Many of us have read and enjoyed "rags to riches" stories. These are those tales where characters have it pretty tough to begin with, but end up with the wealth they deserve. It could be a story like "Cinderella," who starts as a maid and ends up a princess, or it could be like "Spiderman," who begins as a teenager frequently picked on and ends up a superhero. Esperanza, from Munoz' Esperanza Rising, is unlikely to be found in any such story, though. Instead, she begins by living a rich and privileged life on her families plantation and vinyard in Mexico and, through unfortunate circumstances, ends up living in a compound for Migrant workers in California on the cusp of the Great Depression.

Now wait a minute before you write this book off. I know that at this point you may be thinking, "Why would I want to read such a sad story?" This is why: Esperanza learns that fortune, riches, and beauty cannot be counted as you hold them in your hand or reside in the land beneath your feet. Fortunes, riches, and beauty must travel with you and in you.

In addition to having a back-wards fairy tale like story, there is also a good dose of action as Esperanza uses the lessons she has learned to save the lives of her family members and friends.

Though at times you want to feel sorry for Esperanza, I certainly think that she will leave you smiling in the end. ( )

This was a great book about the changes that life brings you and deciding how to react to them. Esperanza is a privileged young girl living in Mexico who loses virtually everything and has to flee to California to become a migrant worker. The harsh working conditions she faces and her gradual adjustment to them set the framework for this young girl who grows to maturity out of hardship. I really liked it and loved that the author based the story on her grandmother's experiences. A great way to learn more about the history of Mexican-American immigration. ( )

This is about a little girl who is forced to move from the only home she has ever known in Mexico and immigrate to the United States. She is living in small working community with other migrant workers and finds ways to cope with the longing to return to the home she dearly misses. It is a coming of age story that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it.

I was touched by this book. I just wish I had more time to spend really devouring it. The semester at school just caught up with me and I felt like I had to rush through it. But it was a beautiful story, and even though I have never experienced the hardships that this young lady has had to face at such a young age, I found myself really connecting with her.

This would be a wonderful read aloud book that could be used as a classroom set. It was very light reading. I believe that the students would be able to get a lot out of the book as far as another side to oppression is concerned. This book deals with the oppression of the Mexican Immigrants. I am from Houston where a great portion of the population is Mexican American. This is definitely a book that I would use in my classroom to give those children a connection with their history.

Based on her grandmother's experiences as an immigrant and a migrant worker in the 1930's. Ryan has written a beautiful and sensitive book about a young girl who is forced to flee her home and her sheltered life in Mexico to becme a migrant worker in the US.

Highly recommended! ( )

Esperanza Ortega loves her family’s El Rancho de las Rosas in Aguascalientes, Mexico. She especially loves harvest time, when everyone gathers to cut the heavy grapes off of the vines, culminating in her birthday celebration. But this year, as she turns 13, the unthinkable happens: Her father is murdered, and Esperanza and her mother must flee to California, leaving their home and wealth behind.

Full review:
http://www.twentybyjenny.com/812Books... ( )