Maria Elena Salinas: Legendary Journalist

Maria Elena Salinas was born in Los Angeles, California. Her birthplace made her an American citizen. But her heritage allowed her to identify with two countries. One was the United States. The other was Mexico, where she spent the first several years of her childhood. When she returned to the United States as a young girl, she spoke Spanish. In just a few months, she learned English at her new school. As a teen, Maria dreamed of becoming a successful fashion designer. As an adult, she would discover a new calling: journalism. Find out more interesting information about this popular journalist inside this book about one of the first female news anchors in the nation.

"This biography, part of the Unsung Heroes: Hispanic Heritage series (6 titles), introduces pioneering female journalist Maria Elena Salinas, a Mexican American whose pivotal career included interviews with almost all of the American presidents since Carter. Gagne covers Salinas’ early life in Mexico, providing an overview of her career stepping-stones on the way to her role with Univision and becoming an anchor at a major news network long before many of her female contemporaries. The text is accompanied by photographs of the journalist, her family, and her achievements, introducing topics through the concept of a fictional classroom. With seamless transitions and short, well-structured chapters that detail Salinas’ life, this book introduces an inspirational role model to a new generation of aspiring journalists, especially young Latinx women."--Booklist, Stephanie Cohen, October 1, 2020

Gr 4-6–Notable Hispanic Americans are profiled in these six volumes. Each book begins with a fictional exchange among youngsters, who discuss how they plan to emulate the subject. This is followed by information about the individual’s life from childhood to the present. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Nydia Velazquez were the first Cuban American and Puerto Rican American elected to Congress, where they fought for the rights of their constituents. Mario Molina’s interest in chemistry made him a pioneer in protecting the ozone. Sylvia Mendez continued to fight for educational rights long after her parents won a court decision to allow her to attend white schools. The struggle of each is related. For example, Molina faced opposition with his theory on chlorofluorocarbons and their effect on the atmosphere. The narratives are informative but not exciting. Readers might question why these people are considered “Unsung Heroes” given the numerous awards and accolades they have received. VERDICT Informative but dull, this series will be used for reports but browsers will pass. Purchase where there is a demand or to support the curriculum.--School Library Journal, November 1, 2020