Helpful Score: 4
This is a beautifully told story of a young girl and her family who are forced to emigrate to the United States and take migrant farm work in order to escape an unacceptable fate back home in Mexico. Esperanza must grow up quickly as her pampered childhood is replaced by one in which she must take on adult responsibilities in order for her family to survive. Serious, yet full of youthful optimism, this is a great book for readers in grades 3 through 6.
Helpful Score: 2
Any book that makes me cry by the end of the second chapter has got to be good. This is a beautifully written story exposing parts of US History that few of us recognize (ie the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930s). Highly recommend.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a beautifully written book. It made me cry more than once! And you definitely don't need to be in the recommended age group to enjoy it.
EXCELLENT book. A story of acceptance and determination, and of importance of family, and triviality of material wealth.
Very good juvenile book.
This is an enchanting tale of a girl's journey from wealth to poverty, from a Ranch in Mexico to a Camp in California, from a grl to a woman. It is beautifully written and is a wonderful snapshot of a culture many do not undersand.
A child, who has known no other life other than a life of privilege, is faced with having to overcome some harsh difficulties after a tragic event leaves her and her mom to fend for themselves. It is a story of tragedy, overcoming obstacles, and ultimately, appreciating what really should matter most what one can and simply cannot live without. This book is written for 9-14 age range, but I would recommend it to all. The spoiled and entitled especially!
This is a true story. Esperanza is the authors grandmother. About 1930 in Mexico, Esperanza is the only child of a rich ranch owner and his wife. Her father is murdered by bandits. Mexican law says that only men can own property.So her fathers two evil stepbrothers inherit the ranch. Esperanza and her mom inherit the house and vineyards.One of the evil stepbrothers wants to marry mom, and send Esperanza to boarding school. Mom says no, so her house and the vineyards are burnt down. Mom agrees to marry the evil stepbrother. However, she and Esperanza and some of the servants head fast for the United States. All of them end up working on a migrant farm, in California's Central Valley. Mom becomes ill and has to go to the hospital. Esperanza who has never worked in her life and must work hard to have a better life for her kids. One of my friends who migrated here to The United States from Mexico, says that the struggle for citizenship is all too real. A riveting book. Great read.
Heartwarming book about Mexican immigrants and the challenges they faced during the depression. Esperanza learned a lot about how her actions affected others. I read it aloud during a car trip and all five us enjoyed the story.
Nice book for girls about 12-13 years old.
This is a wonderful story about having everything and then losing everything only to discover you have had everything you ever needed all along. Esperanza Rising tells about Esperanza's life as a migrant worker instead of the fancy houses and fancy dresses she was supposed to have. I highly reccommend this book to any body with children ages 10-14.
My daughter and I read this together when she was 10. It was one of those books that she will remember when she reads to her kids. It was a very insipring story about love and loss and life. Riches to rags to understanding how life is. A great family a great story. I also think it was based on the authors life.
An award winning story, based on real life. Takes a young wealthy Mexican girl through tragedy and loss of the family's wealth leading to emmigration to California at the height of the Great Depression.
Good book. easy weekend read. Good for young girls high school age to learn about being diffrent and working hard.
A lyrical...robust novel.
ALA Best Books for Young Adults.
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year 2000.
Smithsonian Notable Books for Children 2000.
ALA Best Books for Young Adults.
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year 2000.
Smithsonian Notable Books for Children 2000.
wonderful story!! :)
A story told like a fairy tale of a girl who has to leave her ranch in Mexico with her mama to live in California in a migrant camp. Tragedy, Great Depression, sickness, financial struggles. Will Esperanza cope? This book won many awards.
A heart touching story about some very courageous Mexicans.
I read this for the Shalom in the City podcast I follow, as they were reading it for the month and it sounded interesting considering my heart against human trafficking.
This book starts out in Mexico where Esperanza is about to turn 13 years old. She is cherished by her parents, spoiled by her grandmother, and treated kindly by her family's servants. Her father runs a business on their land but tragedy strikes them hard. Their only choice is to enter into the US to try to keep their family from death and separation.
Esperanza goes from little girl to a little woman throughout this story. While I liked the story, which is actually based from real events from the author's own family, I was left wanting to know what else happened later.
It kinda ends at a sad spot around issues surrounding the large deportation due to the strikes that went on in the depression era. I enjoyed learning about the history and the sadness of how people were treated due to their race, how little money they made, and how terrible the conditions were where some people lived in the camps where they worked. There were happy moments in the story, definitely. I think it is good for kids to learn about if they live in the US. They need to know that we too have oppressed others just because of the color of their skin and where they came from.
This book starts out in Mexico where Esperanza is about to turn 13 years old. She is cherished by her parents, spoiled by her grandmother, and treated kindly by her family's servants. Her father runs a business on their land but tragedy strikes them hard. Their only choice is to enter into the US to try to keep their family from death and separation.
Esperanza goes from little girl to a little woman throughout this story. While I liked the story, which is actually based from real events from the author's own family, I was left wanting to know what else happened later.
It kinda ends at a sad spot around issues surrounding the large deportation due to the strikes that went on in the depression era. I enjoyed learning about the history and the sadness of how people were treated due to their race, how little money they made, and how terrible the conditions were where some people lived in the camps where they worked. There were happy moments in the story, definitely. I think it is good for kids to learn about if they live in the US. They need to know that we too have oppressed others just because of the color of their skin and where they came from.
This book is about a young Mexican girl who has to face hard labor and financial struggles after her family faces tradgedies from the Great Depression.
I know this is a young adult book, but I read Esperanza Rising and fell in love with the characters trying to help Esperanza and her little brother through a tough life. What an amazing book for anyone to read, helping to enlighten Americans a little more about the Mexican culture, as well as learning about the hardships some children face. I thought this book was very well written, with interesting characters and a very believable plot.
