Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising is a Historical Fiction children's book written by Pam Munoz Ryan. This book is intended for readers grades 4 to 7. This story follows a girl named Esperanza and her mother as they are forced to leave their home in Mexico and flee to California due to the Great Depression. Esperanza is accustomed to living a lavish lifestyle. She had a beautiful home, full of servants to serve her and family, she wore beautiful dresses and she thought her life would always remain this way. When Esperanza and her Mama must go to California and work for Mexican farm workers her life is turned upside down. Esperanza is not ready to do hard labor and she is not ready to let go of her old life that she was so accustomed to but when Mama gets sick, Esperanza has no choice to fight for their lives.


Follow Esperanza and her Mama on a difficult journey where they must learn to overcome hardships and burdens in order to survive. This book highlights the cultural struggles of many in the american heritage. The values portrayed in this book will last a life time for school aged readers. I would highly recommend this book for children and educators interested in reading a historical fiction book!


After students have read this book, discussion questions should be provoked in order to understand and discuss the meaning of this story. For example:

1. How would you have felt if you were in Esperanza's situation? Do you think you would have felt scared and/or upset?
2. Do you think Esperanza and Mama made the right decision leaving everything behind in Mexico to move to California? Would you have made the same decision they did?
3. How did Esperanza's idea of how she would spend her birthday differ from how she actually spent her birthday?
4. Why did Esperanza and her Mama have to leave the ranch in secret?
5. Think about a time you had to start over in a new place or with new people? This could be a new school, a new home, or having to meet new people. How did you do this?
6. What do you understand about the Great Depression? Has anyone heard anything from the older adults in their family? If so, what?
7. What do you think about Esperanza? If you were to describe her personality, how would you?
8. Why you think moving and learning to work on a farm was such a hard challenge for Esperanza to overcome?

A fun and motivation activity for students to participate in: 

"Esperanza's Scavenger Hunt!"

• Motivate the students with a scavenger hunt revolving around characters and events that take place in Esperanza's Rising. After the students have read and completed the book, split the class room into two teams of students. Give each team a copy of the book and a piece of paper. Have each group find the page numbers of particular events and scenarios that took place in the book and have them write it down. At the end of the scavenger hunt, the team that has the most answers correct is the winner of the scavenger hunt!

If you enjoyed this book by author Pam Munoz Ryan, here are some other selections you may want to read:

• Riding Freedom
• The Dreamer
• A box of Friends
• Tony Baloney
• Mice and Beans
• The Crayon Counting Book

Ryan, P. (2000). Esperanza Rising. New York, NY: Scholastic.