Esperanza Rising
Esperanza Rising is a young adult historical fiction novel by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes, is one of the 31 states which, with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 11 municipalities and its capital city is Aguascalientes.
Where does Esperanza go when she becomes poor?
She then realizes that people are judged based on the house they live in and has a sudden desire to move out to a wealthy neighborhood. When she moves to Mango Street, she learns and witnesses the daily struggles of women. Her poor conditions helped her love and appreciate the little things in life. These hardships don’t discourage Esperanza ...
Where in the US does Esperanza Rising live at?
The novel is set on a large ranch in Aguascalientes, Mexico, which a decade earlier had been a center of revolutionary activity, and in migrant labor camps near Arvin, California.
What happened at the end of Esperanza Rising?
- The Ranch Owner's Daughter. Imagine living a life of luxury in a mansion with servants.
- Tragedy and Change. Papa was ambushed and killed by a group of bandits the day before Esperanza's thirteenth birthday.
- Valley Fever. A dust storm came.
- Strike.
What does Esperanza like to do?
On one hand, Esperanza is a typical young adolescent girl, at some moments a child and at some an adult. She jumps rope with her friends, rides three on a bike, is drawn to a good Bugs Bunny cartoon.
Where does Esperanza Rising live?
MexicoEsperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan | Scholastic.com. Esperanza lived the life of a princess with her family in Mexico, thinking of the future only when she dreamed about her big Quinceañeras party to be held in two years, when she would turn 15.
What is the setting time of Esperanza Rising?
1930sSet in the early 1930s, twenty years after the Mexican Revolution and during the Great Depression, Esperanza Rising tells the story of a young Mexican girl's courage and resourcefulness when at the age of thirteen she finds herself living in a strange new world.
What city does Esperanza live in?
Aguascalientes, MexicoEsperanza Rising is the story of Esperanza Ortega, the cherished only child of her Papa and Mama, Sixto and Ramona. Sixto Ortega is the wealthy landowner of El Rancho de las Rosas in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Is Esperanza Rising Mexican?
Esperanza is the thirteen-year-old daughter of wealthy Mexican landowners. She loves her family and the land and even the servants, but her attitude is one of entitlement.
Where was Esperanza born?
Aguascalientes, MexicoThis fictional story parallels her life in some ways. She was born and raised in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Her father was Sixto Ortega and her mother, Ramona. They lived on El Rancho de la Trinidad (which I changed to El Rancho de las Rosas) and her uncles did hold prominent positions in the community.
Why did Esperanza move to California?
But Esperanza would not celebrate any more birthdays in Mexico. Her father dies the night before her 13th birthday, and so Esperanza has to move from Mexico to California, leaving her grandmother, friends and the comfortable life she knew in the land she loved.
What is Jamaica in Esperanza Rising?
Mama tells her, "Didn't I tell you that Papa's heart would find us wherever we go?" The next day is the big camp-wide party, called a jamaica. The women all gather in one cabin to take baths. Esperanza expects Hortensia to bathe her, like she has since Esperanza was a baby.
Where did Esperanza live before Mango Street?
How were her previous homes different? Before moving to the house on mango street she lived on Loomis on the third floor. Her previous homes were both apartments. Loomis had really bad pipes and not good water supply.
Where does Esperanza work?
One day Esperanza comes home after letting a boy named Tito push her into the water of an open fire hydrant. Her Aunt Lala is in the kitchen, and she says that she has found Esperanza a job at a photo developing store.
Is Esperanza an illegal immigrant?
Because Taylor is guilty of transporting illegal immigrants and Estevan and Esperanza are illegal immigrants, they are all extremely nervous. However, their interaction with the patrol officer turns out to be routine and uneventful.
Is there a Esperanza Rising book 2?
Are you going to write a sequel to Esperanza Rising? I wrote the story with the intention that it would be a book in its entirety — that it would be a complete story. Right now, due to my other writing commitments, I have no immediate plans to write a sequel.
How did Esperanza's father died?
In the novel, the main character Esperanza -which translates to hope - is a rich, pampered girl in Mexico. In the city of Aguascalientes, Esperanza's father, a ranch owner, is shot and killed by bandits while mending a fence. Esperanzas father's evil stepbrothers plot to gain the land after his death.
Where does Esperanza Rising take place?
The Where. Esperanza Rising mainly takes place in two places: Mexico and the United States. In Mexico, the setting is a large, beautiful vineyard in Aguascalientes owned by Esperanza's dad. Esperanza's family lives in a large house with servants and many fine possessions. The family is one of relatively few in Mexico who have lots of wealth, ...
Who is the teacher in Esperanza Rising?
Esperanza Rising Setting. Instructor: Mary Evans. Show bio. Mary has taught elementary school for six years and has a master's degree in education. 'Esperanza Rising' is the story of a wealthy Mexican girl turned poor migrant farm worker in the 1920s. As a work of historical fiction, the setting is an important part of the story.
Where does the story Aguascalientes take place?
Map of Mexico showing location of Aguascalientes. In the United States, the story takes place on and around a farm in Arvin, California. Esperanza, her mother, and their friends live in tiny shacks that she thinks look more like horse stalls than houses.
Who is Esperanza's grandmother?
Related Quotes with Explanations. In the study, Esperanza ’s grandmother, her Abuelita, calls Esperanza to her for a crocheting lesson. Abuelita is a frail but distinguished woman who commands the respect—but also the affection—of all who meet her.
What does the rose represent in Esperanza?
The full-blooming roses represent the apex, or highest point, of Esperanza’s joy and affluence; she is about to fall from grace, just as the ripe blooms are about to wither and die. Get the entire Esperanza Rising LitChart as a printable PDF.
What is the act of crocheting in Esperanza?
The act of crocheting is symbolic throughout the novel for the series of triumphs and setbacks—or “mountains” and “valleys”—that make up any life. Active Themes.
What does Esperanza know about a thorn prick?
Esperanza knows that a prick from a thorn is a bad omen, but tries to ignore the “premonition.”. As she carefully clips the rose and adds it to her basket, she notices that the sun is setting. Papa always comes home from working with the vaqueros before sundown, and Esperanza wonders where he could be.
What does Luis tell Ramona and Esperanza about Marco and Ramona?
Luis tells Ramona and Esperanza that he and Marco will wait with them “in [their] time of need,” and Esperanza is offput by this sudden show of kindness from her uncles—they have never been particularly nice to her or her mother. The arrival of Luis and Marco is an oddity rather than a comfort.
What does Esperanza do in the movie "The Apple of Her Father's Eye"?
Esperanza cuts the grapes from the vine and passes them to Papa, who kisses them and holds them aloft for all to see.
Who kisses Esperanza's grapes?
Esperanza cuts the grapes from the vine and passes them to Papa, who kisses them and holds them aloft for all to see. He declares that it is harvest time, and the campesinos start their work throughout the vineyard. Esperanza runs into the arms of her loving Papa and Mama, Ramona, and declares that this is her favorite time ...
What is the story of Esperanza Rising?
Esperanza Rising is the story of Esperanza Ortega, the cherished only child of her Papa and Mama, Sixto and Ramona. Sixto Ortega is the wealthy landowner of El Rancho de las Rosas in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Esperanza lives the life of a rich young girl in 1920s Mexico, wearing beautiful clothes, living in a home with servants, and going to private school. Her grandmother, Abuelita, lives with the family, and they are attended by a housekeeper, Hortensia, and several farm workers, including Hortensia’s husband, Alfonso, and their son, Miguel. Esperanza’s father has taught her to love and respect the land, listening for its heartbeat.
Why does Esperanza's family return home after the storm?
Esperanza’s family returns home after the storm covered in dust and dirt, and her mother cannot stop coughing. The striking workers encounter more difficulty, because the cotton fields where they were working have been ruined by the storm, and they will now have no work. A month passes, and Mama is now very ill.
What does Esperanza find in the shed?
Esperanza finds Marta hiding in a shed, and Marta begs Esperanza not to let her get caught. Esperanza agrees, and Marta apologizes for misjudging her. Esperanza hopes Marta can get back to Ada safely, but later discovers that the strikers have all been taken by the immigration officers.
Why does Isabel have to teach Esperanza housekeeping?
Isabel must teach Esperanza housekeeping skills, because she will soon go to school and Esperanza will be left with the babies. Esperanza’s first attempt at a chore, sweeping the camp platform, does not go well, and she is humiliated when Marta calls her Cinderella.
Why does Esperanza open her bag?
She opens her bag to show her mother the money orders, but discovers that they are gone. Esperanza believes that Miguel took them before he left, which makes her furious. When Miguel returns, he is not alone. He has used the money to bring Abuelita from Mexico to California.
What happens if Esperanza's mother doesn't marry Luis?
Mama is worried that if she does not marry Luis, he will send Esperanza away or they will lose the house.
Why do Miguel and Esperanza go to the foothills?
Later, Esperanza and Miguel go to the foothills beyond the farm to listen for the sound of the land’s heart beating. The sun rises and Esperanza feels like she is rising, too. A year after the tragedy of Papa’s death, the family celebrates Esperanza’s birthday. Next section Chapter Summaries.
What happened to Esperanza's mother?
Esperanza is woken by her mother screaming. Their house is on fire. They struggle to leave while Miguel runs inside the house for Abuelita. Abuelita is injured and cannot walk, but she still holds her bag of crocheting. Esperanza, Mama, Abuelita, Hortensia, Miguel, and Alfonso watch as the fire destroys the house.
What does Esperanza get from Papa?
Esperanza receives several gifts, including a porcelain doll from Papa. Tío Luis and Tío Marco visit the family every day, becoming more frustrated as Esperanza’s mother continues to grieve for Papa. A lawyer tells Mama that Papa left the ranch house to her and Esperanza, but he left the land to Tío Luis.
What do Esperanza and Abuelita crochet?
Abuelita and Esperanza crochet to take their minds off worrying about Papa. Esperanza’s work is lopsided compared to Abuelita’s, but Abuelita tells her not to be afraid of starting over. Esperanza’s uncles, Tío Luis and Tío Marco, arrive at the house. Tío Luis is the bank president and Tío Marco is the town’s mayor.
Why do Hortensia and Esperanza hide?
Esperanza, her mother, and Hortensia hide inside the back of the wagon so they won’t be seen as they escape from Aguascalientes. Esperanza is scared of being in the tight space, but Hortensia distracts her with memories from when they once hid from thieves inside the ranch house by crawling under a bed. After two days, the group boards a train car full of people Esperanza calls peasants. Many are dirty, carrying animals, and wearing old, torn clothes. A little girl stares at Esperanza’s porcelain doll, but Esperanza yanks it back when the girl reaches for it, making the girl cry. Esperanza’s mother apologizes for Esperanza’s bad manners, and has Esperanza help her make a yarn doll for the girl.
Why does Esperanza hide money orders?
She hides the money orders in her bag, hoping to save enough for Abuelita’s travel costs. The doctor tells Esperanza that Mama has pneumonia, and must have no visitors for the next month, to avoid other infections.
Why does Esperanza prick her thumb?
While gathering roses, Esperanza pricks her thumb on a thorn, and believes it is a sign of bad luck. Papa has not returned from the fields, and Esperanza and her mother are worried. Papa had been warned about bandits in the area who were angry with wealthy landowners like him.
What happened to Papa and his workers?
Esperanza learns that Papa and his workers were attacked and killed by bandits. She tells the story to Señor Rodriguez, her friend Marisol’s father who has brought the papayas Esperanza’s father had ordered for Esperanza’s party. Papa’s funeral services last for three days, and people leave the family food and flowers. Esperanza doesn’t want to open her birthday presents, but Esperanza’s mother says that her father would have wanted Esperanza to do so. Esperanza receives several gifts, including a porcelain doll from Papa.
What is a timeline in Esperanza?
A timeline is the chronological summary of events. In this lesson, we'll be looking at the timeline that occurred in the award-winning book, Esperanza Rises. Imagine living a life of luxury in a mansion with servants. That's what Esperanza had because her father, Sixto Ortega, was a rich ranch owner in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Why did Mama and Esperanza sneak out of Aguascalientes?
Mama made the decision that she and Esperanza would join them. They sneaked out of Aguascalientes and headed for California so that her uncles would not know. Esperanza struggled with the transition from her life in Mexico to the life she had in California. In California, Esperanza was a poor peasant.
What happened to Esperanza when she got sick?
When Mama got sick and could no longer work, Esperanza started working at a shed, packing produce. She saved her money so that she could get Abuelita, her grandma, to California.
Was Esperanza rich in the end?
Esperanza, Mama, and Abuelita were so happy to be back together again. Happy Again. In the end, Esperanza was not rich and did not have the luxurious life that she had before, but she was happy. She realized that she and Miguel were on the same side of the river, meaning they were both poor.
Who killed Papa in Esperanza?
Tragedy and Change. Papa was ambushed and killed by a group of bandits the day before Esperanza's thirteenth birthday. Life as Esperanza knew it died with Papa. Papa left the house to her and her Mama, but Esperanza's uncles, Tio Luis and Tio Marco, were bullies.
Who was Esperanza's father?
That's what Esperanza had because her father, Sixto Ortega, was a rich ranch owner in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Esperanza loved her life. Her family had a housekeeper, Hortensia, who was married to Alfonso, the boss of the field workers. Together, they had a son, Miguel.
Did Miguel and Esperanza have children?
Together, they had a son, Miguel. Miguel grew up with Esperanza and they were very close. Their relationship became strained though when Esperanza told Miguel they were on different sides of a deep river, meaning she was rich and he was poor.

Overview
Critical reception
Along with its Best Books citation, Publishers Weekly gave Esperanza Rising a starred review, citing its "lyrical, fairy-tale-like style". It praised the way "Ryan poetically conveys Esperanza's ties to the land by crafting her story to the rhythms of the seasons" and the fact that "Ryan fluidly juxtaposes world events... with one family's will to survive". Kirkus Reviews disliked the "epic tone, characters that develop little and predictably, and... romantic patina". However it also found that …
Plot synopsis
Esperanza Ortega lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico and is the daughter of wealthy landowners. She lives on her family's ranch with her mother, father, and grandmother. The year is 1930.
The day before Esperanza's 13th birthday, her father is murdered while working on the ranch. Her uncle Luis reveals he now owns their land. He offers to continue to care for them and their ranch if Esperanza's mother, Ramona, will marry him. When she refuses, he burns down the ranch. Esper…
Main characters
• Esperanza Ortega
• Ramona Ortega
• Papa/Mr. Ortega
• Sixto Ortega
• Abuelita
Background information
American laborers from Oklahoma were often hostile toward the Mexican workers because they felt they were taking away their jobs. Mexican migrant laborers would work for much lower pay, so there was much tension between the migrant workers on the fields. Some felt that their conditions were unlivable, so they began to protest for better working conditions. Still, others refused to join the protest in fear that they would be fired. In the 1920s and 1930s (about the time the story tak…
Pedagogy
According to literary scholar, Rachelle Kuehl, Esperanza Rising deals with discrimination as it relates to immigration and the United States' unfair compensation and deportation of migrant workers on whom it relies for labor.
• The 2001 Jane Addams Children's Book Award
• The 2001 WILLA Literary Award for Children's/Young Adult Fiction