­She Persisted: Dolores Huerta

Gr 1-4–This enlightening biography focuses on Dolores Huerta, who was born in 1930 in New Mexico. From a young age, Huerta exhibited a visionary spirit, recognizing the importance of helping others in her community. Despite being the only Mexican American in her college classes, she pursued her education and became a teacher, setting the stage for a lifelong dedication to advocacy. Huerta’s career as a labor rights activist, union organizer, and women’s rights leader was marked by her commitment to improving the lives of farmworkers, Latinx people, and women. Her work was fraught with risk taking and danger. Despite facing significant gender- and ethnic-based discrimination, Huerta persisted. Balancing motherhood—she is the mother of 11 children—with her tireless activism, Huerta made numerous sacrifices. Her efforts in the field of social justice led to over 20 arrests, and in 1988, she was severely beaten during a protest in San Francisco. Nevertheless, her relentless work brought about significant positive changes and earned her prestigious honors. The book includes an introduction, table of contents, and references, along with a list in the back matter of seven ways readers can become informed about societal issues and take action. The narrative is enriched by black-and-white illustrations, helping readers make cultural and historical connections.