Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez

by Larry Dane Brimner, Maya Gonzales (Illustrator)

This important yet little-known civil rights story focuses on Roberto Alvarez, a student whose 1931 court battle against racism and school segregation in Lemon Grove, CA, is considered the first time an immigrant community used the courts to successfully fight injustice.

Roberto Alvarez's world changed the day he could no longer attend Lemon Grove Grammar School in the small, rural community where he lived near San Diego, California. He and the other Mexican American students were told they had to go to a new, separate school. A school just for them. A school where they would not hold back the other students. But Roberto and the other students and their families believed the new school's real purpose was to segregate, to separate. They didn't think that was right, or just, or legal. This historical fiction picture book by Sibert award-winning author Larry Dane Brimner and Pura Belpré award-winning illustrator Maya Gonzalez follows Roberto and the other immigrant families on their journey in 1931 as they battle against separation and prejudice in one of America's landmark segregation cases.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, School, Biography, Education, Latinx

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

Larry Dane Brimner is the recipient of the 2018 Robert F. Sibert Award for the most distinguished informational book for children for his title Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961. He is known for his well-researched, innovative, and award-winning nonfiction for young readers, and is the author of multiple acclaimed civil rights titles, including Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights; and Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor.

Reviews

[Melinda Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roberto Alvarez was suddenly told one day that he and other Mexican American students were no longer welcomed to their school anymore. Roberto along with other families challenged this decision and went to court. An interesting story of segregation and how a community came together.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to a little-known school desgregation case. In 1931 when the Lemon Grove School District’s board of trustees decided to expel every one of the 75 students who were of Mexican American descent in order to establish an all-white student body, the Lemon Grove Neighbor’s Committee—Comité de Vecinos de Lemon Grove—took action. Brimner follows student Roberto Alvarez from his return to school after Christmas vacation only to be told he was no longer welcome to the day he was able to receive the same education as white students. The substantial author’s note places this case in context with other desegregation cases in the U.S., including the Brown v. Board of Education. Maya Gonzalez’s colorful, mural-like illustrations offer excellent historical flavor. See also Duncan Tonatiuh's Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation (Abrams, 2014).

[Ashley Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The case of Roberto Alvarez set the scene for cases like Brown v. Board of Education. Roberto Alvarez was a young man of immigrant parents who wanted nothing more than for children with brown skin to go to school in the new school house with the peers they had always known. A fascinating read, suitable for young children.

[Jaimie · Rating 1 out of 5]

**received from the publisher.

While I love the concept of this book, which explores the story of Roberto Alvarez’s fight to attend school alongside his white classmates in 1931, the result fell rather flat. The story itself is intrinsically interesting, exploring themes of racism, education, and childhood that are ever-present today, but the author’s narration lacked any sense of storytelling drama or emotion and I felt like the book was dictating to me like a textbook rather than weaving a tale. Vacant were the (presumably) passionate characters, courtroom fights, or neighbourhood spirit, and without these driving forces we are left with a sanitized and flat story. The only real positive to this book were Maya Gonzalez’s illustrations, which, while simple, utilize texture, colour, and composition to set the scene. Given a more character-driven narrative, this story has so much potential to spark conversation, that it is a shame that we ended up with a glorified (if beautiful) textbook.

[Michelle Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important story of racism and segregation in California, when the 1931 court case of Roberto Alvarez took place. Beautifully illustrations and layout.

Early digital copy received from Edelweiss.

[charlene.librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important treatment of the Roberto Alvarez case in 1931 that became one of the precedents for the Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The author's note and list of sources provide even more historical understanding.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlights a very interesting event in history that I don't recall learning in school. It was an interesting case that had a positive outcome and definitley deserves its own book on the topic, but the story itself was a bit more dry than most we have read on similar on topics so it didn't hold my smaller children's interest very well. I loved the extra info at the end of the book as well, but again, it may not be very engaging for young children. My 10 year old enjoyed it, but the others checked out before the end. That being said, I do think it is a great book, just plan to skip the extra at the end for lower elementary.

[Hunter Pardue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This honest review is in exchange for an ARC from NetGalley.
Without Separation gives insight to a case I had never heard of dealing with school segregation. This would be a great mentor text in the classroom. The author's note also gives readers a chance to look even closer at the history of school segregation in California.
I would add this to my classroom library.

[Book Buying With Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked by a kiddo just today whether it was only black children who were not allowed to attend white schools. This is a great children's non-fiction book about segregation of Mexican-American children pre-Brown v. Board.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about school segregation in Lemon Grove, California - just east of San Diego - begins on January 5, 1931, with 12-year-old Roberto Alvarez walking to school. That morning, the principal stood at the door and told Mexican children they did not belong in the school, and they would have to attend a different school for Mexicans that had been built for them.

Lemon Grove Grammar School trustees believed (erroneously in all counts) that the Mexican children didn’t understand English, were unclean, and endangered the health of every other student in the school. It was the trustees who decided to construct a separate school, without telling Mexican parents about their plans.

After the principal excluded the Mexican kids, Roberto returned home:

“It was what his parents had instructed him to do if he was told to go to la caballeriza - the barnyard - which is what the grown-ups called the new wooden school building.”

The author reports that 74 other children also refused to go to the new school.

Roberto, it should be noted, not only spoke English as well as any white student, but had been born in California; he was as American as the non-Hispanic students were.

Roberto’s parents joined a group of other Mexican parents to discuss what to do. They met with the Mexican consul, who arranged for two local lawyers to help them. A lawsuit in Roberto’s name was filed in the California Superior Court. The case went to trial on March 10, 1931, and Roberto and the plaintiffs won. The judge ordered the school board “to immediately admit and receive . . . Roberto Alvarez, and all other pupils of Mexican parentage” into the Lemon Grove Grammar School “without separation or segregation.”

The author concludes:

“Sometimes a person has to stand up for what is right - to fight for justice, to confront discrimination. Roberto and his friends returned to Lemon Grove Grammar School, and this time all were welcomed.”

Back matter includes an extensive Author’s Note, historic pictures, and sources.

Lovely acrylic illustrations in vivid colors by Maya Gonzalez evoke Mexican murals and folk art.

Evaluation: This case, Roberto Alvarez v. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District, was the first successful school desegregation court decision in the history of the United States. Roberto’s son later wrote:

“It is important in San Diego and U.S. history, not solely because it occurred but because the community took court action and won the case they established the rights of their children to equal education, despite local, regional and national sentiment that favored not only segregation, but the actual deportation of the Mexican population in the United States.”

There will be a lot to discuss with intended readers age 7 and up about prejudice, fairness, and paths to equal treatment.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

On January 8, 1931, Roberto was happy to go back to Lemon Grove Grammar School outside San Diego California.

His friends were happy to see him, but he and his Mexican friends were not welcomed by the principal. He told them that their teachers were waiting for them in the Mexican school on Olive Street.

As it turns out, in the summer of 1930, the board of trustees of the school district had met and complained about the Mexican children. They claimed that they held back the white students, were unclean, and a danger to the health of others. A decision was made to build a separate school--but no one told the Mexican parents.

Roberto and his friends refused to go to the new school which they called la caballeriza--the barnyard. Roberto was a good student and didn't want to attend a separate school. His family agreed. The Mexican families met and recognized that the new school was meant to segregate--not to provide English language instruction.

Roberto was chosen to be the lead plaintiff in the case against the school district. Roberto was perfect for the job: he had been turned away from Lemon Grove, was a good student, and fluent in English. His case could prove that the school board's justification for a new school was false.

On March 11, 1931 a Supreme Court Justice of California ruled: "The Lemon Grove School District had no power to set up a separate school for Mexican children."

Roberto had won! Not only was this a victory for him, but also for all the Mexican and Mexican American children within the school district.

The story comes full circle. At the end, all are welcomed.

CURRICULUM RESOURCE
This book can be used in 2-4th grade classrooms as classes discuss immigration, prejudice, and segregation. The Author's Note is geared towards older readers and goes into extensive detail about Roberto's case and the historical and geographical context of the court decision. In particular, the author mentioned that this ruling was cited as a precedent before the US Supreme Court made its historical landmark decision of 1954 known as the Brown v. Board of education of Topeka (Kansas).

The acrylic illustrations by Maya Gonzalez are vivid and colorful in keeping with Mexican art and Mexican folk art.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it would have been nice to know a little bit more about the other Mexican families involved in this landmark civil rights case, this picture book carefully details the events that led to Roberto Alvarez's family and neighbors decision to take the Lemon Grove School District in California to court. After the district built a new school in 1930, a separate, inferior building was erected for the Mexican students in the area. Suddenly, after attending the nicer facilities, they were not allowed to enter its doors even though they had done so in the past since some citizens thought that they needed special help due to language barriers. But this was not the case, and the rationale was just an excuse to separate white children from brown children. The Superior Court of California ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that they had the right to "the same treatment, education, and instruction as that given to white students" (unpaged), and Roberto and his classmates returned to Lemon Grove. The Author's Note and additional backmatter with archival photographs explains the case's importance and lists the earlier and later relevant cases related to segregation so that readers can consider it in its historical context. The acrylic illustrations are bright and sunny, filled with hope and an almost worshipful attitude toward Roberto Alvarez and those who decided to fight the system. This picture book belongs in a collection of civil rights books alongside those discussing the efforts of Sylvia Mendez and her family and Linda Brown and hers. It's clear that little by little, case by case, legal challenges made a difference in the status quo and the trickery and deceit of some local school officials.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

I was really excited to receive this book because I’ve never heard of Roberto Alvarez and what happened at Lemon Grove. I feel like often times when children are learning about history we really only focus on one big case and then move on to the next topic when in reality there are tons of smaller cases that are just as important that we never get to talk about.

I felt like this was super informative and would be super easy for a child to understand. Some of the pages did have pretty long paragraphs so this would definitely be better for children around grade 3.

At the end of the book, the author includes a long note and goes into more detail about the case and those involved. He also includes pictures of Alberto, the principal, the mother, the school, and a class picture. He also has listed all of the sources that he used to create this book. It seems like a lot of research and time was put into creating an accurate picture book which I appreciated.

Honestly, this book was informative for me so I’d definitely recommend it for any age that is able to understand what the case is about. I think this would be a great book to read when discussing segregation in school as this was the first successful school desegregation court decision in the history of the United States.

***review will be posted on blog closer to release date***

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was excellent, and local history to boot! Lemon Grove is just a bit east of San Diego. Bringer is an author that wrote series nonfiction but finally was able to break out and do his own nonfiction, and it is superb material. Well before Brown, there were a couple of cases in California about whether separate but equal was legitimate. This is one of the cases cited in Brown when the Supreme Court declared separate is inherently unequal. Lemon Grove parents didn’t want their White kids associating with Brown (as in skin color, no reference here to the law case) kids so they built another school for those Brown kids. Interestingly, 3 Japanese American kids were allowed to remain with the White kids. Other parts of California had segregated Asian Americans, which rather pointed out how discriminatory this school was! Roberto Alvarez was chosen to headline this case because his English was so good (one of the arguments was that the Brown kids were holding back the White kids!) the illustration was well done and the back matter was superb! I’m really glad that the part the principal played was expanded in the back! He agreed that the school should include the Brown kids and lost his contract as a result! I hope this hero found work elsewhere! See also “Separate is never equal” by Duncan Tonatiuh for another school case that paved the way for Brown (the law case).

Highly recommended!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know that Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education had a precedent? In 1931 Lemon Grove's board of trustees decide that the Mexican American children could no longer attend their school because it was slowing the education of the white students. The board's solution was to build a second smaller school for these students to attend on Olive St. The parents of the impacted students had heard rumors during the winter break that this was likely and so instructed their children to return home if refused entrance to their school instead of going to the new school on Olive St. The parents of the children denied entry based on the color of their skin brought a law suit against the Lemon Grove Board of Trustees in the California court systems. Their victory helped to pave the way for school desegregation in other locations. The illustrations brought the story alive. Their are bright, colorful, and help to demonstrate the diffrence in the schools for young readers. The authors note would make a wonderful starting point for anyone looking to turn this into a lesson for a social studies classroom. Their is also an extensive additional sources section to help those that want additional information about this case that is so crucial to history but I personally was unaware of until now.

[Roz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction picture book tells the story of an early school desegregation case brought on behalf of Roberto Alvarez, a Mexican American child. This case was brought in 1931 after Roberto and the other Mexican American students at a rural grammar school near San Diego were barred from attending Lemon Grover Grammar School and instead told to attend a separate, smaller, and more inferior school. Roberto's case ended in his favor and he and other Mexican American students were allowed to attend Lemon Grove Grammar School alongside the white students. This is the first successful school desegregation case and it led the way to more the more well-known Brown v. Board of Education 20 years later. This is an interesting bit of history that I was previously unaware of and I think its telling here in a picture book is extremely valuable. Learning about cases like this remind us that history is a series of incremental changes that build on each other. I think it's important to show children this at a young age, so they understand that each action you make can effect bigger changes down the road - doing one good thing today can help 10 good things happen later.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually include picture books I've read in my books read total, but this book was went to me by Penguin Random House, and I want to bring it to people's attention. It chronicles the case of Roberto , Alvarez, a Mexican American boy who in 1931, along with many other Mexican American students, was denied entry into the grammar school he had been attending. The Lemon Grove School Board had voted to send Mexican American students to a school being built exclusively for them, because the Mexican students were supposedly "holding the white students back" and "were unclean". The Mexican American parents brought a lawsuit against the school board, with Roberto as its defendant, and won. This account is told in easily understandable language, with color drenched illustrations. It is meticulously researched, and includes an extensive author's note, where Brimmer notes the parallels between that time and this, and his hope that this book will highlight an event of which few will be aware. Excellent.

[Elles_shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without Separation is a wonderful children’s nonfiction picture book to help explain segregation to younger children. It details the journey of Roberto Alvarez (and other Mexican American students) and his fight to be able to attend his local school and not a separate school. The case of Roberto Alvarez v. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District took place in 1931 and it helped establish a precedent that helped lead to the landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas in 1954, which is much more well known and taught in school.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was presented in a way to help younger students understand the concept of segregation as it attempted to explain the notion of separate, but equal. It also delves into the concept of prejudice and racism. As an educator with an advanced degree, I even learned a little bit about some of the court cases which were used as precedents for the more well known cases.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book tells the story of a group of Mexican American children fighting for equal education without being segregated from their White peers. The story is straight forward and easy to follow and the text is very objective. The illustrations are bright and colorful and really enhance the feel of the story. While I wasn't wowed by the book, it's a solid, quality offering. The Author's Note at the end explains in much greater depth what was happening at the time and includes multiple pictures from the time period along with what happened to several of the children after the story ends. There's sources cited as well so the reader can do further research if they desire.

Overall, a solid, quality offering that doesn't overwhelm or stand out. 3 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Stacy]

Without Separation is an excellent picture book that recounts an early school desegregation case in 1931. Robert Alvarez, a Mexican American student, filed a lawsuit against his school district of Lemon Grove after the board of trustees decided to build a separate school for Mexican American children because they did not want them to be with their white peers. Alvarez won and this became one of the first successful school desegregation cases; in fact, this case served as a precedent for Brown vs. Board of Education.

This picture book is compelling and I think it would be appropriate for even older students. I teach middle school ELL students and I think this would serve as a good mentor text since the content is so rich and deep yet accessible. Living in the Northeast, I wasn’t very familiar with this story and I’m glad I was able to learn more about it.

(This is an honest review in exchange for a Netgalley ARC.)

[BiblioBrandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love learning something new from middle grade picture books. I had never heart of Roberto Alvarez or his case until today. This was the “first successfully fought school desegregation case in the United States.” After Roberto and the other Mexican and Mexican American students were told to attend their own school, he fought to be able to receive the same education as the White students.
The substantial author’s note places this case in context with other desegregation cases in the U.S. (also interesting to note that it was a school board of nice white parents who enacted the segregation). Great end matter and loved this author’s note: “My hope with this book is that young people will learn about the significant event in United States history and understand that even one small voice can help bring about change for the positive. I also hope they will be able to connect the threads of the past with the intolerance that surrounds us today.”

[Lisa McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without Separation by Larry Dan Brimner is a compelling retelling of the court battle between Roberto Alvarez and his school district in the early 1930's. Roberto and other Mexican American students arrived at the Lemon Grove school one day only to be turned away and told to attend a separate school built solely for them under the guise of helping them learn English and assimilate into America. However, Roberto and many others of these students could speak English as well as their white classmates and were top of their classes. The separation was simply a ruse. Segregation dressed up as it always is--as if it is in the best interests of those segregated against. Brimner does a wonderful job of telling the history of the landmark court case in a way that is digestible for young readers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On January 5, 1931, the Lemon Grove Grammar school closed its doors to the Mexican and Mexican American children. The School District, responding to letters from white parents had built a separate school citing the need to teach them English was making the white students' education suffer. Roberto Alvarez, one of the Mexican American children was bilingual and a good student, his parents helped form a committee of parents who sued the school district over this separation and segregation.

I loved the illustrations - great representation of the 1930s. This is such an important story, and I'm glad to see it in a picture book.. There's a nice author's note at the end. Includes sources and photographs, I loved that there was a school photo of Roberto.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larry Dane Brimmer, joined illustrator Maya Gonzalez who worked with archival paper and acrylic paint, shines the spotlight on the 1931 journey to contest the separate but(not) equal school situation in Lemon Grove, California. Roberto Alvarez loved the five room school house he and the other Mexican American children attended but on the first day of school after Christmas vacation, he and the other children were turned away and sent to "their" two room school. For students, this is a timely introduction to the civil rights and the travesty of “separate but equal” in the United States. It can be presented to many age groups, with younger students discussing the illustrations and the text, and older students taking advantage of the marvelous resources, author's note and photos in the back matter.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brimner tells an important and little-known story about a California Mexican school desegregation legal fight that takes place more than a decade before Sylvia Mendez's fight told in Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation. Pair these books to spread knowledge and understanding from our past and to reflect on how the events resonate today. Don't read this picture book with only young children. Middle and high school students can use it for a springboard to research or for discussion.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent nonfiction picture book about a little known but important court case that was used as precedent in the Brown vs, Board of Education.

In Lemon Creek California, a school board deliberately built a separate school, designed to keep white students and students of color apart. With a young boy named as principal, Robert Gonzalez Jr., the parents sued the school board and won.

Brimner's text is clear and understandable for a young reader, explaining a complicated legal process well. Excellent back matter includes an extensive Author's Note with much more information about the case, the individuals involved and the impact of the case. Wonderful period photographs add reat interest.

Maya Gonzalez's warm toned illustrations are a great match for the story.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without Separation is an historical fiction picture book tells the story of Roberto Alvarez lawsuit the Lemon Grove School District. This is set in the 1930’s and is to show how people can be racist. The school district built a school the Mexican and Mexican American students could attend so they didn’t have to go to Lemon Grove with the white students and Roberto fights against it.

I was excited when Roberto won his case and returned to the school as before. I thank Brimner for doing an excellent job bring this story to life in this book.

This was a great read. Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen Meno · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1931, the Mexican and Mexican American student at Lemon Grove Grammar school were rejected entry and told they must attend a school built just for them. The students and their families fought this segregation with a lawsuit and a student strike. The author uses clear, simple verbiage to convey these historical events to a young audience. The illusions complement the text, providing a visual context for young readers. The author includes more information in the back matter. It is clear from the extensive bibliography that due diligence was done in regards to research on this topic. I particularly enjoyed the photos included.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction picture book has great illustrations, and shares a true story about Mexican immigrants organizing to prevent their children from having to attend a segregated school. The author weaves historical details into the story in a clear, easy-to-absorb way, and shares additional information, photos, and a source list in the back. This is a great book about an obscure subject, and I would recommend it to both children and adults.

I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important part of history & a very necessary read.
It’s amazing how much is left out of textbooks.
It is sad 100 hundred years later, the issues remain the same. Amazing books like these are a good place to start & bring about change.
This is a NetGalley read, given to me for an honest review.
The illustrations are beautiful. 5 stars there.
The narrative is more at the level of much older children & will need to be broken down a lot for the age group that reads picture books. That is doable tho.
It is, however, detailed & informative.