Esperanza rising what is it about

Reviewed by : JF. Trade Paperback. CRITICS HAVE SAID Set against the multiethnic, labor-organizing era of the Depression, the story of Esperanza remaking herself is satisfyingly complete, including dire illness and a difficult romance… Easy to booktalk, useful in classroom discussions, and accessible as pleasure reading, this well-written novel belongs in all collections.

School Library Journal. Al Capone Does My Shirts. Putnam, Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. Delacorte, Cushman, Karen.

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. Clarion, English, Karen. Farrar, 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!!! Apr 13, Courtney rated it really liked it Shelves: favorites , childrens , young-adult , booktalk-this , multicultural-fiction. 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. 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. Marvelous historical fiction!

View all 5 comments. Feb 24, Manybooks rated it liked it Shelves: historical-fiction , cinderella-like , book-reviews , childrens-literature , immigration-moving , farming. For one, there is not nearly enough character development presented even with regard to the main characters, even for Esperanza, her mother and indeed their former housekeeper Hortensia and in particular her son and Esperanza's possible love interest Miguel, and for two, in many ways Esperanza Rising presents a too obviously and stereotypically fairytale like division of good versus evil with especially Esperanza's Mexican paternal uncles reminding me rather over-strongly of classic cardboard like villains.

Two and a half stars, but rounded up to three stars, as Esperanza Rising is not in any manner majorly problematic or inappropriate, just not narrationally developed enough for my personal reading requirements and tastes!

Feb 10, Elaine rated it it was amazing Shelves: latino-a-american. Wow what a powerfull story. Need I say that I spent an hour in tears as I was reading the book. Woke up with puffy eyes the next day. Unfortunately students only get to experience the Grapes of Wrath in high school.

How marvelous would it be to also introduce them to Esperanza Rising, perhaps as part of an immigration unit and then have them analyze the different experiences of these two groups, the "Oakies" and the Mexican immigrants. I was so moved by the selfless act of Ramona to give up all t Wow what a powerfull story. I was so moved by the selfless act of Ramona to give up all that she was accustomed to, all the luxuries, all the wealth in order to set a positive example for her daughter. How difficult it must have been for her.

This was probably why it took her so long to recover from her illness. I was so scared that Esperanza would lose her too, and quite honestly I would have been a wreck if that would have happened. Pam Munoz Ryan does such an excellent job of painting the setting in your mind and in developing each of the characters. At the beginning of the book Esperanza was a little girl and in only a few short months she developed and matured into a woman.

A woman who finally realized what was important in life. I was thrilled to read the author's note to discover that in real life Esperanza and "Miguel" married. The perfect ending to a wonderfully written story. Nov 01, Catherine rated it did not like it Shelves: young-adult. I wanted to like this book, but I struggled with liking the characters. There was not one character I really cared about. I found I cared more about the roses they were transplanting than the people who were transplanted.

I did like the growth I saw in Esperanza. This story was too didactic. Munoz didn't trust her reader enough to figure out what was right; she felt she had to tell them. She also had too many plot lines going that seemed to go nowhere at all.

Murdered father, greedy and mean unc I wanted to like this book, but I struggled with liking the characters. Murdered father, greedy and mean uncles wanting to marry mom and send child away, illegal immigration, mom in hospital, boy she likes but talks down to, strike and work unfairness, dust storms, Oakies coming to take their jobs, racism, etc - not one of which was addressed adequately. I felt like this story was all over the place. This seemed like a watered-down, rose-colored glasses Grapes of Wrath.

Did the family end up okay? They now have a new mouth to feed and limited jobs, but everything will be okay? A thirteen year old girl would not have made enough money during that time period to pay her mother's hospital bills, support herself, and save money to bring Grandma to California - too unrealistic.

Mar 16, Kelsey rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: This book was wonderful! I started reading it a while ago, but stopped because I thought it was too sad. I was at the part about the papayas I just picked it up again and couldn't put it down! This was, by far, one of the best books I've ever read! View all 6 comments.

I really enjoyed this story about young Esperanza, whose life is turned upside down after her father's death. Going from a privileged, comfortable life in Mexico on her father's ranch, or a difficult, hard life in California, Esperanza starts out naive and entitled, but undergoes tremendous growth and strength of character by the end of this novel. Plus, I got to learn a little about Mexican workers in California around the Depression: the racism they encountered, their efforts to gain better ri I really enjoyed this story about young Esperanza, whose life is turned upside down after her father's death.

Plus, I got to learn a little about Mexican workers in California around the Depression: the racism they encountered, their efforts to gain better rights, and forced deportations by the Californian government in response to these workers attempts to organize.

View 2 comments. It is a riches to rags story. She is age thirteen at the start of the novel. The tragedies are kept at arms-length, though the author does not shy away from portraying the prejudice and deprivations experienced by migrant workers of Mexican descent.

It depicts how life can change, and how it is better to adapt than dwell in the past. The young protagonist experiences character growth brought on by hardships and learns some valuable life lessons along the way.

I listened to the audio book, beautifully performed by Trini Alvarado. She articulates well, pronounces the Spanish accurately, and provides a specific voice to each character. Adults may want a little more grit and in-depth examination of the labor issues, but I think it will appeal to young readers, middle grade and higher.

Apr 13, Moonkiszt rated it really liked it Shelves: historical-north-american , comin-of-age , we-are-family , encroachment-displacement , gutsy-gals , geo-south-america , trippin-wheels-wings-feet-rudders , grow-old-gracefully , social-system-failure. I enjoyed this story, as it brought me to a different perspective about migrations from Mexico than I have had about the past.

I just never thought much about it. I love Grapes of Wrath and have read that, and Cannery Row, and similar tales of the migrations. This YA book had me thinking about other cultures, and the underlying reasons for their needs to flee a homeland.

When I read books like this, I am reminded that I am a I enjoyed this story, as it brought me to a different perspective about migrations from Mexico than I have had about the past. I started bona fide kindergarten no such thing as pre-school in those days in the early 60's and finished high school mid's, and there weren't books like this that I was aware of, and I was a faithful library goin' kid.

I would have loved this book, as I do now. I just wish I had read it earlier. It is clear the books - especially school books - that got in my hands were the stories that I was "supposed" to read. And I was raised in So. California, in the LA school district - you'd think there would be plenty of stories available about our southern neighbor. Full description. Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record! She has written over twenty-five picture books, novels, and nonfiction books for young readers.

She also won a Kirkus Prize in the children's literature category with her title 'Echo'. Go to Downloadable eBook Here. Our building is currently open for pick-up of materials , 45 minute computer sessions, and browsing of materials. The striking workers encounter more difficulty, because the cotton fields where they were working have been ruined by the storm, and they will now have no work.

A month passes, and Mama is now very ill. A doctor tells the family that she has Valley Fever, and her lungs are infected by dust spores from the storm. When winter comes and Mama begins to have trouble breathing, she goes to the hospital. Esperanza now has no choice but to work to earn money for herself and Mama, and for Abuelita to join them in California. Esperanza visits her mother every weekend, but Mama is still sick and depressed. She contracts pneumonia, and Esperanza cannot visit her for a month.

Marta warns Esperanza and Miguel again that they may be in danger if they do not join the strikes, but the family is cheered by news that Miguel has found a good, temporary job working for the railroad. The field workers endure several days of strikers yelling and chanting at them, and placing dangerous animals and items in packing crates for the workers to find.

One day, the strikers are silent, and for good reason. Immigration officers are finding them and deporting them back to Mexico, even if they are American citizens, because they are causing trouble for the government.