Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Hi All!

One of the books that over the years I felt has made an impact on understanding differing cultures and immigrant struggles includes Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan.  I have read this book several times and even created a reader’s theater play to accompany the book and literature unit.

This book is about a young girl named Esperanza who grows up a wealthy child living on her family farm in Mexico. When unexpectedly her father is killed, leaving the mother in a difficult position. She must either marry her cruel brother-in-law or sneak away.  Esperanza and her mother chose to flee to America leaving the grandmother behind to follow later. The book follows Esperanza through many difficulties and shows how she matures, including how she starts to understand the enormity of her new life situation.

The main ideas students can take away are:

1.     A drastic character change from the beginning of the story until the end. Showing how Esperanza goes from being a girl of privilege to a migrant worker.

2.    It demonstrates the struggles immigrant workers face when coming to America and how people slave to make pennies.

3.    Introduces what striking on a picket line is and what Esperanza felt like in the choice to cross or not cross the picket line.

4.    It demonstrates to be proud of who you are no matter your life situation and more.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I feel it is best suited for grades 4 through 6 where students can pick up on the more difficult concepts.

Esperanza Rising Reader’s TheaterPlay and Literature Unit.

Thanks!

Erin Hansen