Module 5 - Esperanza Rising

   

Ryan, P. M. (2007). Esperanza rising. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Summary

Esperanza Rising tells the story of a young girl born in Mexico  in the 1920s.  Her father is a wealthy rancher, and she lives a life of great privilege.  Her father is murdered, and due to the greed of her uncle, Esperanza and her mother leave the ranch to live in America with their former housekeeper, ranch hand, and their son, Miguel.  They move to California and become field workers.  Esperanza quickly learns that life can be hard and unfair.  She no longer attends school, but must learn to care for babies, cook, and clean while the others work.   She is ostracized by a small group of girls because of her previous life of privilege.  When her mother comes down with Valley Fever and is hospitalized, Esperanza must take on even more responsibility and begin working with the crops.  She saves money in hopes that one day she will be able to have her grandmother join them.  Further heartbreak occurs when Miguel steals the money and runs away.  The happy ending occurs with her mother recovering and Miguel returning to California with Esperanza’s grandmother.  

My Impression 

 

A wonderful book that exposes the reader to history such as: class divisions in Mexico, migrant workers, racism, and the Great Depression.  The book also describes the Mexican culture and traditions.  However, even though the reader learns so much in this book, the story remains the focus.  Esperanza character is well developed, and at times the reader might not always like her.  The theme of the story is that life will have ups and downs, but family and friends will be your constant.  This is a great book for students to read and discuss.

Library Usages

If reading this book aloud, having a map nearby would create a great geography lesson.  Finding the areas in Mexico, at the beginning of the story, and then following the family as they travel to America and eventually end up in California can help bring the story to life.  

This book could be used to introduce a study of the Great Depression.  The book refers to the “Okies” losing jobs in Oklahoma and coming to take the jobs of the migrant workers.  This can lead to lessons on the Great Depression, as well as the fact that whites were often give the jobs that Hispanics were doing, and for more pay.

A study of Caesar Chavez and what he accomplished for migrant workers could also follow the reading this book.

Reviews

Esperanza’s childhood of privilege and pampering takes a sudden change of course when her father’s murder leads to Esperanza’s and her mother’s flight to California.  Ryan’s story was inspired by her own grandmother’s life, and the plot includes references to historical events of the 1930s. 

Yokota, J., & Martinez, M. (2004). Esperanza Rising (Book). Book Links, 13(3), 33.

 

Told in a lyrical style, Ryan’s robust novel set in 1930 captures a Mexican girl’s fall from riches, her immigration to California and her growing awareness of class and ethnic tensions.  Ryan poetically conveys Esperanza’s ties to the land by crafting her story to the rhythms of the seasons.  Each chapter’s title takes its name from the fruits Esperanza and the field hands harvest.  Readers will be swept up by vivid descriptions of California dust storms or by the police crackdown on a labor strike.  Ryan delivers subtle metaphors via Abuelita’s pearls of wisdom, and not until the story’s end will readers recognize how carefully they have been strung.  Ages 9-14

ESPERANZA RISING (Book Review). (2000). Publishers Weekly, 247(41), 88.