Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull

Bibliography:
Krull, Kathleen. 2003. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. San Diego: Harcourt, INC. ISBN 0152014373

Plot Summary:
Kathleen Krull's Harvesting Hope; The Story of Cesar Chavez is a biography about Cesar Chavez. This biography starts off showing Cesar 's life as a child, the good times of his childhood where he grow-up on his family ranch: "Until Cesar Chavez was ten, every summer night was like a fiesta." "Cesar's grandfather had built their spacious abode house to last forever." But the fiesta halted in the summer of 1937 a drought had taken over Cesar's family ranch. Cesar and his family were forced to join "hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to the green valleys of California to look for work." His old life was gone, he and his family were now migrant workers, working "on other people's farms, crisscrossing California, picking whatever fruits and vegetables were in season." Conditions were rough, far from living on the family's ranch. Cesar and his family were forced to live in overcrowded housing which was filthy and "meals were sometimes made of dandelion greens gathered along the road." The work was hard and painful but Cesar worked along side his family baring the torment. Besides the hard work he was forced with prejudice; signs that read "WHITE TRADE ONLY" displayed in many stores and restaurants. School was not a safe place either, just an extension of the prejudice he faced. If he "broke the rule about speaking English at all times, a teacher hung a sign on him that read, I AM A CLOWN. I SPEAK SPANISH." As Cesar grow into his teen years, life did not get any better. He notes how farmers treated their workers like "farm tools" and not human beings. "They did not provide no clean drinking water, rest periods, or access to bathrooms. Anyone who complained was fired, beaten up, or sometimes even murdered." At first Cesar was afraid to speak up but as time progress and things did not get any better Cesar knew it was time for a change. Cesar followed the guidance of nonviolence. He believed "in the fight for justice, he told everyone, truth was a better weapon than violence." In an old abandoned theater in Fresno, Cesar held his first meeting of the National Farm Workers Association and which he unveils its flag- a bold eagle, the sacred bird of the Aztec Indians and "La Causa-The Cause- was born." Cesar's cause give his people hope and together they fought for equality, better working conditions and to be treated as human beings. Through marches and fasting Cesar accomplishes his goal and life for migrant farm workers is made better.

Critical Analysis:
Kathleen Krull uses beautiful earth tone colors that flow behind words that tell a story of a brave story of hope. This biography is kid friendly because it starts off telling about Cesar Chavez' childhood giving young readers the opportunity to connect to the character. This biography is organized in chronological order giving accurate information about Chavez's life. At the end of the book the author offers author's note giving more detail and explanation of Chavez's life. The design is attractive and full of water color illustrations. It is inviting and very readable for older elementary students. Younger readers (pre-K through second) may find it a little challenging to read on their own. The pages are a little lengthy with small white bold words, which will probably cause younger readers to ask for help. The water colored illustrations gives the reader a clear visual of what is going on in the story. The illustrations also reveal the voice of the author. The soft water color allows the reader to feel sympathy, sadness, bravery and happiness when story demonstrates the need. For example at the beginning of the story Cesar is happy living on his grandfather's ranch and everything is going well. The illustrations shows him under the star with his family having story time and him and his brother swimming and enjoying their childhood. These pictures made the readers feel happy. Overall this biography was wonderfully written and illustrated.

Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-The dramatic story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farm workers in California is the centerpiece of this well-told biography. Readers meet Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. The historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa" are vividly recounted, and Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay-is palpable. While sufficient background information is provided to support the story and encourage further research, focusing on one event makes the story appealing to younger readers. The text is largely limited to one side of a spread; beautifully rendered earth-toned illustrations flow out from behind the words and onto the facing page. A fine addition to any collection.Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. When Cesar Chavez was 10 years old, drought forced his family to leave its Arizona ranch and move to California. The family became migrant workers, poorly paid and badly treated. As an adult, Chavez organized a nonviolent revolt, culminating in a 300-mile protest march that produced the first farm workers' contract. Krull's language demonstrates a poetic sensibility ("The eighty acres of their ranch were an island in the shimmering Arizona desert, and the stars were all their own."), but the vocabulary will challenge young children, and a few socio-cultural details aren't made clear: some kids will wonder about the "White Trade Only" signs and why Chavez couldn't speak Spanish in school. But Morales' gorgeous paintings, with their rounded, organic forms and lush, gemstone hues, more than make up for glitches as they draw children deeply into an inspiring picture-book account of a young boy who grew up to change the world. Traci Todd Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections:
This book can be used as the students learn about Civil Rights Leaders. It could be used to teach contrast because it shows contrast of Cesar Chavez's life before and after and how it had an affect on him as a person.