Book Review: ESPERANZA RISING

Ryan, P.M. (2002). Esperanza rising (Audible audiobook). Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Pam_Mu%C3%B1oz_Ryan_Esperanza_Rising?id=AQAAAAARGwAbAM&hl=en_US 

Plot Summary 

Esperanza finds herself appreciating what used to be her life in Mexico, after she and her mother are forced to leave home, Mexico. After losing her father and home they have no choice but to work at a Mexican farm labor camp in the United States. As time goes by and unexpected situations arise, Esperanza finds her true self worthiness and true self. 

Critical Analysis 

I had the opportunity to listen to the unabridged audio version of Esperanza Rising through google play, which was a nice change of style of “reading”. As the story began there was brief snippet of guitar music playing in the background. There was a single narrator which made the story pleasant to listen to. She provided different voices for each character and sounded authentic providing accents. At the end of the story, Author Ryan includes an author’s note stating where the inspiration for the book came from and what characters were fiction. The characters hit close to home as I have heard stories of the hardships individuals have faced working in the fields, making the characters relatable to readers is done throughout the story. You can’t help but feel for Esperanza through her hardships within the story as the author accurately contributes to the setting and plot of the story. 

Review Excerpt (s) 

-Booklist (2000) “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.”

 -Horn Book Guide starred (2001) “In this poignant look at the realities of immigration, thirteen-year-old Esperanza, daughter of an affluent Mexican rancher, is forced to trade fancy dolls and dresses for hard work and ill-fitting hand-me-downs after her beloved father dies.”

-School Library Journal (2000) “Easy to booktalk, useful in classroom discussions, and accessible as pleasure reading, this well-written novel belongs in all collections.”

*Pura Belpre Author Award - 2002

*ALA Notable Children’s Book - 2001

*Jane Addams Children's Book Awards for Book for Older Children - 2001

Connections 

Students use a Story Map while reading the book. Story elements can include setting, characters, theme, rising action, climax, etc. This activity could be used using the following reads: 

Soto, Gary. Petty Crimes. ISBN 9780152054373

Jimenez, Francisco. Breaking Through. ISBN 9780618342488

Cushman, Karen. The ballad of Lucy Whipple. ISBN 9781328631138