🟢 Book Review: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
- Conor Duffy
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
RATING: 🟢 Recommended
REVIEWER: Conor Duffy
REVIEW METHODOLOGY: Louise Derman-Spark's Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children's Books from the Social Justice Books Project, Teaching for Change
"Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ,
you're a better witness for what's beautiful."
Last Stop on Market Street is the story of a young boy discovering the vibrant beauty of his community. The story follows CJ, a young boy, and his grandmother, Nana, as they take a bus ride through their neighborhood after church. Along the way, CJ questions why their life looks different from others—why they don’t have a car, why their part of town isn’t as fancy, why some people on the bus look or act differently. With patience and warmth, Nana challenges CJ’s perspective, helping him recognize the beauty in the world around him.
Through simple yet powerful storytelling, Matt de la Peña explores themes of gratitude, perspective, and community. CJ begins the story feeling envious of what others have, but as he listens to his grandmother’s wisdom, he comes to see value in his experiences—in the people they meet, in the music of the streets, and in the sense of belonging that isn’t tied to material wealth. The book captures how young children process social differences and how caregivers can shape their understanding of privilege, joy, and human connection.
De la Peña, an award-winning author known for centering working-class and multicultural narratives, brings authenticity and depth to CJ’s journey. His lyrical, rhythmic writing makes the story engaging while carrying weighty themes in a way that feels natural for young readers. The language is both accessible and poetic, reflecting the everyday beauty in city life.
Christian Robinson’s illustrations bring the story to life through bold, textured artwork that reflects the richness of a diverse city. His visual storytelling is just as important as the text, depicting a multiracial and intergenerational community in a way that is vibrant and full of warmth. The people CJ encounters—passengers on the bus, a blind street musician—are drawn with care and dignity, reinforcing the story’s themes of inclusivity and appreciation for all walks of life.
This book is particularly powerful in how it normalizes diverse, urban communities without centering struggle. It doesn’t paint CJ’s neighborhood as lacking but instead shows it through Nana’s perspective—a place full of character, kindness, and music. This is what makes Last Stop on Market Street stand out. It resists deficit narratives often found in children’s books about poverty and instead celebrates resilience, culture, and the strength of community.
Books like this matter because they challenge dominant narratives about wealth and happiness. Too often, success is framed in terms of what one owns rather than how one sees the world. Nana’s wisdom teaches that happiness is not about having more but about appreciating what is already present. For children growing up in working-class, marginalized communities, this message is particularly affirming, but it’s also a crucial lesson for any child learning about empathy and perspective.
Last Stop on Market Street is a thoughtful, beautifully illustrated story that encourages young readers to see the world with curiosity and appreciation. De la Peña’s writing and Robinson’s art work together seamlessly to create a book that is both timely and timeless.
I highly recommend this book for families, educators, and libraries looking to introduce discussions about gratitude, class, and diversity in a way that feels engaging and uplifting. The story’s message—that there is beauty to be found everywhere, even in places we might overlook—is one that resonates across generations.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
REVIEWER BIO: Conor is a student Portland State University and is taking Zapoura Newton-Calvert's Anti-Oppression Curriculum course. Their volunteer work was a partnership with Reading Is Resistance and the Social Justice Books Project from Teaching for Change.
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