francisco as a reading teacher for migrant children. Ybáñez's striking illustrations, framed by pecan-tree branches, are reflective of traditional Mexican mural art, with bold colors and simple shapes. An important book celebrating the struggle for justice and civil rights.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI

School Library Journal