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Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising

Author: Pam Munoz Ryan
Genre: Multicultural book, Historical Fiction
Award: Pura Belpre Award 
Grade: 4th grade and up


This is a story is set after the Mexican Revolution in 1930’s. Esperanza is a young girl who lives in Aguasclientes, Mexico. Her father is very wealthy; therefore, he spoils Esperanza for she is the only child. There are riots still after the Revolution and Esperanza’s dad got killed. Her dad’s stepbrother took over her father’s land and took everything that Esperanza and her mom owned. Her Mom and her left with their former servants to the U.S. for a better life. Esperanza is cultured shocked and that it is her first time to work. Esperanza was really disappointed when the workers are not treated and paid fairly. As the days go by she has been saving up money for her Abuelita to be with them but Miguel took the money. As a surprise, Miguel showed up with Abuelita and surprised Esperanza. By the time she turned fourteen, Esperanza wanted to better herself and start dreaming again and wanted to learn English.


This is a really great multicultural book because it talks about the hardship of the Mexicans transferring here in America. This will be good for 4th grade students and up to read so that they will have a different perspective of the people from different country. It is also a chapter book therefore it is more preferred to the upper grade level. What Esperanza went through was hard and that she earned and fulfills her dream through hard work. This is a great book because it gives the reader of the insight of what people go through to get to live freely in another country such as the U.S.
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