When Cesar Chavez led a 340-mile peaceful protest march through California, he ignited a cause and improved the lives of thousands of migrant farmworkers. But he wasn't always a leader. As a boy he was shy, soft-spoken, and teased at school. He lived in ramshackle sheds and slaved as a field hand. He knew things had to change, and he thought that--maybe--he could help change them. So Cesar took charge. He spoke up--and an entire country listened.

An author's note provides context for the life of the inspiring civil rights leader.