Free to Learn: How Alfredo Lopez Fought for the Right to Go to School

Gr 3 Up–The poignant story of Alfredo, a young boy whose dreams of attending school are shattered by a Texas state law barring him from doing so due to his immigration status. This fictionalized account of real events conveys the struggles of Alfredo’s family, both in Mexico and in the United States, through the compelling story and Ortega’s captivating digital illustrations. These vividly capture the emotions of both the family and the friends, and heartbreakingly paint Alfredo as an invisible participant while he imagines what his first day of school will be like. However, the narrative’s nonlinear structure and abrupt transitions will confuse some readers. The story jumps from Alfredo’s excitement to attend school to his birth in Mexico, then to his parents leaving to go to the U.S. While the picture paints Alfredo as a baby in a diaper when his parents leave, the very next line places him as a seven-year-old who has to go to work. Despite these few jarring instances, the story’s emotional impact and significance shine through, and the hard-won happy ending will leave readers with a sense of hope and resilience. The back matter provides valuable context about the real people and events that inspired the story.