Esperanza Rising

Title: Esperanza Rising

Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Grade Level: 5&6th

Esperanza loves her home, her country, her beautiful clothes and her loving family. She lives on a ranch in Mexico and they grow grapes. Esperanza looks forward to the end of grape harvest because her family will have a party to celebrate the harvest and her thirteenth birthday! Just before her birthday, her Papa has a tragic accident and dies. A few days later, their house burns down. Finally, Esperanza’s Uncle threatens her Mom and Abuelita. They decide that they must flee Mexico and move the United States. Life in the US is hard, the Great Depression makes it difficult to find work. Can Esperanza find a new life and a new home?

One thing that makes this book special is that not only explains the emotions involved with immigrating to the US, but also explains the Mexican/Latin culture. While this book is not set in modern times, it helps the reader understand immigration stories and helps build empathy towards people with similar stories.