Esperanza Rising

 

 

 

Esperanza Rising

Ryan, P.M.  (2000).  Esperanza Rising.  Austin, Tx.: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

This book won the Pura Beltre Award for the year 2000.

Esperanza was born and raised on the beautiful El Rancho de las Rosas, the vineyard owned by her parents, in Mexico.  The day before her 13th birthday, banditos robbed and killed her father.  Her step-uncle Luis was the banker and took control of the land where the house and vineyards stood.  Luis want to marry Esperanza's mother and would not allow her to have control of her money.  She refused so he burned the house and vineyard.  Mama had no income and no house to stay in.  Mama decided to go to America to work as a migrant worker in California.  They had to be very careful not to allow Luis to catch them before they left Mexico, so they hid in a fake panel of a wagon all the way to the train station.  They did not ride in comfort like Esperanza wanted, but mama said they didn't have the money for it.  Esperanza had to learn

many things before she could fit into her new life style.  Among the many jobs she had to learn were to cook, wash clothing, take care of children, work in the packing house, sweep and be humbled.  After mama got sick, she had to work along with her relatives and former servants to keep mama alive in the hospital.  After 3 months in the hospital, mama finally got to come home and about the same time, Miguel brought Abuelita to them in California.  Mama was so happy and I believe Esperanza and Miguel eventually married and had a family in California.

I really liked this book.  I was afraid for Ezperanza and her mother when Luis tried to bully them into doing what he wanted.  Setting the fire was an act of cowardice on his part, it didn't make him any better in my eyes.  He could have killed someone and probably felt no remorse.  I was really happy that they got away from him.