Héroes de la esperanza

K-Gr 3–The indomitable poet follows her Bravo!: Poems About Amazing Hispanics with another compendium of influential Latinx heroes. The subjects are organized chronologically. From Anacanoa, the Taíno female chief, to Marina Núñez del Prado, the Bolivian sculptor, and Julio Garavito Armero, a Colombian astronomer to Rigoberta Menchú Tum, the first indigenous recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the inspiring figures have made an impact on history, culture, and the sciences. Engle emphasizes the traits that made them celebrated people, such as pride, determination, and creativity. There are verses about groups of people who are also worthy to hail as heroes but whose names may never be written down in the history books, including the brave activists who have fought against illegal deforestation and artists who have created countless songs and crafted works of art with their bare hands. Engle’s stirring free verse and Menéndez’s striking hand-painted illustrations combine to create an unforgettable narrative. The stylized images are done in a palette of yellow, red, turquoise, and white and black, making every spread captivating for young readers. Short biographies of each subject are appended in the back matter, further enticing those who want to learn more about these heroes. ­