Customer Reviews
Reads almost like a song 
2008-09-29
I did not expect this book to amaze me as much as it did. Maybe it's the fact that this is based on the true story of the author's grandmother, but this book is written with such heart and love it will set you weeping. At the same time, it's beautiful, touching, and rich in inspiration and the human spirit.
Esperanza is a girl who lives the life of a princess in Mexico. However, the fairy tale syndrome strikes her when her father dies. Her cruel uncle demands her mother marry him, so Esperanza, her mother, grandmother, and the family of trusted servants head for the boarder of the United States where their life is utterly turned around.
No longer is Esperanza a princess, but a girl who has been given the opportunity to truly find herself in a brand new and terrifying world of workers and poverty.
Maybe some people would not want this piece of history romanticized, but the author reveals a certain beauty of just how incredible these people were in what they did.
It's edgy, romantic, and thorougly inspirational. The writing is almost like poetry.
Very good book ! Good message to youth. 2008-08-13
This was simply a good read for youth or perhaps for anyone. The story sent out a message concerning discrimination, learning and coping with change, and growing and evolving into a stronger human being. Thumbs up !
Beautifully written and moving 2008-07-01
Based on her grandmother's experiences as an immigrant and a migrant worker in the 1930's. Ryan has written a beautiful and sensitive book about a young girl who is forced to flee her home and her sheltered life in Mexico to becme a migrant worker in the US.
Highly recommended!
I Liked It 
2008-06-18
"Esperanza Rising," a great book to read over the summer.This book is about a young girl whos life goes way down hill but at the end her life changes a bit but she's always with the people she loves most. If you don't like it at first give it a chance, that's what I did and I liked it alot. The book requires you imagining to be Esperanza. At the end think about what you read. It's a great book to think about at the end and see if you love it because your brain will do a little review and you will like it.
Singley, 5th grader
Enlightening 2008-05-28
We just recently listened to the the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan on. cd It has been awhile to have a book touch me and make me think like this book did. This book is based upon the stories a grandmother told her granddaughter, the author. The grandmother is Esperanza. Esperanza and her recently widowed mother make the difficult decision to leave Mexico, where they lived the lives of royalty to come to America, the land of the free. They leave with their servants who are now their equals and Esperanza learns the true meaning of "The rich take care of the rich, the poor take care of the poor". She sees firsthand the poorest of the poor giving away their food and help to those in even more need than they themselves face, and later is both giver and taker of doing just that.
*
This is the first book I have read/listened to that tells the story of the Mexican Emigrants and the hardships they faced after coming to America, where "everybody" has a chance at becoming rich. It tells how they were looked down upon because they were brown skinned and therefore must be dumb, even if in Mexico, they had had a better education and/or training than the white Americans. Reduced to rags and poor poverty like conditions, they struggled to feed their families. American born Mexicans were deported to Mexico because of setting up strikes and trying to make things better for everybody. Mexicans, who were reduced to digging and laying tracks for the railroad, even if they knew the mechanics of how the engines work and how to fix them. This is one of those subjects I have never before heard as it was not taught in the schools I attended, whether for geographical reasons (Wisconsin), or because if it isn't in the books, it didn't happen or for whatever reason.
*
My husband's great grandparents brought their family to America from Mexico, when his grandpa was a young boy. My husband's great grandfather came here to work as a railroad worker. As his grandfather has passed away, I don't know that we will ever hear what really happened when they came to America, but I can only pray that they did not face the prejudices that the people did in Esperanza Rising. I pray that whatever happened to my husband's family when they came here, that they too, like Esperanza rose above it and became stronger people because of it, not hardened and calloused, but better people because of their circumstances.
Burckhalter Elementary School 5th grade, Oakland, CA student reviews 2008-05-06
Notable Children1s Books in Paperback
Excellent Book! 2008-05-01
After having read this novel, I gained a better understanding of the hardships that people of my own culture have been experiencing for longer than I had known. I was able to completely submerge myself in the story line and create visual representations of the story events and picture them through the lenses of the different characters. The reader is able to see the progression and character development of the people most significant to the story. The language and style of the story line are in sync with the genre of the novel and accurately depict the time frame for which it is set on. Also, story does accurately portray the values and norms of the culture depicted. The language and narrative make a point to incorporate the use of the Spanish language, which make the story feel more realistic and credible. Most importantly the story line theme does make a point to bring about a relevant understanding of the problems facing this culture today as it pertained to its past. All in all, I feel this book gives much to tell of the Latino culture and the issues facing its communities in this country today. I consider the use of this book in a classroom setting because I feel students especially those that can identify with this culture will be able to draw great conversations and reflective thinking which can be transmitted in productive writing assignments.
5th Graders fall for "Esperanza Rising" 2008-04-30
The 5th grade students in an inner city school in Oakland, CA loved reading about Esperanza's "falling" fortunes and how she found the strength and hope to "rise" again. Here are some comments:
Ajanae:
The story takes place in the 1930's, during the Great Depression," in Mexico and California. It's about a girl who was very rich in Mexicao, but when she moved to California she and her mama became poor farm workers. It wasn't easy for Esperanza to learn how to be poor. One lesson she learned was how to be respectful and kind to everyone.
Brandon:
Esperanza didn't know how to do anything when she was rich; she didn't even know how to bathe herself. Esperanza learned how to do this stuff and to work hard and to become strong. I learned you have to work hard to get what you want.
Devon:
"Esperanza Rising" is about when Esperanza's father died and how she became a better person. She learned how to work hard and to treat people with more respect.
Ezekial:
Esperanza went from riches to rags. She had many servants to wait on her. She had everything she wanted like clothes and dolls. When her father died, they lost everything, even their house and land. In the end, Esperanza became strong for her father.
Jerron:
The story is about a 14 year old girl who was rich and then became poor after her father was murdered.
Esperanza went from fame and riches to being poor and dirty, but she learned to be strong.
Jorge:
Esperanza lived in Mexico on a ranch with a nice house and a Papa and Mama and servants. However, Papa was killed and Mama and Esperanza were forced to flee to California. They had to start over in a camp for immigrants and worked hard. Esperanza learns to be a better person while learning to work through overcoming her laziness and learning to be independent. They eventually survived with their children working to have a better life.
Shalonn:
Esperanza and her mother had to leave their big ranch in Mexico and move to California. She no longer had a house as she now lived in a cabin with no hot water and no bathroom. She had to learn to respect poor people and she had to learn how to play with poor children. She became strong and hopeful, and she learned how to be kind to other people.
Excellent Book! 2008-04-28
This chapter book tells the riveting tale of a young girl who endures challenge after challenge as her life takes a complete turn. The determination that Esperanza displays is truly commendable. As she suffers through and rises above much heartache it is hard to put the book down. The author did a wonderful job making it feel as if you are part of the family and are struggling right along with them. The selflessness that Esperanza displays to support her family and take care of her mom at such a young age is inspiring. The tight family ties keep Esperanza, her mother, their servants, and their servant's family close together through even the roughest times. This novel outlines the struggles that many Mexicans experienced during the Mexican Revolution. This story would spark many classroom conversations about family values, acceptance, and strength during the revolution.
Great for intermediate grade Lit Circles 2008-04-05
My 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students really enjoyed this book as a Lit Circle selection. They had lively discussions, and were eager to "read on". Afterward, they asked if there were any sequels. It was a bit more popular with the girls than the boys. I will use this book again with students.
