Esperanza Rising

Title: Esperanza Rising 

Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan
# of Pages: 262

Published by: Scholastic (May 1, 2002)
Age Range: 8+
Grade level: 6-7

In this book Esperanza must learn to live a new life as a poor migrant in California after her after is killed and her nice home is destroyed in mexico. Esperanza is forced to rise above the cruel treatment of her uncles, who have ruined her life. She must learn how to adjust to becoming a migrant worker, when she has always been the daughter of a rich and powerful family in Mexico. On the eve of her thirteenth birthday, Esperanza's father is murdered. Mama refuses to move to California. But when their house burns down they don't have any other option. Mama is forced to marry Tío Luis to escape from Mexico. Mama and Esperanza leave for California in the middle of the night. They must leave their grandma, Abuelita behind because she is injured. Their new house is small and duty with a lot of people living in it. Esperanza learns the discrimination that Mexicans face in the United States. Mama gets very sick in a dust storm and is in the hospital for a little while. When Mama gets home from the hospital they plan to use their saved money to bring Abuelita home, but Migues has taken their money. Esperanza is very mad. It turns out that Miguel brought Abuelita to California! Esperanza realizes that there is hope in the new land!  On her fourteenth birthday, she is grateful for all that she has! 

This book teaches a lot about the cultures of both Mexico and America. It also discusses the current discrimination that is going on and the force of labor towards immigrants. This book has accurate details and facts but also portrays a plot. This makes for a wonderful read! Students may have questions after reading it though. But I love this book and would recommend it to anyone! 

Classroom Activities and Lesson Ideas: 

• Teach about the culture
• Explain Migrant workers
• Teacher's Guide
• Literature Circle Activities

Here's the book trailer: