This is an excellent biography to teach about activism and specifically, the United Farm Workers movement. This book is full of photographs, sidebars, maps, timelines, as well as engaging stories throughout the text to add to the biography of her life and her cause.
Dolores Huerta's tenacity makes her a great leader for students to learn about. I think its crucial that students learn about this movement in addition to the Civil Rights movement in order to draw conclusions about the time period and the struggle for justice. I also feel that I would be more likely to choose this biography over one about Cesar Chavez (there are significant mentions of his contributions in this book) because she just as important as Chavez but is less known, likely because she is a woman.
The most disheartening part of this book is the end, when there are quotes from Huerta in her old age commenting on how today many migrant workers face many of the same disparaging conditions that they faced 50 years earlier. Yet, even in this realization she maintains her optimistic tone, her faith in people and the belief that we can overcome injustice. In this vain, this is a very strong message to send to students today- that many inequalities exist, and that the fight for rights is not a thing of the past.

There were a few powerful quotes that I wanted to point out:
The first is from Dolores remembering something her mother on page 40, "When you see something that needs to be done, especially someone who needs help, you have to help them. And don't expect any compensation or rewards for what you've done because what you're doing is a reward in itself."

and the second is from Lori, Dolores' daughter, recounting a similar comment made by her mother on page 67: "Giving kids clothes and food is one thing you know, but its much more important to teach them that other people besides themselves are important, and that the best thing they can do with their lives is to use them in the service of other people."

The theme of sacrifice underlines the story of Dolores Huerta, and makes this a very powerful book for readers of any age. ( )