Esperanza Rising | Pam Munoz Ryan | Great for intermediate grade Lit Circles

Esperanza Rising | Pam Munoz Ryan | Excellent Book!

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Esperanza Rising

	Esperanza Rising Pam Munoz Ryan Blue Sky Press, 2002 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 314 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great for intermediate grade Lit Circles

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.

Excellent Book!

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.

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Excellent Book!

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.

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5th Graders fall for "Esperanza Rising"

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.

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Esperanza Rising

Hope. That was what Esperanza was.

Esperanza came from a wealthy family that lived in Mexico in 1924. She loved her family very much and helped her parents if they needed any help with anything. One devastating day, a horrible event happened and Esperanza had to move to California and start a new life. Once she moves to California her madre (mother) and Esperanza have to become farm workers. Esperanza has never worked in her life for anybody or anything so it was a new life for her. Little did Esperanza know her uncles wanted a ranch for themselves and her mother wanted it also. Esperanza's uncle asks for her mothers hand in marriage so they can both share the ranch. But Esperanza's uncle was seeking revenge so he burnt down the house. While they burn down the house the uncle hurts Esperanza's Abuelita (grandmother). Esperanza's family goes down to California to work and her mother has became ill and Esperanza has to take care of the bills because she is in the hospital. Esperanza went through alot and that is why her name is "hope" in Spanish.

I think this book is great for ages 9 to 14 because it's about a girl who can take on anything and still has hope. I thought this book was interesting and I liked how long it was. Even though the font was big I still liked it.

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