A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Robert Alvarez, written by María Dolores Águila, and published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan.
Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident court case, this unforgettable novel in verse, set in 1931, tells a compelling story that parallels current events. Roberto’s extended family relocates to San Diego, after being driven out of Oklahoma by deportation raids on Mexican families. When they arrived, they were barred from attending school due to their race and were compelled to attend a segregated school located in a barn. The community rallies, organizes, and fights against the injustices, overturning the law, but not without substantial, heartbreaking losses along the way. This novel comes at a critical time, shining a light on a darkness in our past and sounds the alarm on dark injustices that are recurring today. Águila ends her note by stating, “I wrote this story for young readers to learn about the resistance and resilience of their communities and feel inspired to make a difference.”
Authors: María Dolores Águila
Award: 2026 Winner Chapter Book Category
