Esperanza Rising

Title: Esperanza Rising

Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Target Age: 10-13

Genre: Historical Fiction; Multicultural Fiction

Esperanza Rising is a multicultural, historical fiction book for pre-teen readers. Esperanza lives on a ranch in Mexico with her rich family. She thought that her life would always be surrounded by big family gatherings and fancy dresses, servants, and her beautiful home. Her father's lessons on respect for the earth and respect for others aids her when tragedy strikes her family. Esperanza and her Mama have to flee to California during the Great Depression and settle in a camp for Mexican migrant workers. Financial difficulties, horrible working conditions, and rejection from others aids her in yielding the strength that is needed to survive in America as a young inexperienced immigrant. She must remain hopeful in her journey.

About the Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Pam Munoz Ryan is a Mexican American writer. She was born in Bakersfield, California in the San Joaquin Valley of California. She began writing when she was encouraged by a professor during graduate school. "It took me a number of years to make that leap of faith," she states when commenting on becoming a full time writer. She published her first picture book in 1994.

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does the character Esperanza develop throughout the book?
2. What does the statement (pg 14) "There is no rose without thorns" mean?
3. What does the Spanish word "esperanza" mean in English?
4. Why does Esperanza have to leave Mexico?
5. Compare and contrast life in Mexico to life in California.
6. What lessons of respect* does Esperanza's father teach her before he died?
7. What is the theme of Esperanza Rising
8. Does the title suit the book?

Motivational Activities:

• *Respect- Have students list lessons they have learned about respecting others and the earth. Help them organize their thoughts and present for class discussion. Use a rose petal for each lesson and create a classroom rose to resemble Esperanza's father's rose and lessons of respect.
• Create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting her life in Mexico and her life in California.
• Discuss immigration and the challenges that immigrants face in their new home. Use paired passages to stimulate learning. Ask students to create an informative essay to explain the hardships that immigrants have to overcome and the challenges they face upon moving to a different place.

Other books by Pam Munoz Ryan:

Riding Freedom

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride

Becoming Naomi León

Paint the Wind

Other books about Survival and Hope:

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan

Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

*Respect: Animated in the spirit of Jesus Christ, we value all individuals' unique talents, respect their dignity and strive to foster their commitment to excellence in our work. Our community's strength depends on the unity and diversity of our people, on the free exchange of ideas and on learning, living and working harmoniously. http://saintleolions.com/about/corevalues/index

Ryan, Pam Munoz (2000). Esperanza Rising. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.