Esperanza Rising

Ryan, P. M. (2000). Esperanza rising.  New York: Scholastic.

 Book Summary

Esperanza was a young girl of wealth living in a ranch in Mexico, with her loving mother and father. Tragedy strikes when her father is killed by bandits and her cruel uncles take over the ranch. When one tries to force her mother into marrying him, Esperanza and her mother escape with some of the family’s old servants to America. Unfortunately, they have to leave Esperanza’s grandmother behind. When they reach America, they become migrant workers living on a large working farm in California. As a girl of wealth, Esperanza is not prepared for the hard work of the farm, or even just keeping a house on her own. Her mother, while strong, also suffers from health problems because of the severe dust storms. Esperanza grows as she lives through these difficult times and becomes stronger as she supports her mother and saves to bring her grandmother to live with them in America. 

Impressions

Ryan presents a compelling historical novel that focuses on the experiences of Mexicans coming to America. While it’s a positive novel, there’s plenty of hardship and growth. Although it’s focused on a Mexican-American experience, the story could relate to any immigrant. It can also relate to young girls who are growing out of childhood into adolescence. Esperanza handles the trials very well for a young girl who went from a life of luxury to one of struggles and difficulty. In the midst of these trials, she is also getting older and becoming a young woman; she’s having to deal with the emotions that come with that life change as well as her forced life change. Ryan presents several adult struggles and while Esperanza reacts true to her character and age, which keeps the book applicable to its younger readers.

Professional Review

“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.”

Goldsmith, F. (2000, October 1). School Library Journal

Library Uses

This would be a great book for use in a Latin celebration program or even a program concerning the history of migrant workers in America. If the library has a book club for younger readers, this would lead to a good discussion about the history of racial tension in America and the struggles of field workers.