Esperanza Rising

fun book. i read this in 4th grade,which was last year.

fun book. i read this in 4th grade,which was last year.

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Esperanza had a wonderful life in Mexico in 1930. She lived with her mother and father, Ramona and Sixto Ortega at a beautiful ranch where her grandmother taught Esperanza to crochet. El Rancho de las Rosas is a little piece of paradise. Beloved servants tend to Esperanza's every need while field hands tend to the family's vineyard. Everything in Esperanza's life is perfect right down to the preparations for her fourteenth birthday.

That is, until the day Esperanza's father does not come home from tending to the ranch. Suddenly Esperanza's life is turned upside. Her father is gone. El Rancho de las Rosas is slipping away. Esperanza and her mother are fleeing to California with nothing to find work as field workers. Worse, they have to leave Abuelita behind.

Suddenly thrust into poverty, Esperanza feels lost. She and her mother are suddenly equal to the servants who helped them escape Mexico. Prejudice and inequality leap at Esperanza from everywhere. Nothing will ever be the same and the more Esperanza sees of America, the land of opportunity, the more she feels like she's sinking. Will Esperanza be able to rise about her circumstances and embrace her new life before it's too late in Esperanza Rising (2000) by Pam Muñoz Ryan?

Esperanza Rising is a Pura Belpre Winner (Pura Belpre being an award that highlights distinguished work in literature and illustration by hispanic or latino authors--I'm not sure which is stated specifically in the award criteria). It's really popular and generally well-received. And it even has a play adaptation (apparently not playing anywhere right now, but you can see hints of it in an online search).

All the same, I was initially extremely resistant to this book. I did not want to like it. The story starts depressing and, frankly, Esperanza starts off irritating. Having finished the book, I greatly regret that resistance.

One of the coolest things about this book is that it's based on the true story of the author's grandmother's immigration to the United States. Like most of the books I've listed as possible pairings, it is a quintessential immigrant story. Esperanza has a lot of growing up to when she is forced to move to California. She faces a lot of hardships and learns a lot about herself and her inner strength.

At its core Esperanza is, unsurprisingly, a story about hope and perseverance (esperanza means "hope" in Spanish). It is also a great introduction to the immigrant experience. While Esperanza remains at the center of the story, Ryan also touches upon the Depression, the Dust Bowl, social reform, and discrimination in this rich story.

This story also shines a light on the not-always-well-known world of migrant farm workers in a respectful and informative way. That is not to say that the story itself is not interesting. Far from it. Esperanza Rising is a wonderful blend of everything good about contemporary and historical fiction; Ryan skillfully presents the time period while making Esperanza and her world approachable to modern readers of all ages.

Possible Pairings: Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch, Drown by Junot Diaz, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, From Ellis Island to JFK by Nancy Foner, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Imagining America: Stories from the Promised Land by Amy Ling, ...y no se lo tragó la tierra / ...And the Earth Did Not Devour Him by Tomas Rivera and Evangelina Vigil-Pinon (translator), Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Bread Giver

Recomended - great book!

Esperanza grew up into a very wealthy family. She lived on her father¿s ranch El Rancho de las Rosas, with her mother, papa, and abuelita. Esperanza¿s family also had a house full of servants. When she turned fifteen Esperanza was going to get married to another rich man, but when she was little Esperanza wanted to marry one of their servants Miguel. Her mother told her that Miguel was ¿on the other side of the river¿ and when she grew up she would understand.

Esperanza lived the ¿life of a princess¿. She attended all of the best schools with
other wealthy children and ate only the finest foods and had lots of extravagant parties. Esperanza¿s favorite part was her birthday party Papa would sing the birthday song from outside of her window when she woke up in the morning. She would eat papaya salad and receive presents. Every year she got a beautiful porcelain doll from papa. But the day before her 13th birthday tragedy strikes. On Papa¿s was home from the ranch he was killed by wild bandits who were jealous of his riches and property. Esperanza is crushed by the loss of her father. Her Uncle Tio Luis tells Esperanza¿s mother that she has to marry him so that he can inherit the ranch and send Esperanza to boarding school or this would only be the beginning of their hurting. But her mother says that she will never marry him.

That night Tio Luis sets their house on fire and destroys everything. Everyone makes it out safely but Abuelita was hurt. Mamma decided that she has had enough and makes plans for her and Esperanza to escape to the United States.

In the middle of the night a truck comes and picks Esperanza, her mother, and their servants and brings them to the train station. Esperanza was horrified by the train. She says that she ¿ has never seen anything so filthy in her life¿. The train is filled with people in extreme poverty, Esperanza is afraid to interact with them because she sees herself as much higher than them. When they reach the border to the united states Esperanza gets very nervous because she is afraid that she wont be accepted but her whole family makes it through.

When Esperanza arrives at the farm she is brought to the house she and her family would be living. She describes it as being ¿the size of her shed¿. There we not bathrooms inside the house and the house was dirty. Esperanza¿s mother has to learn how to work in the field with the others while Esperanza stays home and takes care of the babies. She is overwhelmed by the amount of work that goes into taking care of the babies.

But when Esperanza¿s mother becomes ill she is challenged to provide not only for herself but also pay her mothers hospital bills and save up money to bring her Abuelita to the United States. If she can¿t her mother might die and she might never she her abuelita again.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Most stories are about how people who are very poor become rich but Esperanza goes from riches to rags. The book shows how hard it is to become an American citizen. When Esperanza and her family are at the border she is afraid that she wont be allowed to become a U.S. citizen if one of them is not allowed they will all have to go back to Mexico were they have nothing. It also shows how hard it is for Esperanza and other families to adapt to the culture in the United States. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read!

Pretty good

This book is sad. It gave me a new view of life I recomend this.

A cleverly written book.

Great book. My daughter loved how the title of each chapter wove its way into the story.

Interesting read

Good middle school book. Great way to learn Spanish.

My Thoughts on Esperanza Rising

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an immigrant from Mexico? What if you had once been rich, with a loving family, and no worries, and in the blink of an eye everything is stripped away from you? In the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Esperanza is forced into this scenario. After her father is killed suddenly, their house burns to the ground, and her mother is being forced into a marriage with Esperanza's uncle, Esperanza along with her mother and their servants Hortesania, Alfonso, and Miguel, plan to immigrate to America in hopes of a better life then they had in Mexico. Esperanza is forced into many hardships, including learning to work in the sheds with the other women when her mother is struck down with Valley Fever. She learns that there is more to life then money and riches. Through it all she learns to be happy for what she has been given, and to listen to her father's wise words "Wait awhile and the fruit will fall into your hand."

great book wish there was a series

great book easy to read finished in 2 days!

Great book for middle-school

Valuable socio-cultural concepts; best used as a read-aloud, allowing for lots of discussion of issues that are likely to be unfamiliar to many students.

A must read

My daughter has read this book and she loved it!

OMG... you must buy!!

OMG this book is amazing. I read it in class at school and it was a great story about coming from something you love so much and then having to give it all up

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Love this Author

This story is really beautiful. Usually when you hear or read about families immigrating from Mexico to the United States they are poor and coming to the United States in search of a better life. This story however, is drastically different. Esperanza's family is very wealthy in Mexico but after the death of her father and the burning of their home Esperanze and her mother come to the United States with out their riches to work as migrant farmers. This story is really great because it shows readers that while money and material things are nice to have they are not the most important things in life and even without them happiness is obtainable. This story also shows readers that you should never judge people just because of their situation. Rich or poor we are all human beings and deserve to all be treated with equal respect and dignity.

Great Book....History Teachers A Must Read

Esperanza is young girl of wealth and privilege in Mexico, but after her father is murdered on their family ranch. Esperanza and her mother flee to California, there they must work on a potato farm during the great depression. Life is hard and Esperanza mother become ill and Esperanza must speak up for the immigrant workers and their work conditions.

This book also contains a slight mix of Spanish words and/or phases that are also translated and easy to comprehend. History teacher could collaborate with English/Language Arts teachers when reading this book, because the setting is during the American Great Depression and the Dust Bowl Era.

Beautiful story!

I usually just read current YA titles, but when it was referred to in another book I read...I had to read it. A lot of my friends read ER during junior high, but I never did and I'm sorry I missed it for so long. This is a great book. I felt like I was reading a part of my history that I didn't even consider or know about. It totally reminded me of stories my relatives share at family gatherings.

Well Worth Reading

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan is an intriguing read, and shows that no matter what, love is all you need to fufill your life. This story is based on a young girl named Esperanza Ortega, and her life as she travels from living the life in Aquascalientes, Mexico to surviving on nothing but love and hope in California. The year is around 1930 during the Great Depression. Esperanza however, is one of the few rich people left, living on her acres of land and vineyard with her mom, dad, Abuelita and her helpers Hortensia, Alfonso and her best friend Miguel. She gets whatever she wants and always has. Esperanza is a kind and sweet 13 year old girl who's happy with her life just the way it is. However, one day when tragedy strikes her family and home, she's forced to leave everything behind including her belongings, family and friends. Esperanza is forced to work with a small salary, be without her luxuries, and deal with the loss of her old life, all while adjusting to her new surroundings. In the end however, with newfound family, friends and hope, Esperanza overcomes her troubles and learns that love conquers all. She also learns the difference between "wants" and "needs", and becomes a person with new eyes by the end of the book. I liked this book because it's an easy read for all ages, and teaches valuable life lessons in an action packed novel. Another thing I enjoyed about Esperanza Rising was that the author made family the biggest subject in the book and really got the message across through the plot development. By reading Esperanza Rising, I learned that we should all be grateful for what we have been given and not to take advantage of it because it could be gone in no time. "'Aguantante tantito y la fruta caera en tu mano,' he said. 'Wait a little while and the fruit will fall into your hand. You must be patient Esperanza'". And even though bad things happen sometimes, you have to always have "esperanza"... hope. I would definitely recommend this book for kids of all ages who are looking for a good and emotional read.

Best book ever!

Esperanza Rising is an emotional historical fiction. Esperanza is a twelve year old only child, who lives in Mexico. She is a part of a wealthy family who grows grapes. But when her Papa dies, she has to move to California to work on a farm, where she lives with a girl named Isabel. After they spend so much time together, they become like sisters. While living in the cabin, her Mama gets sick from a dust storm. her whole life changes. I recommend this book to anybody who has had life changing moments.

Esperanza lived in Mexico with her wealthy family that grew grapes and owned a lot of land. Then Esperanza's father got killed by bandits, and her uncle's took over their land. Then they said that Mama had to marry one of them. Then they had to go to work in America with the servants. Esperanza's mom gets very sick from a dust storm, and has to go to the hospital. Esperanza has to pay the bills and work. This is a very good book, but sad as well.

Terrible book unless in 1st grade

Esperanza Rising is a terrible book unless you are in the first grade. Esperanza rising is a great book for young children who are just learning how to read. If read young, this book will expand children's knowledge of life for Mexican immigrants.
The book begins with Esperanza being a rich snob living on a ranch in Mexico. Her father is brutally ed by bandits and her house is burned down. The story continues where Esperanza has to flee to America with her mother and begin a new life there. She has many trials in America. Many of which are simple tasks like sweeping, cooking, tending children and changing diapers. Esperanza is a dull character that sulks in her misery.
Another main character is Miguel. He is like the hero in the Marvel comic books always saying the right things. Miguel is the kind of fictional boy you just fall in love with. He is very patient and kind. Miguel puts up with Esperanza for far too long. He makes you feel sympathy towards the snob Esperanza. Even though, toward the end of the book Esperanza lightens up a little bit, after she learns how to "live life". She is still a selfish brat. Esperanza is comparable to a cousin of mine. She is the kind of cousin that drives you insane. She expects others to do everything for her, and constantly jumping in front of a camera. She is much like Esperanza in the book except there were no cameras for Esperanza to get in front of.
Children who are just learning to read should read this book because it will introduce them to the better working conditions boycott, and help them learn to read. Pam Munoz Ryan should have focused the story more on the better working conditions boycott verses one little . This would enhance the story greatly. Pam Munoz Ryan touches upon the working conditions when speaking about Maria and her mother (and other people in the camp that Esperanza lives in), but should write about it more often.
The setting bounces around a lot. The setting is not very clear and Pam Munoz Ryan does a horrific job describing it. If you are a young child that hasn't read many books the setting might seem crystal clear, California and a ranch in Mexico, but the descriptions of the buildings and other surroundings are nearly impossible to find.
The book even though it is short, drags on and on. Pam Munoz Ryan has awful word choice. She should have not given the definition of commonly used Spanish words like burrito and fiesta and taco. She writes like a third grader. Over all Esperanza Rising is a horrendous book. After reading Esperanza Rising I felt like an illiterate first grader. The beginning of the book was very short and the end was much too long. If given the choice I would never read Esperanza Rising again. I would however recommend this book to children learning how to read.

Amazing Novel that you must read!

I was taken on a adventurous, and emotional journey with the novel Esperanza Rising. The author, Pam Munoz had many intelligent ideas for the novel, including the setting during the Great Depression about the 1930's in Mexico and California. Many unfortunate and fortunate events occurred during the course of the book. Most books start off with a happy beginning, but not this novel. Esperanza suffers a loss of a family member right at the start, and with that has no choice but to rush to California. Esperanza also had to leave her grandmother (Abultia) behind in Mexico after a ankle injury which was something miserable she had to endure. Another reason they departed for California was because of a fire destroying most of their ranch in Mexico. When they arrive at the camp in California the territory is unfamiliar and uninviting for Esperanza, and so is the work they have to complete in order to earn a living. Right as they seemed to get settled and adjusted to their new way of life a horrendous dust storm happens causing sicknesses to yet one another of Esperanza's beloved family members. She is moved to the hospital leaving it all up to Esperanza to work and earn money to keep her alive and bring Abulita to their camp. When a strike takes place at their work place, their jobs are endangered because of the group of people refusing to do their jobs. This event carries on throughout the end of the book playing an important and interesting part. Later, things start to settle down for the people and a amazing miracles happens for Esperanza. With help of her friend Miguel she is able to fufill her wishes and hopes for both Mama and Abulita. Esperanza truly learns what happiness is: family, and friends. Throughout this novel I came across positives and negatives relating to various topics. Even though I admire the book in many ways I do have some negatives about events, the structure, and characters. One positive I have is how the book was very easy to get into, and right at the first chapter I was hooked on the intriguing story. I usually find myself with books taking at least two to three chapters to finally understand and like the book, but this novel was different. I also admired the main character, Esperanza. Character traits of her included loving, brave determined, hopeful, and kind. As the book progressed I began to really feel for this character, and felt as if I experienced the events she did. The most important positive for the novel is how the book was well explained, flowed, and was written without complication. The events were straight forward, and explained in a suitable order which makes it easier for the reader to understand thoroughly. Despite the positives, there are three negatives that stood out to me the most. My first negative is that it tells a very sad story in which many sorrowful events take place. I thought between those heartbreaking events there should have been a few ones that may have been more pleasing to spread out the sadness. Another negative is one pertaining to the end of the story. It leaves off with a happy ending, but no specific explanation supporting the ending. In this case I would have preferred it to be a little longer in order to get more background information about what would happen to the family. Lastly I have a opinion about how there are many main characters with confusing, or spanish names. It makes keeping track of them challenging especially because they all play an important role.

great

what i think about this book it has so much passion in it how did i found out about this book is at school and i read it and read it and found the answer to this book!!!

Riches to rags to riches

This semi-biographical book is worthy of its Newbery honor. I highly recommend this novel to both children and adults alike. It is an adept tale with a historical underlying. Esperanza is an almost perfect representation of how many of us take what we have for granted, and how misplaced we would feel if we lost it all. Many of us have a tendency to misconstrue our beliefs of people and do not realize how things may have come to be. Esperanza Rising shows its readers one of the many examples of a family coming into ruins, struggling to hold onto what it once was, and learning to live in an unknown world. This is a very touching tale that teaches us all a little about humility and humanity. --FTD