Module 3 cont: Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

published in 2000, by Scholastic (New York).

Winner of the 2002 Pura Bulpre Award.

Summary

Set in 1930, Esperanza is a wealthy teenager living in Mexico until her father is killed by bandits.  Esperanza and her mother are then forced to flee the influence of her corrupt uncles.  They flee to California with three former servants and live by picking produce for a farm.  Esperanza learns how to deal with the loss of her father and her previous luxurious life.  

Impressions

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book.  I feel like it helped increase my understanding of the Great Depression even though I am well aware of stories like The Grapes of Wrath and Out of the Dust.  I honestly didn't know that there were other ethnic groups struggling to work and survive in California--I thought it was just the "Okies".  I also didn't know that many Mexicans and Mexican Americans were deported to Mexico for "causing trouble" by striking for better living conditions and wages.  I feel that this is a great book to help learn some history.  However, I felt Esperanza did not act her age; she acted more like she was 9 instead of 13.  I also felt that Ryan got a tad bit preachy about the discrimination, which she didn't have to do because her writing and her story were effective enough without it. 

Reviews

"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...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."-Francisca Goldsmith (2000), Berkeley Public Library, CA, Cahners Business Information. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.

"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 thorn just before her father is killed. But Ryan writes movingly in clear, poetic language that children will sink into, and the books offers excellent opportunities for discussion and curriculum support. --Gillian Engberg. (2000). Booklist. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.

Uses 

Not only would this book be great to use in a mother/daughter book group, but I would love to see this used paired with Grapes of Wrath for an adult book club.  It would be great to compare the two novels.  I will in no way say that Esperanza Rising is on the same level of Steinbeck's masterpiece, but I do believe that reading the two together and discussing them together can help make each novel more complete.  I think it would be great to discuss how the various people were treated by others, and why the people were treated this way.  Then end by serving peaches (for Esperanza Rising) and milk (for Grapes of Wrath).