English 425tttttSubmitter’s name _Whitney Price____t Book BanktttttBook Bank subject: __Group 3_Book_Reference information: Title Esperanza RisingAuthor Pam Munoz RyanPublisher Scholastic PresstYear 2000# of pages 253tGenre FictionReading leveltInterest level 13-15Potential hot lava:racismGeneral response/reaction:My first response to this book was that I wanted it to be longer. I wanted to read more about the relationships Ezperanza makes and to see if anything evolves between her and Miguel. I really enjoyed this book. It would be an amazing multi-cultural book to use in the classroom. It uses Spanish words and phrases but also tells you what each one means. It shows how racism is bad and how it hurts people. It shows how people should not be treated a different way just because of their background. It is not only a great story, but it teaches a great lesson. I think this book would most likely attract teenage girls. The themes seem to be more girl orientated. I also suggest this book to children who understand racism and how it is bad. A good way to introduce this book could be during a social studies lesson about the Mexican culture or about how Hispanics come to the United States and how hard they work for a living.Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:Family is a huge theme in this story. It shows how much one needs their family. Esperanza almost became the mother once her mom got sick. She had to take care of two babies. She had to rely on another family to help her get through it all. Growing up is a big subject. Esperanza has to grow up fast once she reaches the United States. She had to take care of babies, do chores, watch over her mama, and she eventually goes out and works the fields. Her character developed greatly throughout the story and by the end, you realize how much she does care for those people around her.Characters:Esperanza is the main character. She grew up as a very rich girl in Mexico, then after the death of her father, she is forced to move to the United States and live as a poor girl. Romona is her mother who has a heart of gold. Even after she is forced to live the poor life, she still treats everyone kindly and respects everyone. Abuelita is the grandmother, and cannot go to the United States at first due to a swollen ankle she sustained in the house fire. Miguel is the son of Alfonso and Hortensia. He was a couple years older than Esperanza and they grew up together. Alfonso is an old friend of Esperanza’s father and was in charge of all the field workers. Hortensia was the wife Alfonso, and the care taker of Esperanza. Senor Rodriguez is an old friend who helps them escape Mexico. Isabel is the cousin of Miguel and quickly becomes Esperanza’s friend in the United States. Josefine and Juan are Miguel’s aunt and uncle and arranged for them all to come to the United States and to have a place to live. Marta is the trouble maker of the camp, who wants to strike, and makes fun of Esperanza. Irene and Melina are two women who live on the campsite who end up befriending Esperanza and helping her with the babiesPlot summary:Esperanza lived a very rich life style in Mexico until her father is killed. They run away to Mexico with the help of their friends, but Esperanza is afraid she will not be able to adjust to the life style of being poor and does not know how she will live without her Abuelita. Her mama gets sick and Esperanza must work to earn money to pay the bills and to save up for Abuelita to come to the United States. Her mom ends up surviving and her Abuelita finally comes to the United States with the help of her friend Miguel.Strengths (including reviews and awards):Pura Belpre Award, 2001 ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults Smithsonian Best Books 2000Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Books 2000 L.A. Times Best Books of 2000Drawbacks or other cautions:A huge caution could be the use of racism throughout the book. It shows how Hispanics were looked down upon and how people did not care. It also shows how other minorities were looked down on and how they were treated unfairly and place d into crowded camps. Teaching ideas:•tOne idea could be based around teaching about Mexico and their different customs.•tOne could teach about the Mexican revolution and how it affected the country and all the people.•tSince fruit is a huge part of the story, you could bring in the different types of fruits and vegetables mentioned in the book.•tThey could discuss how illegal immigrants cause a strain on the economy but how helpful they can be at the same time.•tOne could have the students write a different ending to the story.•tSince family is a huge part of the story, each student could do a little presentation on their family and why they are so important.•tAs a class, you could discuss different types of strikes that have happened throughout United States history.•tA teacher could lead a discussion about racism and how it affected the United States and why it is wrong.
%warning spoiler% awsome. this book is probabably one of the best books ive read. its amazing. this book is also well writen, for example the author in some parts he uses italics when the characters are talking in spanish, he also uses a sign that i cant find in the computer, but you have a sign that tells you that a scene has changed. this book is about a girl whos name is esperanza. this girl at first is very happy because she has all her family beside her and friends. but sudenlly her dad was killed. after that she was less happy, but then things start to get worse...she has an uncle that is very bad, and makes esperanzas and her mums live impossible. first he said that esperanzas mum had to marry him or if not she will not be happy. she said no, but then uncle luis put the house on fire, so they lost everything,so esperanzas mum had to say yes to marry him...but they had a plan, they were going to escape to the united states with alfonso and hortensia who were their servantas before they lost everyhting. finally they escaped but without abuelita who was esperanzas grandmother and lived with them. they went to the united states at midnight and they had a long journey. when they arrived there they lived in a small small house it hardly had space to sleep on. here they were isabel,and the babies living with her also her mum, hortencia alfonso and other people aswel. one day while isabel was at school there was a dust storm. in this esperanzas mum got very sick and she had to go to the hospital...will she get better...well yes she actually did, although things began to get better esperanza still suffered because abuelita wasnt there with mum and her. but sudenlly miguel who was hortensias son bought abuelita, without tio luis knowing. after this things got much better and they lived happily ever after in the united stataes although they were now peasants they lived happy. and for esperanza it was very dificult to live like that after living very well, but she went over it and raised again. "rising again, with a new life ahead of us" this is a quote from the book. overall this book is amazing.
What do You think about Esperanza Rising (2002)?
This audiobook was recommended to me by the e-library and with a cover so beautiful I had to check it out. And I am glad I did.Esperanza is a young girl growing wealthy on her family winery when tragedy strikes them. Esperanza’s beloved father and caretaker is killed leaving her and her mother without protection from his evil brothers, who just want to marry the newly widowed mother and take over the estate. Instead of settling for an awful marriage of bullying and intimidation her mother packs them up and they run off into the night to try America. But when they get there they find they are one of many trying to obtain the American dream. Now a field worker Esperanza learns the lesson of life and it’s not about the things you have but the people you have with you. Esperanza grows up and sees life from new eyes.I love this story because it is a story that can give adults a tool to talk to young kids about various topics like moving, how to treat others, being a help to the family and so many more. I think the author did a great job of writing the description of places and the crops and the fields Esperanza moves to. I think this is a great read and a wonderful audiobook. The narrator was living the book and did more than just read it. I had a moment of two were I completely forgot I was listening to a children’s audiobook. I just thought I was listening to the radio or NPR.Wonderful narrator, great story, and amazing writing.
—Alysia
In Esperanza Rising we learn about the Ortega family who own a prosperous ranch in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Esperanza, the heroine of the story is the only child of the ranch owners. Misfortune comes to the family. Her father is killed just before she turns thirteen. Her greedy uncles inherit the ranch. One of her uncles, who wants to be a politican, offers to marry her mom, Ramona. Her love for her husband was so strong that the idea repulsed her. Esperanza and her mom are forced to leave their beloved Rancho de Las Rosas. They travel to California with their servants to find work in the migrant farms.Personal response: Eperanza Rising is a uplifting story of a girl who matures by facing very difficult situations in her life. The author uses metaphors and symbols throughout to add life to the story. In "rising" in the title refers to the phoenix legend of the mythical bird that arises out of its own ashes. Esperanza and Ramona rise from the fire set by her greedy uncles. The grandmother uses this story to let Esperanza understand that they too are rising to a new life in California. Abuelita also uses another metaphor where she compares the zig zag design on a blanklet to the zigzag pattern of the mountains and of life. She explains to Esperanza that life will have valleys and high points just like the mountains. Throughout the story blankets and shawls are used to represent comfort and protection. I learned that Esperanza Rising is the story of Pam Munoz Ryan grandmother.This story is very similiar to my family's story. My grandfather used to work on the California migrant farms in the early 1960's. I still remember going to visit him and stopping by the road to pick watermelons. This story brought back many memories.
—L-Angelica Herrera-Vest
Summary: Esperanza comes from a life of luxury and privilege, living on a ranch in Mexico with her parents, grandmother and servants. Then tragedy strikes and Esperanza and her family have to go to America to find work and build a new life.Since today (6-6-14)I re-read the first half of this book, I thought it fitting to write a new review.To me, re-reading one of your favorite books is like sinking into a warm bath, or drink some hot chocolate. It feels warm and cozy and comfortable, and it is
—Haley *Good friends are like stars* #Morethanmarriage
