There, Esperanza must learn to work hard, which proves difficult for a girl who doesn't even know how to use a broom. After her mother is hospitalized with Valley Fever, she joins the field workers through the various crop seasons. But there is more trouble: Some Mexican farmworkers are striking, and other migrants are arriving from other areas, threatening to drive down wages.
Esperanza struggles to keep her family together -- and her hope alive. This is a beautiful book that remains educational and inspirational more than a decade after its publication. Readers will sympathize with Esperanza, who must learn to work hard after living a life of luxury -- but more than that, they will be amazed by the strength she shows as she adjusts to the difficult life of a migrant farmworker.
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- Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan?
Eventualy, she begins to create her own dream for her life in California. Her story, told with Spanish expertly woven in with the English, may inspire readers to learn about their own family's immigration to America, the plight of farmworkers in the s -- as well as the struggles of farm families living in America today. Families can talk about how Esperanza's story compares with your own family's story of immigrating to America. Have you read any other of the winners?
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Esperanza Rising
Thank you for your support. Our ratings are based on child development best practices. We display the minimum age for which content is developmentally appropriate. The star rating reflects overall quality and learning potential. Learn how we rate. For Your Family Log in Sign me up. Is it OK for kids to read books outside their reading levels? Column 4 Our impact report: How Tech Is Changing Childhood. Want personalized picks that fit your family?
Set preferences to see our top age-appropriate picks for your kids. Historical fiction at its best in story of '30s farmworkers. Pam Munoz Ryan Historical Fiction Sign in or join to save for later. Popular with kids Parents recommend. Based on 11 reviews. Based on 24 reviews. Get it now Searching for streaming and purchasing options Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. Get it now on Searching for streaming and purchasing options A lot or a little? The parents' guide to what's in this book. What parents need to know Parents need to know that Esperanza Rising is an award-winning work of historical fiction that chronicles the life a Mexican migrant farmworker in the s.
Continue reading Show less. Stay up to date on new reviews. Get full reviews, ratings, and advice delivered weekly to your inbox. User Reviews Parents say Kids say. Parent of a 11 year old Written by denise48 June 10, This book gives you an insight of the struggles that people from other countries have when they come to America. It makes you appreciate what you have. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces.
When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances--Mama's life, and her own, depend on it. Paperback , pages. Published September 27th by Scholastic, Inc. Aguascalientes Mexico California United States. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
To ask other readers questions about Esperanza Rising , please sign up. Why are we soon going to like Marta? Have a 9 year old granddaughter - not sure if she is too you - she is a new reader. Ingrid This book isn't too hard to understand so I guess this book would be alright but she should ask questions if she doesn't understand something. See all 23 questions about Esperanza Rising…. Lists with This Book. Apr 17, Michelle rated it it was amazing. I just finished this book with my class today That hasn't happened to me before with a read aloud View all 12 comments.
Mar 24, Brina rated it really liked it Shelves: I read and lesson planned this book when I student taught Spanish I to 7th and 8th graders.
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Any review I write will not do the book justice because it's been a long time and deserving of a reread. Definitely a great learning tool and Hispanic historical novel to read to middle school students. View all 6 comments. Feb 14, Whitney Price added it Shelves: My first response to this book was that I wanted it to be longer.
I wanted to read more about the relationships Ezperanza makes and to see if anything evolves between her and Miguel. I really enjoyed this book. It would be an amazing multi-cultural book to use in the classroom. It uses Spanish words and phrases but also tells you what each one means. It shows how racism is bad and how it hurts people. It shows how people should not be treated a different way just because of their background. It is not only a great story, but it teaches a great lesson.
I think this book would most likely attract teenage girls. The themes seem to be more girl orientated. I also suggest this book to children who understand racism and how it is bad. A good way to introduce this book could be during a social studies lesson about the Mexican culture or about how Hispanics come to the United States and how hard they work for a living. Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas: Family is a huge theme in this story. It shows how much one needs their family. Esperanza almost became the mother once her mom got sick.
She had to take care of two babies. She had to rely on another family to help her get through it all. Growing up is a big subject. Esperanza has to grow up fast once she reaches the United States. She had to take care of babies, do chores, watch over her mama, and she eventually goes out and works the fields.
Her character developed greatly throughout the story and by the end, you realize how much she does care for those people around her. Esperanza is the main character. She grew up as a very rich girl in Mexico, then after the death of her father, she is forced to move to the United States and live as a poor girl. Romona is her mother who has a heart of gold.
Even after she is forced to live the poor life, she still treats everyone kindly and respects everyone. Abuelita is the grandmother, and cannot go to the United States at first due to a swollen ankle she sustained in the house fire. Miguel is the son of Alfonso and Hortensia. He was a couple years older than Esperanza and they grew up together. Hortensia was the wife Alfonso, and the care taker of Esperanza.
Senor Rodriguez is an old friend who helps them escape Mexico. Marta is the trouble maker of the camp, who wants to strike, and makes fun of Esperanza. Irene and Melina are two women who live on the campsite who end up befriending Esperanza and helping her with the babies Plot summary: Esperanza lived a very rich life style in Mexico until her father is killed.
They run away to Mexico with the help of their friends, but Esperanza is afraid she will not be able to adjust to the life style of being poor and does not know how she will live without her Abuelita. Her mama gets sick and Esperanza must work to earn money to pay the bills and to save up for Abuelita to come to the United States. Her mom ends up surviving and her Abuelita finally comes to the United States with the help of her friend Miguel. Strengths including reviews and awards: Times Best Books of Drawbacks or other cautions: A huge caution could be the use of racism throughout the book.
It shows how Hispanics were looked down upon and how people did not care. It also shows how other minorities were looked down on and how they were treated unfairly and place d into crowded camps. View all 3 comments. Sep 24, Naz Read Diverse Books rated it really liked it. I adored Esperanza, her family, and their story. Apr 11, Jenny rated it really liked it.
An inspiring story of struggle, hardship, and hope, Esperanza Rising gave me and my children much to discuss. This is a great work of historical fiction for children based on the life of the author's grandmother. Esperanza, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, and her mother must leave their home in Mexico and start over as farm workers in California after the death of her father. Set in the early 's, this book gives you a feel for the struggles of the Great Depression as well as California H An inspiring story of struggle, hardship, and hope, Esperanza Rising gave me and my children much to discuss.
Set in the early 's, this book gives you a feel for the struggles of the Great Depression as well as California History. Filled with Spanish phrases and words, it's a great introduction to learning Spanish and shows many cultural aspects as well. This book is rich with ideas for great discussions on empathy, economics, labor unions, race relations, prejudice, rights, family, choices, hope, attitude, work, pride, and kindness.
Make sure you keep tissues by as you read. I don't usually cry when reading, but this book brought my tears to the surface again and again making it difficult to read aloud to my kids. It's a sweet book about hard work, love, and hope. I listened to the audiobook but I want to read it again with a paper copy at some point. Apr 13, Courtney rated it really liked it Shelves: Though Esperanza comes from a privileged background, she and her mother are forced to flee Mexico after her father dies. She must work as a farm laborer despite her upbringing and education in southern California during the Great Depression.
Esperanza Rising Book Review
The characterization is lovely; they are well rounded with realistic concerns and struggles. This novel illuminates the unique plight of Mexican-American laborers during the Great Depression, including forced deportation, labor strikes, competition from th Though Esperanza comes from a privileged background, she and her mother are forced to flee Mexico after her father dies.
This novel illuminates the unique plight of Mexican-American laborers during the Great Depression, including forced deportation, labor strikes, competition from the Dust Bowl "Okies," profound discrimination, and horrific living conditions.
View all 5 comments. Jan 03, S rated it it was ok. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was, I suppose, a good educational read: It covers very difficult issues of race, class difference, child labor and death with tact and a certain amount of gentleness. But overall after I was finished I could not help but be faced with the difficult feeling that Esparanza, while being an incredibly strong young woman and a good role model in that sense, often overlooks the immorality and unfairness of her situation in order This book was, I suppose, a good educational read: But overall after I was finished I could not help but be faced with the difficult feeling that Esparanza, while being an incredibly strong young woman and a good role model in that sense, often overlooks the immorality and unfairness of her situation in order to continue living and doing what she has to do.
I mean, that's a totally valid theme and it's in many ways honorable of her but given the horrible situation she's in, there are a lot of questions that arise. Esparanza is a year old pulled out of school, subjected to backbreaking and agonizing child labor and essentially orphaned.
This is a terrible situation for a child to be in, but the close of the book lauds Esparanza for the great, strong person that she has become for her hard work. She knows how to cook now! She knows how to work hard instead of being pampered! She no longer has any selfish wants or needs! If Esperanza were 18 or even 16 that sort of might fly, but the fact of the matter is that she is She should not be in that situation and there is very little outrage towards the fact that she's in it. What makes it so especially questionable is the way that the strikers were portrayed.
They were demonized--Marta, the main girl who attempts to lead the strikes and revolts? I think that's her name is looked at as Esperanza's opposite. Lazy, mean-spirited, angry, and violent. And later she is punished for her sins. All of the strikers are. For standing up and saying that children should not have to work, that humane housing and sanitations conditions should be met, that everyone should be paid a living wage.
They are all arrested and deported, and afterwards Esparanza and her family are safe, saying, "We are loyal to the company, so the company takes care of us. Where is the company when the dust storms happen and the workers are trapped in the blistering wind? Where is the company when the children have blistered hands form peeling starchy potatoes? Where is the company when Esperanza's mother nearly dies because of horrible working conditions and Esperanza is forced to pay for her medical bills?
In fact, every time that there is a fight in the book and the battle between working and dealing with unfairness vs. I'm really not comfortable with the fact that the main themes of the book seem to be: And yet she has learned to be happy with that. I'm sorry, but I'm not.
View all 11 comments.
Parents say
Jan 13, Xueting rated it it was amazing Shelves: What a beautiful and beautifully simple story! I love the angles of perspective, the rich culture and largely ignored history of the Mexican repatriation, that the author explores. It's even better to learn that the author based the story largely on very true events of her grandmother's time. Esperanza is a lovely young heroine who matures so believably and admirably. I really like that she started as a pretty ignorant, hot-tempered and slightly spoiled child, so we can see that the Mexicans don What a beautiful and beautifully simple story!
I really like that she started as a pretty ignorant, hot-tempered and slightly spoiled child, so we can see that the Mexicans don't all suffer and have tragic pasts, they also have wonderful memories of comfort not luxury but happy times. The Spanish in the book didn't hurt at all too, helped me to learn a bit more. Can't wait to read more from this author!!! You must be patient, Esperanza. The 1st book was the awesome Echo.