Reviews

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

leticiasmugala's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

marquettelaree's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cdjdhj's review against another edition

3.0

As a young girls growing up as the only daughter of rich landowners in 1930s Mexico, Esperanza leads a wonderfully charming life. Things change drastically the day her father is killed and her despotic uncle demands that her mother marry him and send Esperanza away to boarding school. To escape her uncle's clutches, Esperanza and her mother flee Mexico and end up in California's Central Valley as farm workers. This book is their story. While the book itself if fictional, it has some basis in the real life story of the author's grandmother. I found this book to be somewhat interesting from a historical standpoint. I used to live in California's Central Valley, so it was good to learn more about the farm workers and their movement for better pay and working conditions. The author gives more information at the end about her our grandmother's true story and this historical facts in the book. This book was written for upper elementary age children, and in fact I think that at least one of my adult children read it when they were in grade school. My college age son was assigned the book for one of his college classes on the history of civil rights, which is why I decided to read the book.

eevee_saur137's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is from my childhood but it hits so much harder as an adult. A reminder of everything I had to overcome and change about myself in the decades since I last read it, and a celebration that Esperanza and I are still ok. We had to start over and we are ok.

libbs004's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

4.0

kkslattery's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring

5.0

c1aud55n's review against another edition

4.0

This book is really good, it made me cry SO much.

interreads's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

katykelly's review against another edition

5.0

A recommended 'best of children's fiction' read.

Thoroughly enjoyable read. Quite harrowing in places for children potentially. At times, reminded me of The Grapes of Wrath but with more 'hope'.

A story of a rich Mexican family brought down by the death of the father, Esperanza and her mother must escape the schemes of her uncles by fleeing to America and a hard life of field work. The story of how the rich girl copes with her new circumstances is a great read for children, with just enough hardship to keep them reading but not enough to upset.

The glossary of terms is useful and the regular references to the Mexican/Spanish culture and language makes this a very educational as well as entertaining read for 9-12 year olds.

slushysands's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25