Sunday, September 20, 2009

Module 3: Esperanza Rising


Summary:
Esperanza is the daughter of a wealthy land owner in Mexico. She enjoys life on El Rancho De Las Rosas- going to private school, being waited on hand and foot, and planning her 15th birthday when her best friend. Then one day while out on his horse, Esperanza's father is murdered by bandits angry over wealthy landowners making too much money. When her corrupt Uncle too quickly offers to marry her Mama, Mama refuses just as fast. Esperanza's uncle believes burning down the ranch will lead to a change of heart, but it only sends the family (minus Abuelita) feeling to California in hopes of new opportunities. Life in California, however, turns out to be more difficult than expected. As Esperanza attempts to adjust to the life of a poor migrant farm worker, her mother becomes ill with "valley fever." While her mother struggles to recover in the hospital, Esperanza steps up, and grows up, as the head of the household. Working each season to save money to bring her grandmother home, Esperanza learns about the plight of the immigrant workers and fears the possibilities of a strike. She sees the other side of life from her days on El Rancho, now understanding what it's like to be standing on "the other side of the river." Esperanza's mother recovers, and is helped along by the return of Abuelita (thanks to the help of Miguel). Seeing her family together gives Esperanza hope- hope for a new life and a new future in America.

My Thoughts:
Although I have owned this book for years, it was one I had never read. While I typically find books in this style to be a bit trite (trying to hard to be "cultural"), this book was quite well done. The author's intense connection to the life of her own grandmother in Mexico and California helped bring a "realness" to the story that other authors are not always able to capture. I feel that Esperanza is a wonderful character. As a strong, yet young, female she shows that much can be accomplished with patience and perseverance. The story was engaging and fluid, moving easily to the next chapter. The author's words painted a mental picture so vivid I could almost feel the dust storm blowing by. I highly recommend this book to anyone, and hope to Book Talk this with some of our students soon.

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from School Lobrary Journal Review by Francisca Goldsmith-
"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."

Awards and Accolades-
Pura Belpre Award
Jane Addam's Children Book Award
Willa Cather Award
ALA Top Ten YA Books
LA Times Book Prize Finalist
Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year 2000

My Ideas:
This would be a simple book to Book Talk during a number of topic studies. It could be introduced for Hispanic Heritage Month, the Depression, and Immigration. The strength of the character, although young, makes this story appealing to middle schoolers. The history and perspective gained while reading would be a wonderful bonus.

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