Jovita Wore Pants

The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter

By: Aida Salazar, Molly Mendoza

Narrated by: Aida Salazar

**A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK**

The remarkable true story of Jovita Valdovinos, a Mexican revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for her rights!

* "Graceful . . deft . . . mesmerizing. . . . Bravery and determination prevail in this inspiring tale." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Gorgeous...hits the perfect balance of lively and lyrical...outstanding." - School Library Journal, starred review

* "Exquisite prose. . . . stunning spreads." - BookPage, starred review

Jovita dreamed of wearing pants! She hated the big skirts Abuela made her wear. She wanted to scale the tallest mesquite tree on her rancho, ride her horse, and feel the wind curl her face into a smile.

When her father and brothers joined the Cristero War to fight for religious freedom, Jovita wanted to go, too. Forbidden, she defied her father's rules - and society's - and found a clever way to become a trailblazing revolutionary, wearing pants!

This remarkable true story about a little-known maverick Mexican heroine is brought vividly to life by her great-niece and Americas Award-winner Aida Salazar, and Eisner Award-honoree Molly Mendoza.

©2023 Aida Salazar. Illustrations Copyright © 2023 by Molly Mendoza (P)2023 Scholastic Inc

Critic reviews

"The illustrations are bold, dramatic, and dynamic, featuring fiery and colorful drawings which complement the text well. Young readers will be captivated by Jovita's actions and the story of her life. . . . This is an exciting adventure story and will make for a good read aloud for Women's History Month or a study of Mexican history." - School Library Connection, recommended