Esperanza renace: (Spanish language edition of Esperanza Rising) (Spanish… (original 2000; edition 2002)

Another book plucked from the "Staff Recommends" shelf while I waked for my read-aloud packs. I thought it was a Newbery Honor but the tittle must be familiar from another source. Again, no weight of expectation or hope, so whatever.

Nuns in Mexico in 1930 can forge U.S. work papers, and a job can be arranged and held for an unskilled woman quickly during the Depression, and the wages of day-laborer can pay for doctor's fees and medicine for how many months now? I am not familiar with this world.

Besides almost any line from the original short, "The Spirit of Christmas," the one bit of "South Park" I quote is the teacher droning more mindlessly then Ned Flanders, "Drugs are bad." All I'm going to remember from this is "Unions are bad."

Characters:
Esperanza Ortega
Miguel
Ramona Ortega
Sixto Ortega
Abuelita
Marisol Rodriguez
Alfonso
Hortensia
Tío Luis and Tío Marco
Juan and Josafina
Isabel
Pepe and Lupe
Marta

Setting: Mexico, California, and during the Great Depression

Theme: One must endure struggle in order to succeed

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: At a young age, Esperanza lost her father to her uncles who were not good people. The uncles intend to have the mother marry a rich landowner. As Esperanza and her mother escape to go to California, they must live in a small house. As an immigrant, she endures struggles to keep her mom healthy. She has to learn how to live and survive as a newcomer in a new land.

Audience: Young Immigrants

Curriculum ties: History, studying about cultures, and struggles.

Personal response: As in the other review about being an immigrant, I truly understand the struggles that a person experiences when coming into a new country. The troubles that she has a young adult and additionally trying to work a lot to provide for her family is truly a heroic role that she has dominated. I think that as an immigrant, there are many extra struggles that are created as barriers and obstacles. Coming into a new land, you start with nothing. But this is where the theme lies. It is the idea of falling down and getting back up again. Overall, the book is a great ride to anyone who wants to be inspired. The writing is clear and the details manage to keep the reader turning the pages. ( )

Chapter Book: Esperanza starts out the tale as a rich farmer's daughter in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Here life takes a drastic turn when her father is killed by bandits and her uncles do everything to destroy what her family has left. In a pursuit to free themselves from these wicked men she and her mother turn to field working in Arvin, California. Where she had been previously spoiled and immature grows up to be a great help to her family. Twisted in the tale is a bit of young love. ( )

Esperanza is a unique book about a girl who has everything, loses everything and then regains a new look on what's important. Told in third person limited you follow Esperanza's emotions through the turmoil of coming to America to escape a horrible and threatening uncle. Once coming to America she has to cope with living in squalor as well as with having to work, and then her mother becomes sick leaving her even more alone. ( )

WATCH BOOK TRAILER

After her father is murdered, Esperanza Ortega is forced to flee her beloved El Rancho de las Rosas in Mexico to a migrant camp in California.