Esperanza Rising
- ISBN13: 9780439120425
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Esperanza thought she’d always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico–she’d always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, & servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. 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–Ma
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Hernan Cortes (The Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Video Collection) [VHS]
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Review by Bibliotekaria for Esperanza Rising
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Pam Munoz Ryan’s ancestors lived this story, and she has done a great service to write it with such an authentic voice. She has presented a fictionalized account of her own grandmother’s fall from wealth and privilege in the aftermath of the revolution in Mexico as she immigrated to the United States to work in a Mexican farm labor camp during the Great Depression. Esperanza, the young protagonist, experiences loss, poverty, separation, prejudice, humiliation and fear on the road to her ultimate rise from the ashes in the manner of the mythical phoenix. Ryan does an excellent job of presenting the dilemma and danger of early attempts to improve the working conditions of the laborer during this period. She points out in the author’s notes the grave injustices incurred by the Mexican Deportation Act, which exceeded relocations of the Japanese-Americans during the 2nd World War and of the Native Americans of the previous century. Many of these issues of prejudice and injustice persist today. Adults who enjoy this wonderful children’s book should be sure to read “Rain of Gold,” by Villasenor.
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:39 am
Review by for Esperanza Rising
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There are many books and movies out there about young people and their families as they struggle to survive in Mexico and then in California when they decide to cast their lot with the American Dream…Esperanza has everything she could ever want or need on her father’s El Rancho de las Rosas near Aguascalientes, Mexico, when he is killed by bandits in 1924. Esperanza and her mother must flee their ranch and her evil uncles, with the help of their loyal servants. She loses every privelege she had when she crosses the river to Southern California, where she must confront her own issues of classism and work to save her mother’s life. Very exciting book! The friendship between Miguel. the son of her family’s servants, helps Esperanza learn that they are equals in their newly adopted country. The author tells us that this is a fictionalized account of how her real abuelita came to the United States, which makes the story even more enjoyable. Can’t wait to have my students read this book!
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:44 am
Review by Gail Cooke for Esperanza Rising
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With a story that parallels the actual experiences of her grandmother, Pam Munoz Ryan has fashioned a moving and inspirational tale. It is ably read by the talented Trini Alvarado. Esperanza Ortega lived a privileged existence in Aguascacientes, Mexico during the early 1920s. Her luxurious family home was tended by servants, and she anticipated a lifetime of ease when she grew up and came to oversee El Rancho de las Rosas. Her dream was shattered when Esperanza and her mother were forced to leave Mexico and migrate to a company owned farm labor camp in California. Now, not only were their days defined by drudgery but many of their own people did not accept them. All of this was exacerbated by the Great Depression and its attendant economic difficulties. The plight of the migrant workers is vividly presented in this poignant novel so thoughtfully read by Ms. Alvarado.
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:26 am
Review by for Esperanza Rising
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Hello, the intent of my review to going to be different. I know there are already various reviews that describe this book. The major thing I think everyone should consider before reading this book is the content level. If you are going to purchase this book make sure to keep this in mind: The reading level of this book is very simplistic. I would suggest if you are in between grades 4-8 then this book is right for you. However, if you or the person you are purchasing this for are profecient in reading then i would only suggest this book to kids below 6th grade. Lastly, in a very blunt way i am going to state that many girls would enjoy this book. The main theme is the love between a mother and daughter. Something I think a girl could relate to. Although, I myself am a male and I was still able to enjoy this book. Thank you!
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:12 am
Review by E. R. Bird for Esperanza Rising
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Winner of the 2001 Pura Belpre Award, “Esperanza Rising” tracts the rising/falling fortunes of young Esperanza Ortega. Forced to flee her father’s grand estate in Mexico with her mother, the two make a perilous journey to America and become migrant farm workers in California. The book is a modified, “Little Princess”, with a far more realistic and satisfying ending. Characters are presented here with great delicacy. Esperanza herself must sort out her own previous prejudices, while learning to live as, in her mind, a peasant. Children reading this will fully grasp everything that Esperanza has lost while truly appreciating the Mexican proverb Ryan has placed at the book’s beginning: “The rich person is richer when he becomes poor, than the poor person when he becomes rich”.Though I appreciate much of what the book says, I had my own personal problems with the presentation. The strikers are presented as alternately foolhardy and violent. They are lead by a girl, Marta, who is introduced by teasing Esperanza for being once so rich, now so low. These strikers are never joined by any of the main characters in this book, save Marta. In the Author’s Note, Ryan explains that strikers fought for better living conditions and were sometimes shipped back to Mexico without any justification on the officials’ part. In some cases the strikers lost. “In other instances, the strong voices of many people changed some of the pitiful conditions”. Yet we do not see any evidence of this in the book. Instead, the reader is left with the very clear feeling that it is easier to be a scab like Esperanza’s friend Miguel rather than risk everything for the good of others. I know it is not the author’s intent to present this point of view, but this is unfortunately the lesson learned. After all, in a section where Esperanza fights with Miguel in a field about the hopelessness of their situation, Miguel argues that, “everything will work out”. Esperanza reacts violently, saying that this way of thinking is not productive. The obvious conclusion being drawn is that Miguel should do something about his situation. Quoth Miguel, ” `You are beginning to sound like the strikers, Esperanza’, said Miguel coldly. `There is more than one way to get what you want in this country’.” Maybe so, Miguel. But that particular way helped improve the lives of countless Latin American immigrants in America. It’s just a pity Ryan fails to acknowledge this fact in her story.
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:32 am