The Miners’ Lament by Judy Dodge Cummings tells the story about the Empire Zinc mine strikes of the 1950s. The Miners’ Lament is part of the “I Am America” series. This is the second book I have read in the “I Am America” series.

In The Miners’ Lament we are introduced to Ana Maria Garcia and see what her family goes through because of the rights they are neglected of by her father’s workplace and the horrific death of her mother. I love how the “I Am America” series focuses on lesser known parts (to me) of American History and how culturally diverse the books. I highly recommend this book and it’s entire series. I believe it would be perfect for any educational reading or personal reading time. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. (My review is also on Goodreads.)

This is a great story that uses the historic events of the Empire Zinc Mine Strike well while also showing more of the racism and sexism that played into how the strike unfolded. The characters were well written and I particularly loved Ana Maria's spirit. Her journey of coming to better understand the strike and her own power to achieve her dreams was well written and showed great courage. All around this is a great addition to this series.

<b>Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.</b>

In 1951 Alba, New Mexico, 11-year-old Ana Maria Garcia's life revolves around her Papa, a miner for the Empire Zinc Company. Ana Maria dreams of becoming a corridista, a singer of Mexican ballads, but everyone keeps telling her corridistos are MEN. Only Mama believed in Ana Maria and passed on her father's beautiful vihuela. With Mama gone and Papa and the other workers on strike, it means money is tight and Ana Maria's dreams seem even farther away. As the strike stretches on and on, Ana Maria feels angry at the company that was responsible for her mother's death. If only Empire Zinc had installed gas stoves and water pumps inside the homes in the Mexican part of town, Mama would still be alive. Ana Maria pours her heartbreak into a song expressing her feelings of fear, anger and loss. When the men are prohibited from the picket line, the women step up and Ana Maria wants to join them. When a Hollywood filmmaker comes asking questions, it seems like the answer to Ana Maria's prayers but Papa doesn't approve. Will she have the courage to defy her father and go after her dreams?

This story is new to me even though a took a graduate class on labor history. Everyone knows Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta but before that, there were the numerous forgotten men and women of Alba, New Mexico. The "Salt of the Earth" strike has been largely forgotten in the last half century. It's sad because this was a very inspiring story that caught the attention of a blacklisted Hollywood filmmaker. As far as the author's note goes, the minor changes she made seem to blend in seamlessly into facts. The story touches lightly on racism against Mexican-Americans and a bit on Communism. Let's have a quiz. Which country- America or Russia? Communism or democracy?
Labor unions
fighting for better living conditions and higher wages
the government wants to control the ideas and issues the film industry explores. The government wants to stifle the filmmakers' voices.
While that last one isn't spelled out, it sure reeks of Communism to me! China anyone? It's disgusting that this happened right here in the U.S. as a measure of fighting back against Communism. That makes no sense whatsoever. The 1950s sounds like a truly horrid time to be alive unless you were a rich, white, male. Kids from middle class families and working class families will be able to relate to the struggles of the Garcias and their neighbors. Sadly, not a lot has changed in the last 60 years but at least girls like Ana Maria who grew up in 1950s Alba, have rights as an American born female and she can be whatever she wants to be, use her voice to vote and teach their grandchildren about their childhood.

I loved the inclusion of Mexican language and culture into the story and how the author made the decision not to have Ana Maria write her ballad in English. There are lots of Spanish terms sprinkled throughout the book and I thought perhaps a glossary was necessary for young readers but I've heard from my nieces that Spanish is taught in middle school now so the older age of the target age range might be able to understand some of the Spanish. However, the author is not Mexican-American and I question the publisher's decision in this day and age, not to use a Latino author, however qualified at writing historical fiction this author may be. There was a cultural advisor who helped make the story seem authentic.

Ana Maria is a likable and relatable girl. Even though I'm not musical or interested in a male-dominated field I could feel Ana Maria's passion and understand her dreams. I hated watching her struggle with household chores and her constant battles with her sexist father. I wanted Ana Maria to succeed and my inner 9-year-old wanted that fairy tale plot but my adult self appreciated the lessons she had to learn. Some of her story was a bit fantastical though. I liked the parts where she chose her own path and joined the picket line and her reasons why. My heart breaks for her losing her mother the way she did. It sounds like her mother understood her and supported her while also calming sexist Papa. Mama sounds lovely.

I want to be sympathetic to Papá. He's grieving and stressed out because he's not working. Money is tight and he's literally left with nothing else of value to sell except Ana Maria's treasure. In typical 1950s father fashion Papá doesn't sit Ana Maria down and explain this and ask for her cooperation. He doesn't tell her he's taking down Mama's alter or ask if Ana Maria wants it in her room. He orders Ana Maria around like a servant. There's one moment where I really loathed him. Of course Ana Maria and Papá bare their souls and come to a better understanding. (cue adult eyeroll).

Ana Maria's best friend Gabriela and her family are more appealing. Both parents are involved in the union and support their daughter in her choice to join the strike. Gabriela's Papa is Ok with taking care of the house and babies in a way Ana Maria's Papa is not. The friend drama comes in the form of class/race differences. Ana Maria's Mamá was a housekeeper to the family of one of the mine supervisors, the Wagners. The son, James used to be Ana Maria's friend but he's growing up and hanging out with rude boys. Ana Maria and James had a falling out after her mother's death and aren't friends anymore. Mrs. Wagner is nice but vague and probably unaware of how clueless she is when she says she misses Mrs. Garcia. The moment when James comes to an understanding is well done and I like that he explains his dad's role is supervisor, not owner. However, his dad COULD side with the workers.

Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are union labor leaders. He has come to Alba to spearhead the strike. Mrs. Bradley is passionate about worker rights as well and she knows how to talk to kids to explain things easily. I like her. In contrast, the police are the bad guys, especially a deputy known as Carrot Top. He's racist and a bully. Even young Ana Maria can see that. Mr. Wilson, from Hollywood, is fair. He wants to tell a good story and this story is a David and Goliath underdog tale. He knows this story needs to be told. He's understanding and open-minded, quite a nice man and his film "Salt of the Earth" is a forgotten classic.

This series reminds me of the American Girl and Dear America books I loved growing up and couldn't get enough of. I want to read more of these books and will recommend the series to friends who love the same books.

The Miners' Lament
A Story of Latina Activists in the Empire Zinc Mine Strike
by Judy Dodge Cummings
Flux
Jolly Fish Press
Historical Fiction | Middle Grade | Multicultural Interest
Pub Date 01 Sep 2021



I am reviewing a copy of The Miners Lament through Flux/Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley:




This book takes the readers back to 1951 where the workers at the Empire Zinc Mine in Alba, New Mexico, have been striking for months. Ana Maria Garcia’s father is with them, he tells her that they may need to sell her vihuela to pay rent. But her vihuela was a gift from her recently deceased mother, and her dream is to be a corridista, a singer of Mexican ballads.





Ana Maria is soon drawn to the picket line she is inspired to write a corrido about her mother and the other women of the mining community. An upcoming talent show may be Ana Maria’s chance to earn money for rent and save her vihuela if she can give voice to the song of her heart.




If you are looking for a book that deals with the life of the Miners on the Mexican American side of town in Alba, New Mexica in the early 1950’s and before I highly recommend The Miners Lament!


Five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

"The Miners' Lament" by Judy Dodge Cummings
I am America series
Release date: 9.1.2021

Workers at the Empire Zinc mine in Alba, New Mexico, have been striking for months in 1951 for better working conditions and better wages. Ana Maria Garcia's father is one of the men striking. Her father may even need to sell Ana Maria's vihuela to afford rent. This vihuela was her deceased mother's, and Ana Maria wants to be a singer of Mexican ballads, a corridista. Ana Maria decides to write a corrido about her mother and the other women in their mining community.

Ana Maria decides to enter the talent contest, which the winner receives a cash prize, which can help pay the rent so her vihuela does not need to be sold.

I loved "Dear America" when I was growing up. I appreciate that this series highlights Americans from the underrepresented moments in American history. This novel focuses on worker's rights, racism, financial insecurity, and traditional women's roles. Definitely read to the end, where there are lots of facts printed, and one of Ana Maria's corridos is written in English! Excited to read more in this series.

Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

#netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleybooks #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #iamamericaseries #theminerslament #judydodgecummings #middlegradereads #middlegradebooks #2021middlegradereleases #2021newreleases #childrensbooks

“When people without power tried to use their voices, there was always a price to pay.”

I’m a huge fan of the Dear America series of my childhood; I learned so much from seeing historical events written in an easy-to-understand personal story. The format helped with the development of my empathy for others who may not look like me or have my similar background or experience.

This new series called “I Am America,” chooses to follow the same recipe but instead highlight Americans from marginalized backgrounds and underrepresented moments in American history. This new focus is much needed in classrooms today to understand history in context.

In this story, young Ana Maria Garcia tries to move on after the death of her mother in 1950s New Mexico amid the background of a miner’s strike against the Empire Zinc mine. Her father is part of the worker’s movement to demand better wages and safer working conditions for the Mexican-Americans working the mines. Young Ana sees the real harm of staying silent and wants to use her voice to advocate for herself, her family, and her community.

This story deals with so many big topics fully in context for children to understand: worker’s rights, parental death, financial insecurity, patriarchal family systems, women’s role in the home of 1950s, anti-communism, racism, and more. I highly recommend this book and the whole series for parents of young children and grade-school teachers who want to broaden children’s empathy skills and introduce them to new facets of American history.

The Miner's Lament: A Story of Latina Activists in the Empire Zinc Mine Strike
By: Judy Dodge Cummings

Flux

Jolly Fish Press

Historical Fiction/Multicultural Interest/Middle-Grade

Publish Date September 1, 2021

#TheMinersLament#NetGalley

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I gave this book 4 stars. I never heard of this strike so it was nice to learn about. At first I was getting frustrated with Ana's Papa for the way he treated her and all females. There is a reason for his thoughts and it comes out at the end. This is a quick read and one that you should read because this isn't talked about in any classroom.

This is about a Zinc Mine and the miner's. Miner's are on strike for better working conditions and living conditions. The main character is an 11 year old girl who lost her mom by a simple accident that should have never happened if they had proper living conditions.

It tells how everyone worked together for a long period of time to get what they needed. It also is about a young girl proving her dad that girls are just as good as boys.

I don't speak or read Spanish and so at first I had to skip a lot of this but if you go to the back of the book there is the English version. Skipping the Spanish parts doesn't take away from the story, because you get enough content to help you understand.

I would recommend this book.

Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

In 1950 a mining town faced heavy injustice on the Mexican American side, within this story a young girl learns all about why and joins in with the protesting and learns the strength of herself.

This was so heavy and hard to read if I’m honestly, I did struggle to read this. Now I didn’t struggle because it was bad or anything like that, actually the opposite. I struggled because it was all too much, and all too real to the world we still live in and the whole story line was so difficult a topic that made it heavy and hard for me to handle.

They were all protesting and I personally always find reading about these things hard as there is always so much anger and fighting and abuse from both sides in situations like this. I totally understand why they were doing it and good for them honestly they needed their voices heard, on way or another.

I loved Ana Maria, she was a really sweet, sensitive, creative little girl that just wanted to bring justice for her mother’s death and fight for a better life for them. That brings me to the character I actually really hated which is her Papa he was horrible, he was cruel for no reason, he had no respect for her as a person, treated her like garbage, dictated what she could and couldn’t do, and was just horrendous I didn’t care for him literally not once. Ana Marie was a thought girl, I don’t know how she dealt with him, I just wanted to help her, her life was not nice and that was so sad.

This story as this stories always are so important no ones voice should be silenced yet this is what was happening, this story everyone in the miners families were being silenced and ignored so they had no choice but to stand up for themselves and to fight against the injustice that they were being given.

It came with great illustrations, lots of facts at the end and you also get to read one of her corridos in English as throughout they are in her native language. I really did overall enjoy this book and it’s such an important topic of history that needs to be read.