by Pam Munoz Ryan
Be prepared to laugh and cry with Esperanza. As I read this book, it truly humbled me to remind me how hard people work just to survive. Esperanza loses everything after the murder of her father. Her mother and her escape with the help of neighbors and basically have to hide who they are. She goes from a life of learning and fun to a life of survival. Everyday is hard, hard work. Esperanza’s story is a powerful reminder that family and love know no bounds and if you want something, do not let anything stand in your way!
Esperanza thought she’d always live a privileged life on her family’s ranch in Mexico. She’d always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home filled with servants, and Mama, Papa, and Abuelita to care for her. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. Esperanza isn’t ready for the hard work, financial struggles brought on by the Great Depression, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When Mama gets sick and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances-because Mama’s life, and her own, depend on it.