BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2000. Esperanza Rising. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN-10: 043912042X ISBN-13: 978-0439120425
PLOT SUMMARY
Esparanza, mi reina (my queen), is a privileged Mexican girl living on a grape vineyard ranch, El Rancho de las Rosas. When her father is killed, their home burns to the ground and her uncle tries to force her mother to marry him, so he can take over the ranch. This forces Esparanza, her mother and servants to leave their beloved home and flee to America to become migrant workers in California. A story of riches-to-rags that is about growing up during the depression, realizing what is truly important, learning to be courageous, and the love of family and friends. Esparanza Rising means hope rising.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Esparanza Rising is a historical fiction story based on Pam Munoz Ryan’s grandmother. Ryan includes her family ancestral and historical information, which adds authenticity to the family’s story of struggles and survival. This allows the reader to learn about this time period in our history and that people really did experience the trials and tribulations of being a migrant worker.
The Mexicans left their home country to move North in the hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families. This theme is evident throughout the story on how people will do whatever it takes to provide for their families. Esparanza, who has always had servants, her loving parents, her Abuelita (grandmother) and the security of wealth, is thrust into a shocking reality of what it takes to survive. She is surprised at the strength of her mother. The willingness of her mother to work as hard as the servants with whom she grew up, allows her to see a side of her mother she never knew. Esparanza must also learn to help out with the family by watching the babies, cooking, doing laundry, sweeping and eventually working in the fields when her mother becomes ill and she needs money to pay for her hospital costs. She realizes that she also has strengths that she did not know she possessed. Her father told her that the land breathes and lives. “Did you know that when you lie down on the land, you can feel it breathe? That you can feel its heart beating?” (Ryan, pg. 1) Esparanza didn’t fully realize the lesson her father was talking about until the end of the story when she understood how important the land is in providing what you need for survival. In the end, she was able to hear the heart beat of the land and know that hope was alive, through hard work and the love of family and friends.
The Mexican culture was prevalent throughout the story. Each is in Spanish with the English subtitle. Chapter Two is Las Uvas – Grapes. This is a wonderful way of introducing Spanish words into this story. The story included many Spanish words and phrases that capture the Hispanic culture. Papi (father), Abuelita (grandmother), mi reina (my queen) as Miguel called Esparanza, mi nieta (my granddaughter), ribozo (a blanket shawl), Quinceañeras (presentation party when a girl turns 15), “¡La cosecha!” (harvest) and many more. Several references to foods that are common in the Hispanic culture for example un barrito de frijols, which is a bean burrito. Homemade tortillas, almond flan and Hibiscus Flower Punch are delights for which the author includes the recipe at the end of the book. Clothing, black hair and the way it was worn in braids for workers and buns for privilege women, big brown eyes, skin color and clothing portray the Hispanic culture. The names of the characters are also in keeping with Hispanic people - Esperanza, Isabel, Miguel, Josefina, Juan, and Marta to name a few.
The importance of family was very evident throughout the story and was stressed with how the people all come together to help each other. This is a great lesson for the reader to learn about how the Hispanic culture puts family and community survival first, by showing how families in the migrant camps depend on each family member to contribute to the family caring for siblings, helping with chores or working in the fields. Esparanza transforms from a privileged, pampered child into a courageous, responsible young adult.
Other important issues that were introduced were cultural differences - racism, exploitation of migrant workers and the angers that rise from these issues. The living conditions were meager and unfair when the Oklahomans (whites) came to work the fields. They were provided housing with running water, which the Mexicans didn’t have. Also, the Oklahomans were willing to work for much less than what the Mexican workers were being paid, which then caused concern on how to make ends meet and the possibility of losing their jobs to workers who were willing to work for less. The reference to the Mexicans that they were dirty, unskilled, only good for manual labor was made without regard for the fact that many of them were educated in Mexico as trained professionals.
This is a wonderful story, full of courage, hope and survival. Esparanza has grown into a confident young woman. Here is her birthday song that her father sang to her in the beginning and the men of the farm sang to her in the end. Hope rising is Esparanza’s story of her survival, growth and importance of family no matter where you find yourself.
Las Mañanitas, The Birthday Song
“Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el Rey David
a las muchachas bonitas; se las cantamos aqui.
Despierta, mi bien, despierta. Mira que ya amaneció.
Ya los pajaritos cantan, la luna ya se metió.
These are the morning songs which King David used to sing
To all the pretty girls; we sing them here to you.
Awake, my beloved, awake. See, it is already dawn.
The birds are already singing, the moon has already gone.”
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly
"With a hint of magical realism, this robust novel set in 1930 captures a Mexican girl's fall from riches and her immigration to California," said PW in our Best Books citation. Ages 8-12. (June)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-Ryan uses the experiences of her own Mexican grandmother as the basis for this compelling story of immigration and assimilation, not only to a new country but also into a different social class. Esperanza's expectation that her 13th birthday will be celebrated with all the material pleasures and folk elements of her previous years is shattered when her father is murdered by bandits. His powerful stepbrothers then hold her mother as a social and economic hostage, wanting to force her remarriage to one of them, and go so far as to burn down the family home. Esperanza's mother then decides to join the cook and gardener and their son as they move to the United States and work in California's agricultural industry. They embark on a new way of life, away from the uncles, and Esperanza unwillingly enters a world where she is no longer a princess but a worker. 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. Except for the evil uncles, all of the characters are rounded, their motives genuine, with class issues honestly portrayed. Easy to booktalk, useful in classroom discussions, and accessible as pleasure reading, this well-written novel belongs in all collections.
Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Moving from a Mexican ranch to the company labor camps of California, Ryan's lyrical novel manages the contradictory: a story of migration and movement deeply rooted in the earth. When 14-year-old Esperanza's father is killed, she and her mother must emigrate to the U.S., where a family of former ranch workers has helped them find jobs in the agricultural labor camps. Coming from such privilege, Esperanza is ill prepared for the hard work and difficult conditions she now faces. She quickly learns household chores, though, and when her mother falls ill, she works packing produce until she makes enough money to bring her beloved abuelita to the U.S.. Set during the Great Depression, the story weaves cultural, economic, and political unrest into Esperanza's poignant tale of growing up: she witnesses strikes, government sweeps, and deep injustice while finding strength and love in her family and romance with a childhood friend. The symbolism is heavy-handed, as when Esperanza ominously pricks her finger on a rose thorne just before her father is killed. But Ryan writes movingly in clear, poetic language that children will sink into, and the books offers excellent opportunities for discussion and curriculum support. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Awards/Honors
Pura Belpré Medal
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
The Willa Cather Award
Americas Award Honor Book
ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year
NY Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
IRA Notable Book for a Global Society
NCSS Notable Book for Young People
Jefferson Cup Award Worthy of Note
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
Smithsonian Best Book of the Year
Southern California Judy Lopez Memorial Award
Arizona Young Adult Book Award
Nominee for 16 state young reader awards
Julia Lopez Memorial Award Winner
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
CONNECTIONS
Check out Pam Munoz Ryan's Website:
http://www.pammunozryan.com/
There are some wonderful discussion questions at the end of the book.
It would also be fun to map Esparanzas journey from Mexico to California.
Esparanza also counts how much time passed in crops instead of months. Research what crops are grown in your area and the seasons they are harvested. Make a calendar for your area by seasons of the crops.
Have someone come and teach the class how to make homemade tortillas and then using beans have un barrito de frijols and Hibiscus Flower Punch. (Recipe for the punch at the end of the book)
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