Title: Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez

Author: Kathleen Krull

Illustrator: Yuyi Morales

Genre: Nonfiction

Theme: As though the life is full of ups and downs, we have to have the hope, determination, and courage to continue living.

Summary: 10 years old Cesar Chavez and his family were forced to move in California, became migrant workers with a small payment, and were treated horribly. He didn't appreciated what he and his family went though and decided to protest the working conditions of migrant farmworkers. He had his people following him and made him a successful man.

Literary Elements:

Setting: The setting is man vs man occurred in the Arizona desert and ranches in California during between 1935 and 1993.

Characterization: This book is a biography about Cesar Chavez's roller coaster journey experiences through the oppression, hatred, prejudiced, and unfairnesses. At first, he wasn't considered a leader. He was shy, soft-spoken, and made fun at school. He didn't really have the positive supports beside his family. In the end, he became one of America's most inspiring leader who improved the lives of thousands of farmworkers. His character is a well-represented for the kids to realize that they are capable of doing anything without the influences of people's negativity thinkings.

Style: It's a colorful book clearly showed the characters' emotions as they went though from being happy living the life in Arizona, depressed when they became migrant workers, and then celebrated with joy in the end. The pictures are colorful, detailed, and emotive. It's a great strategy to attract the children's attention. Children can easily tell whether the characters are happy or sad.

Reflection/Evaluation

This book is a wonderful way to show the children that the negative comments don't matter. They are capable of doing anything. It's a wonderful strategy to promote the children's perspective on diversity. It helps them understanding what's it like to be in someone else's shoes. I don't think i've found any negative about this book. It's a well information for the children to be aware of historical events, diversity and anyone is capable of changing the world for better.