Esperanza Rising

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Esperanza Rising (ISBN 0-439-12042-X) was written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and published in 2000.

Set in the time of the Great Depression, this book is about a wealthy Mexican family who suddenly goes broke and is forced to move to California for work. In the year of 1939, a wealthy Mexican family has all they could possibly need. They also live on a ranch: El Rancho de la Rosas, (translated "The Ranch of Roses") However, things go horribly wrong when Esperanza's (the main character) mother is forced to marry her husband's brother, Tio Luis, after his death (possibly by bandits) Soon after, they plan to get train tickets to go to southern California in order for work, in order not to be broken up. Then one night, their house catches fire, and everyone manages to get out safely, but their ranch is gone. Her grandmother, however was injured and will not be able to go with them at the time. As they arrive in California, they are forced to live in separate camps dividing the races. They live with Hortensia's family in a work camp. As everyone tries to adjust to their new lives, Esperanza doesn't accept the fact that they are not rich anymore. Everyone will have to do their share of the work, no matter how little it pays. The adults work in the sheds picking or cleaning the crops, and Esperanza must sweep a big platform and take care of the babies. But she doesn't know how to do those things. A little girl, Isabel shows her how to do those things. At first, Esperanza doesn't really like Isabel because of all the questions she asks, but eventually Esperanza warms up to her. During a dust storm, Esperanza's mother catches a lung disease (possibly pneumonia) and Esperanza has to take care of her mother as well as two babies. Soon, her mother is admitted to a hospital and worsens. As the months go by, Esperanza grows and matures. Her grandmother is well enough to eventually be with everyone when Esperanza's friend Miguel brings her to California. Then her mother gets better in a few months after the storm, and everyone is able to keep things the way they are. However, during the ending of the book, when Esperanza is teaching Isabel to stitch designs into cloth, as her Abuela taught Esperanza, Isabel messes up, and Esperanza ends the story with the line, "Do not be afraid to start over." And, the name Esperanza means hope!

Ryan has stated that the novel is inspired by the recollections her grandmother used to tell her about her childhood of luxury and her later experiences with hardship and endurance in California.

[edit] References

• Pam Muñoz Ryan. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.