Title: Esperanza Rising
Author: Pam Munoz Ryan
Grade Level Recommendation: 6/7
Aquel que hoy se cae, se levantara mañana
"He who falls today may rise tomorrow."
In a "coming of age" tale that mirrors Salamanca Tree Hiddle, Esperanza is a privileged daughter and only child on El Rancho de las Rosas in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Her Papa is a caring, giving, wealthy man that takes care of his workers- which reminded me of the caring, good-natured soul of Sal's father in Walk Two Moons. Esperanza is loyal to her Papa, and treasures the special memories he makes with her, such as her birthday celebration following the grape season.
The eve of her thirteenth birthday changes everything.
Her father's death starts a mirage of unfortunate events for the crumbling family. Her uncle knew his brother's demise meant possibility for himself. After destroying their home in a raging fire and grape fields, their memories, connections, and income of Mexico was no longer. The choice to leave and move to a Mexican work-camp in California became the only solution.
Just as Salamanca struggled with the new everyday lifestyle, Esperanza struggled in her new town in California. Her new friend, Isabel, was her only connection and confidant to where she could tell the stories of lace, silver, extravagant fiestas and birthday celebrations. Now, living in a two room house with newspaper as insulation, it is hard for Esperanza to accept the lifestyle that offers so little. She must face the harsh truths of living, and death, to realize there is love all around her.
The Grape Season. So many seasons, so much work to be done. I enjoyed how Pam Munoz wrote chapter titles as fruit, as if the reader was traveling through the harvest times of peaches, grapes, almonds, cotton. We also learned about one of the horrific side effects of the dust storms in 1930 when Esperanza's Mama develops Valley Fever, a disease of the lungs that is caused by dust spores. It is often an infection that can lead to pneumonia, and with poor diet can be very hard to fight off. The remaining half of the novel, the reader is relying on hope. Relying on the grim prognosis that Mama is weak and can no longer stay awake, but she will be ok. Just as the reader is hopeful for Salamanca, that even though the author hints to the reader so many times that her mother is no longer alive, we the readers are hopeful. Especially with heartache and sadness that has already hovered Esperanza's 13th year, we are hopeful.
We see the changes within the following months of her mother falling ill. Esperanza learns so much to care for, work, look after. She no longer looks as herself as a privileged princess, but as a determined young girl to save her mom. Pam Munoz Ryan brings the story full circle, and the reader sees Esperanza has made peace with her new life and accepted the "mountains and valleys" of life.
Here are some reflective quotes from the novel:
"Do you remember the story of the phoenix, the lovely young bird that is reborn from its ashes? We are like the phoenix- Rising again, with a new life ahead of us."
"Do not ever be afraid to start over."
It is no wonder that in Spanish, esperanza means hope.
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