Growing up in a poor, migrant family, Cesar Chavez knew how hard life could be. As a boy, he went to thirty different schools before finally having to drop out in eighth grade to help support his family. Chavez devoted his life to creating unions and demanding better working conditions for all farmworkers. This gripping biography traces Chavez's life, highlighting the triumphs and difficulties that he encountered. Sidebars and a timeline provide extra...

As the first African American woman to become a principal dancer for a major ballet company, Misty Copeland has broken barriers in the world of dance. Biography fans will learn about Copeland's rise from challenging circumstances to premier ballerina, including her childhood, her early dance lessons, and difficulties she overcame. Fast facts and intriguing sidebars teach students about Misty Copeland's influences, her perseverance, and the ways she...

When she was only eight years old, Sylvia Mendez was part of a legal battle that ended segregation for Hispanic students in California. Seven years later, that barrier-breaking court case set a precedent for ending segregation across the country for students of all races and backgrounds. With this biography, readers will learn how Sylvia Mendez's parents fought for Hispanic students in California, how Mendez herself persevered through court cases...