ESPERANZA RISING
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Munoz Ryan, P., & Ryan, P. M. (2002). Esperanza Rising. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0439120425
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Esperanza thought she'd always live a privileged life on her family's ranch in Mexico. She'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home filled with servants, and Mama, Papa, and Abuelita to care for her. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard work, financial struggles brought on by the Great Depression, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When Mama gets sick and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances--because Mama's life, and her own, depend on it.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS( INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Set in the late 20’s and early 30’s, Ryan’s somewhat factionalized, yet true account of Esperanza and her mother’s account of their lives in Mexico and subsequent lives in the United States sheds light on many cultural markers, including vast differences in cultures among their own race.
When Esperanza is in Mexico, the wealthy family owns vast amounts of land in which her father grows grapes. Esperanza’s grandmother also lives with them as many traditional Mexican families allow. Even though Esperanza’s family is well-to-do, however, they are fair to their workers and treat them like family. Ryan beautifully illustrates the traditions with fiestas, mañanitas (birthday song), and typical Mexican foods. When Esperanza’s father is murdered, she and her mother are forced to flee to the United States in order to escape their uncle’s threat to make their lives miserable lest Esperanza’s mother marries him. This forces a change not only in their way of thinking, but also in their culture. On the train to California, Esperanza’s mother is talking to one of the passengers, a very materialistically poor, yet spiritually rich person and relates her story to her. Esperanza takes an unusual tone to her mother as she reproaches her for revealing too much to a “peasant.” Her mother states, “It’s all right, Espearanza, because we are now peasants, too.” Throughout the story, Esperanza learns to live with, endure, and overcome hardships that included her mother’s near-death encounter with a deadly illness, and having to learn to perform tasks such as sweeping, cooking, and changing diapers. She also faced discrimination and racism, both of which are unfortunately still alive and well to this day.
The author shows how language, which is a crucial component of every culture, is used not only for communication, but also for emphasizing points that regular words can’t express. For example, Esperanza 's response to Miguel' s question was: Aguantate tantito y la fruta caerá en tus manos. (Wait a little while and the fruit will fall into your hands.). This is a more powerful way of saying “be patient.” These sayings along with the art of code switching (alternating between languages while talking to someone) are things that are practiced almost everyday.
This is an excellent book that is appropriate for elementary-aged students and older. Students will enjoy reading and possibly relating to the struggles Esperanza and her mother endured to achieve a better life.
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Pura Belpré Award Winner
Américas Award Honor Book
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner
Willa Cather Award Winner
Publishers Weekly: "Told in a lyrical, fairy tale-like style . . . Readers will be swept up."
School Library Journal:"This well-written novel belongs in all collections."
Booklist: “Ryan writes a moving story in clear, poetic language that children will sink into, and the book offers excellent opportunities for discussion and curriculum support."
Kirkus Reviews :"Ryan's... style is engaging, her characters appealing, and her story is one that-though a deep-rooted part of the history of California, the Depression, and thus the nation-is little heard in children's fiction. It bears telling to a wider audience."
E. CONNECTIONS
***Students can compare and contrast Esperanza’s life in Mexico and her life in California.
***Students can research Cesar Chavez and the strikes he organized and draw parallels to the situation Esperanza lived in.
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