Bea’s Books: Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising 

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

This book tells the story of a girl named Esperanza who lives on her family’s ranch: El Rancho de las Rosas, in Aguascalientes, Mexico.  She loved her life at the ranch but when one of her loved ones dies, she and her mother have to cross the border into California. They live at a camp with many other Mexicans and work all day. Esperanza isn’t accustomed to not having servants or a huge house. She has to sweep a big platform every day and take care of her friend Isabel’s younger baby siblings, Pepe and Lupe. It is a big change for Esperanza, but on the way she learns some helpful things such as sweeping, changing diapers and being strong even when times are tough. This is a great book and I highly recommend it to ages 8+.

Beatrice Cosgrove, 10, is a reader and writer in St. Paul.