ALA Booklist (Wed Sep 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Author-illustrator Hernandez shares the tale of Benito Juárez as he seeks justice in his homeland. Told in the first person, the story begins with an orphaned Juárez living and working on his uncle's farm in Guelatao, Mexico. Even at a young age, Juárez's inquisitive mind is cognizant of many disparities. He grows up to become a lawyer and aids Indigenous people being persecuted by the laws of dictators and emperors. As he advances from governor to president, Juárez's radical ideas get him exiled numerous times; however, love from his supporting wife and family keeps him moving forward. Gutierrez's research on Juárez gracefully summarizes his mission to obtain equal opportunities for individuals. Her use of watercolor, graphite, and charcoal creates lush landscapes, which help to soften dark moments of the story. The implementation of first-person narration will allow young readers to see themselves as the main character, taking on leadership roles. This book will prove to be a useful resource for children studying significant moments of Mexican history.

Kirkus Reviews

A romanticized introduction to an unfairly lesser known Mexican hero.Writing in first person, Hernandez traces the course of young Benito from village sheepherder to trained lawyer, from exile to repeatedly elected president-emphasizing his lifelong dedication to human rights and protecting the poor and vulnerable. The author's close focus on his values not only leaves her narrative free of dates until the afterword, but so unanchored in historical context that at the end Benito just trails away-walking down a road to a mystical vision of his country and its residents. Also, though his strong and able wife, Margarita, receives proper attention and the fact that the two belonged to different ethnic groups (Benito was Zapotec; Margarita was of European heritage) is at least signaled in the wedding tableau by their different skin colors, his earlier relationships and children go unmentioned, and his ruthless execution of the forcibly installed French "emperor" Maximilian in 1867 is described, at best, obliquely: "I make the tough decision to punish him." Overall the illustrations do underscore his liberal, republican principles in richly atmospheric scenes of dark-skinned figures gathering to work, talk, and march collectively beneath flags and banners. And if, as the author notes in her closing remarks, Benito "has become unreachable through time and hard to identify with," her eloquent tribute will go some way toward spurring younger readers to look into his life and legacy. (This book was reviewed digitally.)An inspiring, if selective, character portrait. (bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Told in the subject’s fictionalized voice, this present-tense picture book biography of political reformer Benito Juárez (1806–1872) focuses on fluidly rendered touchpoints in his life. Living with his farmer uncle in San Pablo Guelatao and learning Zapotec, orphaned Juárez learns that “this land of charm... is also home to rejected and forgotten families.” After running away to Oaxaca, he studies at the city’s Institute of Arts and Sciences, becomes a lawyer, and marries Margarita Maza. Upon entering politics, he is approached by Indigenous people from his hometown, and subsequently works to “build roads, found schools, and open hospitals.” Political upheaval and reversals follow, yet Juárez perseveres, keeping his obligation to his people in mind. Alongside richly saturated, digitally rendered illustrations in tones of gold, green, and mauve, formal prose by Gutierrez Hernandez focuses on Juárez’s movements and those of his wife and children, but a lack of dates can make the narrative feel unanchored. An author’s note and bibliography conclude. Characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)