Review by: Mary Alice Brennan
Published: 2022
Author: Aida Salazar
Genres: Historical Fiction, Novel in Verse, Latinx Literature
Audience: Grades 7–9
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: A Seed in the Sun
Content Warnings: Depictions of harsh labor conditions, family illness, and gender-based expectations.
Publisher’s Summary
A farm working girl with big dreams meets activist Dolores Huerta and joins the 1965 protest for migrant workers’ rights in this tender-hearted middle grade novel in verse, perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia and Pam Muñoz Ryan. Lula Viramontes dreams of one day becoming someone whom no one can ignore: a daring ringleader in a Mexican traveling carpa, despite her father’s traditional views of what girls should be. When her family arrives for the grape harvest in Delano, California, Lula meets activist Dolores Huerta and el Teatro Campesino (the official theater company of the United Farm Workers). She discovers an even more pressing reason to raise her voice: the upcoming farm workers’ strike, an event that will determine her family’s future–for better or worse.
Review
This is a very engaging historical fiction story about migrant farm workers in 1965. It takes place in Delano, California and tells the story of the grape farm workers’ fight for better pay, safe working conditions, and the right to form unions. The story is written in verse and is told through the eyes of Lula Viramontes. Lula is a 7th grade girl who’s trying to figure out who she is and where she fits in. Her family are migrant workers who travel through California to work in the grape fields.
During this time, farm workers are striking for better conditions. Because her father doesn’t believe in striking, he doesn’t join the other striking workers. Lula’s family keeps working, which gets them labeled as “scabs.” Lula is really moved by labor activist Dolores Huerta’s powerful words about joining the strike, but her father initially does not want to get involved. That starts to shift when he hears Cesar Chavez speak, and eventually he joins the California strike.
I enjoyed reading this book, and other than reading The Grapes of Wrath, I had not been exposed to any other stories about migrant farmworkers. This would be a great book to supplement history classes that are learning about the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. Spanish classes might also benefit from using parts of this book in their curriculum. The book concludes with an author’s note that explains her personal connection to this topic. There is also a list of nonfiction resources at the end of the book, including film documentaries, for both younger and older readers for those who wish to learn more about this subject.
📖 The Power of the Novel in Verse
By writing in verse, Aida Salazar uses the rhythm of the language to reflect the repetitive nature of field work and the swelling energy of a movement.
- Scannability: Novels in verse often appeal to reluctant readers because of the white space on the page and the fast pacing.
- Emotional Weight: The poetic format allows for a deeper dive into Lula’s internal thoughts and feelings, making the historical events feel more personal and immediate.
- Metaphor: The title A Seed in the Sun serves as a metaphor for Lula’s own growth—finding the strength to “sprout” and take a stand despite the “heat” of family pressure and societal injustice.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Social Studies (The 1960s Civil Rights Movement): Connect the UFW strike to broader 1960s movements.
- Activity Idea: Compare the methods used by the UFW (boycotts, strikes) with those of the Black Civil Rights Movement. How did the Grape Strike change the way Americans looked at the food on their tables?
- Spanish Language (Vocabulary & Culture): * Activity Idea: Identify Spanish terms used in the text (e.g., carpa, huelga, campañeros). Discuss how these words carry cultural weight that might be lost in translation.
- ELA (Point of View): Lula’s family is initially labeled “scabs.”
- Activity Idea: Discuss the nuance of the father’s decision. Why might a migrant parent fear a strike? Use the text to find evidence of the tension between survival (working) and justice (striking).
- Theater & Art (El Teatro Campesino):
- Activity Idea: Have students write their own short acto (skit) about a modern issue they care about, using the same “street theater” style used by the workers in Delano.
