This book is painful to read, but it is so necessary to keep history like this in people’s minds when we talk about systemic oppression. This picture book follows the Mendez case in Orange County California (where I live and one of the schools was less than five miles from where I grew up) where they fought for the right to a good education for students “regardless of race, ethnicity, and language”. It depicts the “Mexican schools” they were directed to enroll at in a way that really shows how separate is truly never equal. Those in power will always come up with absurd reasons to continue oppressing minorities like “to improve their English” or “cleanliness of mind, manner, and dress” when in reality they’re just racist and want to continue this cycle to maintain their positions of power and privilege. I loved the art style and the color palette of this book and I would recommend that everyone read this book!