Book Review: Esperanza Rising

- Pura Belpre Award Winner

Munoz Ryan, Pam. Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic, 2000.

Pam Munoz Ryan was not born in Mexico, she was born in California but Mexico is a part of her heritage that she identifies strongly with. Much of the information in her book that she did not personally experience, she learned about through the direct accounts of her grandmother. Her grandmother had firsthand accounts since she herself had experienced these events.
Esperanza goes from a life of luxury to a life of hardships. In a country where most of the population is very poor, Esperanza is a member of one of the wealthy families that own a lot of land. After an unfortunate circumstance steals her father away, she and her mother must decide whether to stay and live in Mexico or to leave the only home Esperanza has ever know. To stay would mean that she and her mother would definitely be unhappy, so she ad her mother leave their home and head for California. Their new life is nothing like their old one and Esperanza must learn to deal with her new circumstances and to overcome the many adversities that she and her mother face.
A major issue that is illustrated in this novel is that of the unfair working conditions and wages for migrant and immigrant workers. People have to decide whether they want to fight for better wages and working conditions, or if they want to keep quiet and take what they can get. Going on strike against the people who are providing them with work is very risky, but the pay off may be worth it in the end. The people are split as to whether or not this course of action seems right to them, but must act united if they want to be taken seriously.Closely related to this is the issue of how to make a better life for oneself in America. Some Chicano people believed that they had to fight for their rights in order to move up the social ladder. Others such as Esperanza’s friend Miguel believe that hard work will pay off and he will be able to control his own future by how much work he is willing to do. There are many other issues talked about in this book, and I would definitely recommend reading it to learn more about different points of views from Chicano perspectives.