Friends of Children and Literature
Los Angeles Public Library Children's Literature Department
Winning Student Essays from 2025
when the FOCAL Award was presented to
Lori Alexander & Jenn Ely for
Cactus Queen
Autumn – Grade 3
Overall, I like this book because I love that Minerva Hoyt stood up for the desert and all of the things in it. I like how the story was told and I love the drawings because it made me to want to see the desert too. When I went to Joshua Tree National Park, I went on hikes and I saw a lot of beautiful things. My favorite was all of the incredible rock formations like Arch Rock and Heart Rock. I even saw two gopher snakes at the beginning of the hike! The book Cactus Queen inspired me to love the desert.
Some things that stood out in the book for me is that Minerva Hoyt did not give up on saving the desert when others probably would have given up. Another thing that stood out to me is how she brought the desert to far away places like New York and other places to prove the desert was worth saving. That was a very good idea. What also stood out to me is that I could help protect the environment and that I should try hard to save the desert just like Minerva!
It would mean a lot to me to meet Lori Alexander the writer and Jenn Ely the illustrator because I really love the book Cactus Queen. It is truly a good bookso I would love to meet the people that made it. I loved the book so much that I have read it fifteen times! I also want to meet the writer and illustrator because
I want to write a book one day about someone great like Minerva Hoyt and I could get advice from them!
Gabriella – Grade 3
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My overall reaction to the book Cactus Queen, was that it made me want to do more good things for the environment like Minerva did. The book also made me feel that I can do more things if I believe in myself like Minerva believed in
herself. I also loved how the author told the story and I loved how the picturesmade the desert look fun! She is an inspiration to keep working for what you want done even if people tell you that you cannot do it.
Something that stood out to me was how Minerva did all that she did to save the desert. What also stood out to me is how Minerva was courageous. She camped outside alone in the desert during a time when there were no cell phones and modern things to help her, but she was not scared! After reading the book, I got to visit Joshua Tree. I got to walk the trails that Minerva may have walked, and climbed the boulders that Minerva may have climbed then and it was fun! The desert was calm and when I was there I thought about how the words the author used and the pictures the illustrator drew really
described an amazing place.
After reading the book and visiting Joshua Tree, I would love to meet the author and illustrator. I learned so much about the desert because of the book and I would like to share what I learned and how I feel about the book with Lori Alexander and Jenn Ely. I would also like to know more about what their next books will be about and if either person has spent time in other deserts.
Kataleya – Grade 8
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As I was reading the book, I felt inspired. Even though at first no one cared about the desert, Minerva Hoyt was able to get people to notice it and even establish a whole national park through her hard work and efforts. I enjoyed learning about Hoyt’s story. The title, “Cactus Queen”, is very fitting for someone who was able to restore life to the desert. The illustrations added a lot of life to the book, whether it was showing the landscape or giving emotion to the reading.
A scene that really stuck out to me was when Hoyt was trying to get the national park inspected for the first time. The image that went along with that scene set the mood for the reading. When I saw the gray and rainy sky, it made me feel a bit of sympathy for the desert. Overall, to me, this scene was one of
the most moving scenes in the book.
I think it’d be cool if I met the author, Lori Alexander. I’d ask things like “What made you write this book?” or “How did you find out about Minerva Hoyt?”. Before reading this, I had never heard of Minerva Hoyt. I’m really glad I was able to read this story because I love learning about our people’s lives. Maybe
I’d even thank the author for writing this book.