Chapter Summaries For Esperanza Rising

Page Turner: Module 3 Hispanic/Latino Lit. – Esparanza Rising

Esparanza, mi reina (my queen), is a privileged Mexican girl living in a grape vineyard ranch, El Rancho de las Rosas. When his father is killed, his house burned to the ground and his uncle is trying to force her mother to marry him so he can take over the ranch. This Esparanza forces, his mother and servants to leave their beloved home and flee to America to become migrant workers in California. A story of rags to riches is to grow during the Depression, realizing what is really important, learning to be brave, and love of family and friends.It is a story of historical fiction based on the grandmother of Pam Munoz Ryan. Ryan understands his ancestral and historical family information, which adds authenticity to the family history of struggle and survival. This allows the reader to learn more about this period in our history and people have really experienced the trials and tribulations of being a migrant worker. The Mexicans left their country of origin to the north in the hope of a better life for themselves and their families. This theme is evident in the history of how people will do what it takes to provide for their families.Esparanza, which has always had servants, his loving parents, his Abuelita (grandmother) and the security of wealth, is plunged into a shocking reality of what it takes to survive. She is surprised by the strength of his mother. The will of his mother to work as hard as the officials with whom she grew up, allows him to see a side of her mother she never knew. Esparanza must also learn to help with the family watching the babies, cooking, laundry, sweeping and possibly work in the fields when his mother falls ill and she needs money to pay his hospital expenses.She realizes she also has strengths she did not know she had. His father told him that the earth breathes and lives. "Did you know that when you lie on the ground, you can feel breathing? You can feel his heart beating?" (Ryan, p. 1.) Esparanza did not fully realize the lesson of his father spoke until the end of the story when she realized the importance of land to provide what you need for survival. Ultimately, she was able to hear the heart beat of the earth and we know that hope was alive, thanks to hard work and love of family and friends.Mexican culture is prevalent throughout history. Everyone is in Spanish with English subtitles.

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