Summary:
The story begins with a poignant moment between a vineyard owner and his young daughter listening the heartbeat of the land. Fast forward a few years later, and we learn that this young lady is now preparing for the grand celebration of her birthday. She loves the world of El Rancho de las Rosas, and the opulence in which she lives, but most of all, she loves her father. Sadly, that very night, her father is killed by bandits and after being threatened and pressured by Esperanza's uncles, she and her mother decide to immigrate to America with a family that used to be their servants. Esperanza is now living in a migrant camp for Mexican workers who bring in the crops of American farmers. Much of the book focuses on her attempts to overcome her spoiled nature and sense of entitlement that came from the way in which she was raised. However, she is able to find happiness in her new life and find out the amazing strength which she possesses. The book closes with a lovely bookend. Esperanza had not been able to hear the heartbeat of the earth after the death of her beloved father, but by the end of the book she is able to hear it once again.
My Evaluation:
I enjoyed this book not only because of the wonderful evolution of the main protagonist, Esperanza, but because of the focus it gives to a piece of our history that is often forgotten. The Grapes of Wrath gave attention to the plight of "Okies" during the Great Depression, but what about the other migrant workers? Esperanza Rising gives us a glimpse at the plight faced by many Mexican workers. Furthermore, we are given a glimpse into the extreme prejudice faced by those of mixed Spanish and Native American lineage. As Americans we learn of the horrific slavery faced by African Americans, but I appreciate Ryan teaching children of the prejudice faced by our neighbors in Mexico. The themes in this book also are wonderful lessons for our children. Just as Esperanza realized that possessions are not the things that matter in this world, we too should remember this important fact. Furthermore, Esperanza learned that she had to find her own happiness rather than waiting for it to be given to her. It is no surprise that this is an award winning book when you consider the depth, wonderful themes, and the captivating story.
Reviews:
Engberg, G. (2000). Booklist Review of Esperanza Rising. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Esperanza-Rising-Pam-Muoz-Ryan/pid=440263
Moving from a Mexican ranch to the company labor camps of California, Ryan’s lyrical novel manages the contradictory: a story of migration and movement deeply rooted in the earth. When 14-year-old Esperanza’s father is killed, she and her mother must emigrate to the U.S., where a family of former ranch workers has helped them find jobs in the agricultural labor camps. Coming from such privilege, Esperanza is ill prepared for the hard work and difficult conditions she now faces. She quickly learns household chores, though, and when her mother falls ill, she works packing produce until she makes enough money to bring her beloved abuelita to the U.S.. 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. But Ryan writes movingly in clear, poetic language that children will sink into, and the books offers excellent opportunities for discussion and curriculum support.
Ransom, J. (2011, July 14). Re: Thursday's Book Review: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan [Web Log Message]. Retrieved from http://galleryofportraits.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/thursdays-book-review-esperanza-rising-by-pam-munoz-ryan/
Drawing on her own family history, Pam Munoz Ryan tells the story of a young Mexican girl, Esperanza, living during the time of the Great Depression in America. She is the cherished daughter of a wealthypadrone, and lives in luxury and ease until political upheaval and the greed of her own step-uncles rob Esperanza of both her father and her wealth, and send her fleeing to California with her mother for safety.
Esperanza quickly learns that America is not the answer to all her problems. Nor does it provide the new life Miguel, her friend and former servant, hopes for. There is still the vast divide between rich and poor, only now those inequalities are compounded by differences in language and race. Ryan wields these issues deftly. They never become oppressive or political. She keeps everything true to what Esperanza sees and experiences.
Esperanza is the perfect representative for the plight of the poor laborer. She is incredibly wealthy before her troubles begin, so she experiences what it means to be poor for the first time, and we see it through her eyes. It is a rag to riches story in reverse. And it does not end with an easy answer. Only the reassurance that life’s most important riches are family, friends, the fruit of the land, and the power of hope.
My Suggestions for Use in a Library Setting:
I would use Esperanza Rising in a public library setting by having an entire Saturday devoted to exploring life in the 1930's for children. It would be a big event with the types of food children would have eaten, games they would have played, and books they would have read. I would read an excerpt of Esperanza Rising to illustrate what life was like for migrant workers. The book would also be included on a list of books that illustrate life in the 1930's that would be given to the children and their parents who attended the event.
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