esperanza rising book report ideas

In Esperanza Rising , author Pam Muñoz Ryan shares the story of Esperanza Ortega, a young child forced to flee her home in Mexico after her father is murdered. After a long, difficult journey, Esperanza and her mother settle in a camp for Mexican farmworkers in California and endure hard labor, financial struggles, and discrimination.

For young readers of Esperanza Rising , this novel provides an opportunity to learn about the plight of Mexican workers during the Great Depression and reflect on what it takes to rise above tragedy, adversity, and the harsh realities immigrants often face . This novel also presents complex themes related to race, class, courage, and compassion to your students, while introducing them to the power of passionate storytelling .

During reading, encourage your students to reflect on the experience of Esperanza through writing and discussion. The following 18 prompts will not only help boost your students’ comprehension of the story, but they’ll also help your young readers connect with Esperanza’s inspiring story in a deeper and more meaningful way.

1. Why does the author open with a scene of Esperanza and her father lying down to hear the heartbeat of the earth? How does this shared experience seem to affect Esperanza's relationship with her father?

2. Explain Mama's reasons for leaving Mexico. Would you have been willing to make the same decision if you were in her situation? Why or why not?

3. Esperanza and Miguel take a train ride together as young children. Compare this train ride to the one they take when going to live in America.

4. What does Esperanza mean when she says to Miguel that there is a "deep river" that runs between them? Does this change in California? If so, describe how their relationship changes and give reasons for why this might happen.

5. Describe the cabin where Esperanza must live in America. How does this home compare to her home in Mexico? When Esperanza points out these differences, why does Mama become angry with her? Is Mama right to be angry with her? Why or why not?

6. A poor woman on the train to Los Angeles explains that although she is poor, she is rich. How can a poor person be rich? How can a rich person be poor?

7. Why does Esperanza dislike Marta when they first meet? What makes Esperanza change her mind about Marta?

8. After the dust storm, Mama is the only one of the workers in the cabin to become ill. Why is this so? How does her illness affect Esperanza? Why does Esperanza agree to cut the eyes out of the potatoes?

9. When Esperanza is told she cannot visit her mother for several weeks, she describes her life as going through "the motions of living." Have you ever felt this way? If so, describe how. What does Esperanza do to increase the amount of joy in her life?

10. Why does Miguel drive out of his way to shop at the Japanese store? What does Alfonso mean when he tells Miguel that Mr. Yakota is "getting rich on other people's bad manners"?

11.  Compare the strikers' camp to the camp in which Esperanza lives. How does seeing this camp and its inhabitants affect Esperanza?

12.  Alfonso and Miguel keep telling Esperanza that if is she does good work the farmers will keep employing her. Do you believe that philosophy applies in today's world? Why or why not?

13.  What do you think of "voluntary deportation"? Is this a peaceful or violent way to handle the situation with the strikers? Did Esperanza do the right thing by helping Marta and risking the chance of being deported herself?

14.  Papa's words, "Wait a little while and the fruit will fall into your hands," are said by Miguel in a heated argument with Esperanza. How does this idea relate to the titles of the chapters in this novel? How does this relate to the end of the novel when Esperanza is retelling all the events from California to Abuelita?

15.  When Esperanza finds out Miguel has taken her money orders, she is devastated. Describe how she must feel when Alfonso comes to take her to the train station to pick Miguel up. Is she justified to feel this way? What was Miguel's reason for taking the money? What do his actions mean?

16.  The last section of the novel has Esperanza and Miguel listening to the heartbeat of the earth. What does this parallel to the first chapter mean?

17.  The novel ends with Esperanza teaching Isabel how to crochet the zigzag stitch. How do the "mountains and valleys" compare to the plot of the novel? Is there a skill or talent that someone in your family has that you have learned or would like to learn? Please describe.

18.  Read the last sentence of the novel and explain how it relates to the book's themes.

After reading, invite your students to imagine being taken out of their life right now and put in a work camp like Esperanza’s. Encourage your students to reflect on how they would react and how they would overcome the harsh realities of their new life using the lessons they learned from Esperanza Rising .

Order your class copies of Esperanza Rising below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store . For more teacher resources on the expansive works of Pam Muñoz Ryan, check out this discussion guide .

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5 Activities for Teaching Esperanza Rising

Looking for a way to engage your students in fun and educational activities for Esperanza Rising ? In this blog, we have compiled a list of 5 activities for teaching Esperanza Rising , along with 5 lesson ideas. These activities will not only intrigue your students but also enrich their understanding of this remarkable story.

From creating a character profile to exploring the themes of resilience and gratitude from varying perspectives, these activities will foster creativity, critical thinking, and empathy in young readers. So, grab a copy of Esperanza Rising and get ready for a memorable and educational adventure!

Esperanza Rising , by Pam Munoz Ryan, is a classic upper-elementary to middle school-aged novel. I have taught this beloved book for going on ten years now. It’s a favorite among boys and girls, and from 4th graders to 7th graders.

Esperanza Rising Summary

Centered around a thirteen-year-old named Esperanza who lives in Mexico with her wealthy family, the reader is taken on a journey of loss and transformation.

We discover early on that Esperanza’s father is killed at the hands of bandits a day before her thirteenth birthday. This tragic event leaves behind her and her mother, and the vineyard, El Rancho De Las Rosas. Esperanza’s step-uncles quickly swoop in to take care of the affairs of the ranch. One uncle, in particular, blackmails Esperanza’s mother into marriage.

Instead of accepting the proposal, Ramona and Esperanza flee to California with their ex-servants, during the time of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era. Esperanza quickly realizes she has not only lost her father but her security and identity as she’s now a poor migrant worker living in a shack.

Tremendous Growth, Maturity, and Transformation

This story is one of Esperanza showing tremendous growth, maturity, and transformation as she endured one valley after another.

Esperanza Rising is a novel that pulls readers in as there is one tragedy after another, but Pam Munoz Ryan offers glimpses of hope throughout to stir the reader on. Because of the many deep layers this historical fictional novel yields, it is a wonderful book to teach.

Compelling Narrative

Not only does Esperanza Rising captivate readers with its compelling narrative, but it also provides a wealth of opportunities for interactive and educational activities. Grab our Esperanza Rising Activities: 14 Research Projects for projects specifically about the history behind the novel, along with other hands-on activities. This unit will also promote critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. 

Grab yours today.

Activities for Teaching Esperanza Rising

1. explore symbolism.

Pam Munoz Ryan has named each chapter of Esperanza Rising after a season of harvest or a type of food that appears within the story. Not only does the food appear literally in the story, but it comes with deeper meanings in each chapter. 

Explore Symbolism

The first chapter is called “Grapes,” and the author begins the book in the beautiful, expansive vineyard that Esperanza’s family owns, right before harvest season. Esperanza even is tasked with cutting the first cluster of grapes before the workers harvest the fruit. The grapes represented fruitfulness, wealth, liveliness, happiness, and home.  

Later on, in the chapter titled “Figs,” as Esperanza and her mother devised a way to escape to California, a family friend who is a farmer brings figs over as a decoy to distract the real reason he is there, which is to help carry out their plan. Just as they leave their family ranch for the last time, the figs are trampled and squashed beneath their feet. This action symbolizes how they stomped out their past that was riddled with tragedy.

Classroom Activity:

Esperanza Rising is rich with deep symbolism and the chapter titles are the perfect place to begin. Ryan weaves profound meanings in the simplest of ways. When reading this novel, I always point out the chapter title to students and have them predict how this particular food item will appear literally and figuratively. Once we read the chapter, the students track the symbolism on a chart. The students list how it appears in the story and the deeper meaning that can be taken from it. 

We also illustrate the symbolism behind the chapter titles. In a graphic organizer, students illustrate a chapter title. For instance, students can draw the image of almonds, which appears in the novel as Esperanza’s friends and family make almond flan, her favorite dessert, for a fiesta that takes place while living in California in a migrant farming camp. Then, students illustrate the symbolism. Esperanza had to crack open the almonds from the shells to prepare to make the almond flan. This action can be drawn to show symbolism. That act demonstrates the deeper meaning of how Esperanza is coming out of her shell and stepping into a new identity. 

In our 14 Projects Resource , a symbolism activity is included in Abuelita’s Quilt Activity. Every student gets a “quilt square” in which they analyze and illustrate the symbolism of the chapter titles. When all the squares are placed together, the class can see the symbolism behind the entire novel and view an entire quilt. *Note that each student may create their own meaning behind the symbolism of each chapter as it is partially subjective.*

2. Explore Metaphors

Pam Munoz Ryan writes just beautifully, ebbing her writing with copious amounts of metaphors. Even the basic premise of the novel is based on the metaphor of mountains and valleys. I take this thematic metaphor and run with it to explore the novel in my “Mountains and Valleys” project I complete with students.

Explore Metaphors

Esperanza’s grandmother, lovingly referred to as Abuelita, is known for her peppermint smell and her soft, elderly skin as well as her hobby of crocheting. During another tragedy that occurs on the vineyard, Abuelita risks her life for her crocheting materials and spends hours weaving a blanket with mountains and valleys pictures on it.

She teaches Esperanza how to crochet and before Abuelita and her are separated, she gives Esperanza the blanket. She told her that after they have lived in many mountains and valleys, they will be together again.

Metaphoric Quotes

“Look at the zigzag of the blanket. Mountains and valleys. Right now you are in the bottom of the valley and your problems loom big around you. But soon, you will be at the top of a mountain again.” (pg 51)

Esperanza takes the unfinished blanket to California and continues to crochet mountains and valleys in it. As her mother, Ramona, gets sick from a Dust Bowl disease, Esperanza lays it on her mother as she’s sick in bed and continues to weave the mountains and valleys in it. 

“Esperanza tucked the blanket around her, hoping that the color from the blanket would slowly seep into Mama’s cheeks.” (pg 177)

Classroom Activity: 

In the classroom, we explore how the mountains represent the wonderful times in Esperanza’s life and the valleys represent the tragedies, the sicknesses, and the never-ending string of hard times. Students draw ten mountains and valleys on a poster board. Students color it and for each mountain, they must explain the good event that occurred in Esperanza’s life in 3 or more sentences, along with a quote to support it. For each valley, they are to do the same thing.

Students then write an essay in which they pick two mountains and two valleys that they believe mostly influenced Esperanza’s life and support their reasoning with analysis and quotes. This project takes about a week of work in the classroom and is a wonderful way to explore the metaphor of mountains and valleys. 

This full project is in our Esperanza Rising Activities: 14 Research Projects , complete with a rubric. For an additional metaphor study, another project that uses art and symbolism to explore metaphors is included in Esperanza Rising Activities: 14 Research Projects , as well. 

3. Dynamic Characters

Esperanza undergoes a huge transformation internally as well as outwardly throughout the book. The novel starts off by introducing Esperanza as a well-loved daughter of a wealthy vineyard owner. Her father threw a fiesta for her birthday every year. He and the servants would sing underneath her window on her birthday as if she were a queen. She was gifted with porcelain dolls and ornate buffets. Then, in a matter of a couple of weeks, her world is turned upside down. She loses her father, loses her comfortable and wealthy lifestyle, and must move to a migrant farm camp in California. Her once large bed is now a dingy mattress on the floor. 

Dynamic Characters

Esperanza is a perfect example of a dynamic character. She faces life without a personal servant to cater to her. In addition, Esperanza is given chores for the first time. She is humbled beyond belief. Plus, she is forced to take on actual jobs once her mother falls ill. She physically changes her appearance, wearing old worn-out clothes, and putting her hair in a long braid, making it easier for her working life. 

In class, we learn about dynamic and static characters. We discuss how Esperanza undergoes so many changes. We explore what specifically caused those changes. Students see how this is a dynamic character, one who undergoes a transformation of some sort.

I like to have students fold a piece of paper in half. On the outside, students draw what Esperanza originally looked like, with her ornate outfits and beautiful hair. They place quotes around the drawing to support Esperanza’s original identity. Then, students lift the paper up and draw what Esperanza likely looks like near the end of the novel. Most drawings show weather-beaten, long, braided hair, old clothes, and maybe even some wrinkles. The students write text-based evidence around the picture to support this new Esperanza.

In our 14 Projects Resource , we have a complete character booklet in which students can explore the various dynamic and static characters, as well as analyze their changes throughout the novel.

4. Historical Context

Some of my favorite novels are historical fiction. As an English and History teacher, I love being able to merge the two concepts in books. If I can emphasize a historical event in a novel, I feel like I can hit two birds with one stone.

Esperanza Rising takes place in the 1930s, smack in the middle of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era. Esperanza and her mother take jobs as migrant workers in California but quickly face discrimination for being of Mexican heritage. The pair faced discrimination when hundreds of Oklahoma residents move to California looking for work due to the Dust Bowl.

Comparison to Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse

I have often used excerpts from the Newberry medal-winning book, Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse. The novel, Out of the Dust , tells the perspective of those living in the Midwest during the Dust Bowl and how hard their plight was, as well. 

Esperanza and her friends face the idea of protesting to gain better wages as Oklahoma residents come in and work for less money. When some of the characters, like Marta, stage protests and uprisings, then Repatriation comes into play. The US government displaced thousands of Mexicans, even legal Mexican-Americans during this time.

The Mexican Revolution was a period in history when the working class rebelled because their land was stolen from them. Esperanza’s father was killed by bandits as a result of tensions between poor working-class families and wealthy landowners in Mexico. Marta’s father was killed during the Mexican Revolution. 

Historical Context

Before reading the book, we learn about the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, Repatriation, and even the Mexican Revolution. We do this through nonfiction passages and articles, social studies textbook excerpts, video clips, and discussion.

By exploring the historical context, students can see the material come to life. They are able to connect more to historical times as they place a face, albeit fictional, within the pages of their history textbook.

I like to have students create a timeline of the actual historical events that occurred during the fictional novel. This gives the students more of a personal connection to the story. Plus, they can see how different true historical events can intertwine with each other.

Students can choose a topic in history to learn more about from the novel and display their findings through a quote and research project. This is a basic project any teacher can implement. Students pick a historical topic that acts as a setting in the book and pull around 10 quotes from the novel that show this setting. Next, students connect the quote to the setting and to a real historical fact through pictures and explanations. Students display the quote, historical fact, and explanation in a type of spiderweb map either on a posterboard or an online presentation. 

To explore the history behind the novel in a full project, grab the Esperanza Rising Activities: 14 Research Projects . Students can choose from 14 historical topics intertwined with the setting. This specific history project contains guidelines for students to make a history presentation and write an essay. A full rubric included with many topics.

5. Types of Conflict

A theme of Esperanza Rising is overcoming conflicts. We explore types of conflict in Esperanza Rising . With so many tragedies, mountains, and valleys, conflicts abound all throughout the book. Between Esperanza’s inner conflict of facing grief head-on to her outer conflict with her long-time best friend, students have a plethora of conflicts to explore.

Types of Conflict

A character vs character conflict we delve into deals with Esperanza and her best friend. For example, Esperanza has been friends with her servant’s son, Miguel, since she was very young. Some even ponder if they would marry one day. However, Esperanza even admits that “In Mexico, we stand on different sides of the river.” (pg 37) . This upsets Miguel as he is a servant’s son and she is wealthy, and this creates conflict. 

The conflict comes up again on page 223. Esperanza is frustrated because Miguel’s life has not gotten better in America as he originally planned. Esperanza yells, “Are you standing on the other side of the river? No! You are still a peasant!” 

Esperanza faces numerous internal conflicts. Two of the largest conflicts are the grief of losing her father and of the possibility of losing her mother. She has to gather courage, grit, and determination to go to work. She must earn money to pay for her mother’s medical bills.

Classroom Activities:

We learn the numerous types of conflict present and explore how the conflicts propel the novel through various writing assignments.

I have found it best to try to have students write a reading response every class period. I want my students to write every English class if possible. Quick, one-paragraph responses are an efficient method to accomplish this. I like to continually explore the various types of conflict throughout the whole novel through the one-paragraph writing responses. 

Writing short responses to explore conflict is a wonderful way to meet many standards.

In our 14 Projects Resource , we have a complete Types of Conflicts graphic organizer specific to Esperanza Rising.

Bonus! Free Classroom Activity

Grab our FREEBIE Esperanza Rising Activities by clicking on the picture below. In the freebie are graphic organizers for chapter title symbolism, mountains and valleys symbolism, a historical timeline, dynamic character development, and reader’s responses.

Click to grab yours today!

5 Bonus Lesson Ideas:

1. cooking lesson ideas.

Project-based learning is a hands-on educational approach in which the student leads their learning. What better way to incorporate culture and project-based learning than to make some of the dishes mentioned in Esperanza Rising ? Make the reading experience even more immersive by engaging in a cooking activity inspired by the book. Esperanza Rising incorporates food not only in each chapter title, but the food is significant to the story.

Cooking, especially for this novel, is a project-based learning activity that is quite hands-on and incorporates many standards. It allows the reader to connect to the deep theme of food. Food is crucial to the characters’ culture. Oftentimes, the dishes show when they are in plenty and when they are lacking. Cooking is how they bond. The food dishes are also a comfort to Esperanza as everything else is changing around her. 

Perhaps your school has a usable kitchen. Maybe you can create a mini one in your classroom with a hot plate and crockpot. (I’ve done this when teaching plenty of times. From exploring Greek food while reading The Odyssey to cooking colonial dishes in history!) Esperanza Rising mentions a variety of food dishes, from almond flan to fruit salad.

Choose a few traditional Mexican dishes mentioned in the story, such as tamales or enchiladas, and involve your students in the preparation process. They can help with measuring ingredients, mixing, and even decorating the final dish. As you cook together, discuss the cultural significance of the dishes and their connection to the story. This activity not only introduces your kids to new flavors and culinary techniques but also promotes cultural appreciation and teamwork while connecting with the novel.

Two recipes and thought-provoking questions are included in Esperanza Rising Activities: 14 Research Projects . 

2. Dramatic Reading Lesson Ideas

Esperanza Rising is full of dramatic scenes and beautifully written lines that the characters speak. I have always wanted this novel to be made into a movie. (If you’re a movie exec reading this, please do so!) This book would be a wonderful play as well. Take advantage of this amazing storyline by incorporating reader’s theater, playwriting, and acting into a classroom activity. 

Organize a mini-play or storytelling session based on the book to bring the story of Esperanza Rising to life through dramatic reading.  Assign specific scenes to groups of students. Perhaps a group of students can reenact the scene in which Ramona meets the lady with the chickens on the train. Another scene could be when Miguel and his family present Esperanza with her father’s roses. 

Students work together in their groups on their specific scene, assigning roles, writing a basic script based on the book, and then acting out the scene. Students can create props and costumes to enhance the experience. Take it a step further and have them record their scene.

This activity promotes public speaking skills, fluency, writing, creativity, and teamwork. It also allows your kids to explore different perspectives by stepping into the shoes of the characters they play.

3. Perspectives Lesson Ideas

Speaking of perspectives, Esperanza Rising is written in the third person point of view. So many events occur in the story to various characters that leave a lot of room for character perspective exploration. As I read this novel, I immediately sympathized with Ramona, the mother. Having lost her husband and then her stability, next her whole life, and being faced with a choice between marrying a man she didn’t love but keeping riches, or rags but being free…what a decision! From thinking about what Esperanza must be feeling or even Miguel and how his dreams of working on trains were frustrated due to the Great Depression. Perspective exploration allows students to connect deeply to the story.

A writing activity for Esperanza Rising incorporates using daily journal prompts to engage students in perspective exploration. Journaling is a powerful activity that allows kids to express what they believe a character’s thoughts and feelings could be as various events happen. Provide students with journal prompts related to resilience, family, friendship, and gratitude, and have them pick a character’s perspective to write about surrounding that theme. For instance, students can express the theme of resilience by writing from Ramona’s perspective, or the theme of friendship by writing through Isabel’s perspective.  

Take it a step further and students can write about how they personally relate to a character’s journey, the challenges they face, and the lessons they take away from the book, which allows for further perspective connection. This activity promotes self-reflection, empathy, and emotional intelligence. It also helps them develop their writing skills and encourages them to engage with literature on a deeper level.

For further perspective writing graphic organizers, grab Esperanza Rising Activities: 14 Research Projects .

4. Character Analysis Lesson Ideas

The characters in Esperanza Rising are richly developed, and this provides ample opportunities for analysis and exploration. From Esperanza herself to Marta, the young immigrant, who is fighting for justice and better working conditions…so many of the characters have varying layers to them. Pam Munoz Ryan doesn’t just focus on the main character. She takes time to explore the depth of each one. 

Have your students create a character profile for each of the characters. This activity allows them to delve deeper into her thoughts, feelings, and motivations throughout the story. Start by discussing each character’s traits and experiences, such as Esperanza’s privileged upbringing in Mexico and her transformation as she faces adversity in the United States.

Encourage your students to use descriptive language and include specific examples from the book to support their analysis. They can create a visual representation of each character by drawing a portrait or using online tools to design an image. This activity not only enhances their understanding of the story but also develops their analytical and creative skills and even technology skills.

For a full 17-page character analysis booklet, in which students find text-based evidence, explore direct and indirect quotes, and compare and contrast characters, grab Esperanza Rising 14 Research Projects. 

5. Community Service   Lesson Ideas

Esperanza Rising highlights the challenges faced by immigrants and migrant workers. From the journey of relocating to securing legal status, from finding an adequate job to the challenge of making enough money to survive, students learn all about the plight of immigrants in the 1930s. Yet, immigration and migrant worker struggles are still present to this day. 

Engage students in a meaningful service project related to immigration or migrant rights or that relates to these issues. This is project based learning at its core as students work cooperatively to solve a real-world problem. Research local organizations or initiatives that support immigrants or advocate for migrant rights.

Your students can organize a food drive or a supplies drive for a shelter, or participate in a fundraising event. Pajama drives and Christmas toy drives are also helpful. Invite a migrant rights lawyer to come to speak to your class. Have students learn that these struggles are still very present to this day.  This activity promotes empathy, social responsibility, and active citizenship. It allows your kids to apply the lessons learned from Esperanza’s story to real-life situations and make a positive impact in their community.

If you teach upper elementary to middle school and have not read or taught Esperanza Rising , by Pam Munoz Ryan, I highly encourage you to do so. This novel is filled with symbolism, metaphors, dynamic characters, historical context, numerous types of conflicts, and so many other opportunities for hands-on learning. Esperanza Rising provides a treasure trove of opportunities for fun and educational activities for kids. Also, this is simply a wonderful book of transformation, courage, and hope. Esperanza, in Spanish, means “hope,” and hope truly does rise throughout this novel as you read it. Every class I’ve ever taught has enjoyed Esperanza Rising , and I know you will too. 

Check out our Printable Cursive Alphabet Posters with ELA Book Characters for your upper elementary to middle school classroom.

Each letter has the name and picture of a book character from an upper elementary to middle school novel. In addition, it not only helps with cursive handwriting but introduces students to characters from different upper elementary and middle school novels. Check it out today!

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Esperanza Rising Novel Study: Activities to Engage All Readers

Finding meaningful historical fiction that students can connect with on a deeper level can be challenging when you’ve got struggling or reluctant learners. That’s one reason I love using Esperanza Rising as part of my classroom novel units.

This book is perfect for a whole-class novel study. Use it as a read-aloud for a class of struggling readers, or upper elementary and early middle schoolers will enjoy the book as part of a book club or literature circle.

This novel study for Esperanza Rising comes in print and digital formats and is the perfect way to build important reading comprehension skills and vocabulary with this amazing story of overcoming adversity.

Summary of Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising is a powerful and thought-provoking novel about Esperanza Ortega, a Mexican girl who was born into the poverty of rural Mexico in 1917.

Esperanza’s family loses their farm to bandits after her father is killed during the Mexican Revolution. She is forced to flee with her mother and brother to California where they must work as migrant laborers picking fruit for meager wages under grueling conditions.

Overall, Esperanza struggles with issues of self-identity as she navigates adolescence. When the experience turns dark, she finally gains a voice and pushes through personal tragedy to heal her soul.

What reading level is Esperanza Rising ?

Esperanza Rising is a Guided Reading Level V and has a Lexile score of 750L. This equates to a DRA level of 40-50, which means it is best suited for 4th-6th grade learners.

As a historical fiction text, it will be important that teachers do some pre-teaching activities to help students understand the historical context of the novel. However, it is definitely worth it! In fact, I’ve even included this as one of my 20 Best Books for 5th Graders .

This Esperanza Rising book study unit includes…

This 10-day literature unit breaks this book into manageable sections. Therefore, each day’s work includes both comprehension activities and vocabulary without extra fluff.

In addition, there are two weeks of daily lesson objectives and paper-saving printables included in this resource.

Here’s more about what you’ll find inside this Esperanza Rising Novel Study:

• Instructional guide with daily comprehension skill, objective, and key Tier 2 & text-based vocabulary
• Comprehension trifolds (provided in color and black & white)
• Reader’s notebook comprehension prompts (matching trifolds)
• Word of the Day text-based vocabulary flipbooks
• Trifold answer keys for easy grading
• Enrichment Mini-Book with engaging projects & activities related to the text

Reading comprehension skills targeted

These novel study resources were purposefully selected to align with the details and plotline of Esperanza Rising . In fact, the materials were written to focus on reading comprehension skills that are often more difficult for struggling readers.

Some of the comprehension skills addressed in this novel study include:

• Generate Predictions
• Compare & Contrast Characters
• Analyze Dialogue
• Make Connections
• Problem & Solution
• Analyze Character Traits
• Cause & Effect
• Perspective Taking
• Generating Summaries
• Evaluating Author’s Craft

The daily lessons target one comprehension skill. This was one for two reasons. First, this lets students focus on quality rather than quantity when it comes to responding to literature.

Unlike many novel studies, this format makes sure your students understand and can apply their knowledge to Esperanza Rising and other texts they read. There isn’t any long list of chapter questions that just require students to regurgitate text here!

The novel study format

Comprehension prompts are provided in three formats, selected to reduce copies while still offering materials for student use.

Here’s an overview of each of the comprehension response formats:

Trifold Novel Format

The trifold format was the original design for this novel study.

Esperanza Rising Book Study foldables use only one piece of paper. Each foldable covers one week of comprehension instruction.

Students respond to a targeted question each day that focuses the day’s reading on the comprehension skill.

From the student’s perspective, the benefit of the trifold is that it is extremely approachable. Each day’s work only takes up a third of the page, and this keeps reluctant writers from shutting down.

From the teacher’s perspective, it easy to collect and grade. Many students use the trifold as a bookmark, helping prevent missing papers.

Learn more about the trifold format .

Reader’s Notebook Format

The Reader’s Notebook prompts are perfect for advanced students, who provide a more in-depth analysis, and struggling writers, who may need more space to write their response.

For advanced readers, the notebook prompts can be used to generate a longer, more detailed response to the daily prompt. This pushes the students to analyze and defend their answers.

However, the notebook prompts are also great for students with fine motor or writing issues because they can be glued onto specialized paper or within a notebook to give students with large handwriting more room to respond.

Regardless of the format selected, the prompt is the same so you can easily have some students working on the trifolds while others use the notebook prompts.

Digital Slides Format

This version is made available through Google Slides. The Digital Novel Study Slides are perfect for virtual learners or for use when students have accommodations that allow for typing instead of written responses.

Both the daily vocabulary and comprehension prompt are included on a single slide. This makes it easy for students to keep track of what they need to complete. This prevents overwhelm and allows you to quickly and easily review work daily.

Finally, graphic organizers and links to external resources are built right into the slides when needed to make things easy for learners.

Academic vocabulary in this Esperanza Rising Literature Unit includes…

The instructional guide includes 40+ academic vocabulary terms. These include general academic vocabulary and skill-specific vocabulary.

First and foremost, it is crucial to teach academic vocabulary explicitly and within context. Struggling learners often lack the vocabulary essential to perform well in school. This includes standardized assessments! This is an easy way to incorporate these into your regular instructional practices. Learn more about why academic vocabulary is important.

Here is a small sample of the academic vocabulary you’ll find included in this Esperanza Rising Book Study:

General vocabulary:

Skill-focused vocabulary:.

• perspective

Text-based vocabulary in Esperanza Rising

Each lesson includes one text-based vocabulary word for students to study. This word comes from the day’s reading. Some of the vocabulary words included in this literature guide are:

• premonition
• unrelenting

In addition to being visually appealing, these vocabulary flipbooks record students’ understanding of the new terms. Designed with conserving copies in mind, the flipbooks require only a half-piece of paper per week.

The Word of the Day Flip Book is designed for use in interactive reading journals.

To use the flipbooks, cut around the outer edge, cut the tabs, and glue them into their notebook. Leave the flaps unglued so they can be lifted. This allows students to write under them.

You can have them generate a definition of the day’s word. Alternatively, you could generate a list of synonyms and antonyms. You can even have students draw a picture of the meaning.

Esperanza Rising Book Study Mini-Book (Bonus)

Finally, we all know how important it is to have students reflect and work through some post-novel study activities . That’s why I’ve added a special bonus to this novel unit.

Students reflect on the big ideas and key elements of the text in this fun mini-book. Then glue it into a reading journal to refer back to all year.

Alternatively, these activities are great for early finishers to complete after the daily activities. You can use them after you finish the book to wrap up the story and engage students in meaningful discussion.

Optional activities you’ll find in this Esperanza Rising Book Study Activity include:

• Character Analysis
• Examining the Elements of Fiction
• Rating & Recommend
• Write a Letter to the Author
• Create a Comic Story Summary
• Character Social Media Profile
• Record and Analyze Figurative Language
• Identify & Analyze Symbolism
• Analyze Text Quotes
• Explore Author’s Message
• Create a Spanish-English Dictionary

Therefore, students get more from the story with these engaging Esperanza Book Study activities because they are fun and meaningful. However, they are provided in a way that doesn’t overwhelm learners. Unlike other novel studies, they’ll never require long written responses or lists of required questions.

How to purchase this Esperanza Rising Novel Study

This Esperanza Rising novel study unit can be purchased directly or from my Teachers Pay Teachers.

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Esperanza Rising Activities for an Unforgettable Novel Study!

If you’re getting ready to teach an Esperanza Rising novel study, be sure to check out these Esperanza Rising activities that are sure to provide an engaging experience from start to finish!

Esperanza Rising is a classic coming-of-age novel that will always have a special place in the upper elementary or middle school teacher’s classroom. Whether you’re venturing into teaching this novel for the first time or on the hunt for fresh, engaging ideas, rest assured you’re in the right place. I’m going to show you how you can create a balanced Esperanza Rising novel study that touches on vocabulary, writing, nonfiction, and literary analysis while also immersing your students in a multicultural journey that sparks curiosity and enthusiasm. Yes, it sounds ambitious, but with the right approach, it’s entirely achievable.

Understanding the Context of Esperanza Rising

Diving into an Esperanza Rising novel study requires a grasp of the novel’s rich historical and cultural backdrop. Set between the 1920s and the 1930s, the story starts with the Mexican Revolution, showcasing the divide between wealthy landowners and the impoverished masses—echoing real events and struggles of the era. Esperanza’s papa is killed by bandits, setting Esperanza’s life on a new trajectory.

Esperanza and her mama move to California, hoping for a fresh start. But what greets them isn’t quite the new beginning they hoped for—they land in the thick of the Great Depression amidst turbulent strikes in the agricultural fields.

Esperanza Rising has rich themes that touch on loss, social class, wealth and privilege, activism, and the importance of hope and resilience. All of this is what makes Esperanza a solid novel year after year!

My Esperanza Rising Unit Plan

Keeping the context of Esperanza Rising in mind, I wanted to create a unit that incorporated the rich historical and cultural aspects while addressing essential ELA skills.

My goal? Keep the novel study to four weeks max. So I started with breaking the novel down into four one-week segments.

Each day of the week, we tackled a daily reading session (about 20 minutes) and then an ELA strand:

• Journal Writing
• Paired Nonfiction Passage
• Literary Element Review
• Hands-on Project

Laid out, the four weeks look like this:

I love using stations for novel studies because they give some kids the chance to work more independently and others to benefit from working in small groups. If you implement stations using the model above, students get to choose which “post-reading” task they do each day, but all five need to be done in the week. However, it’s not a must. You can do the activities together as a whole class or start them whole group and switch to stations later on once everyone knows the drill.

Jumping into Esperanza Rising Vocabulary & Writing Activities

Tackling vocabulary and writing early in our Esperanza Rising novel study sets the stage for a deeper understanding of the text.

I kick things off by focusing on context clues because it’s key for students to build this skill. At the beginning of each week, I give students a list of about 12 to 15 vocab words from the week’s reading. Students predict the meaning of each word based on its context in the sentence, then they look up the real definition. Afterward, they complete a graphic organizer in which they jot down the word and its definition, add a visual, and create a word web.

If anyone finishes early, I’ve got a crossword puzzle waiting in the wings or to tackle later in the week after wrapping up other station activities.

If you’d like to see my Esperanza Rising vocabulary activities, take a look  here.

Writing prompts are another favorite of mine for digging into the novel. They are a fantastic way to process and reflect on what happens. Here are a couple of examples:

After finishing the first chapter, 1924, students read and respond to…

Pam Munoz Ryan begins the book with a flashback to a shared moment between Esperanza and her grandfather, when she felt the earths heartbeat. Think of a time when you felt a deep sense of connection with someone or something outside of yourself. It could be a moment spent with a family member, a pet, or at a special location. Describe what you experience.”

After Chapter 2, I’ll nudge them with another prompt:

When Esperanza was a young girl, she dreamed of marrying Miguel. But now that she is a young woman, she realizes that Miguel is the housekeeper, son, and she is the ranch owners, daughter. Between them, quotation mark a river runs deep. And quotation mark imagine you are Esperanza or Miguel. Rite Aid journal entry related to the scene, sharing your thoughts and feelings. How does this make you feel? How does it affect your relationship?

These prompts usually only need about 5 to 10 minutes of class time for responses, but if we have a moment to spare, I love using the time for a discussion using one of these protocols .

Head over here for a closer look at all my Esperanza Rising writing prompts.

Paired Nonfiction Passages to Build Background Knowledge

Because of the rich historical context of Esperanza Rising mentioned above, pairing nonfiction passages with Esperanza Rising is a very valuable use of time. You can read more about the benefits of using paired passages here , but for now, dive into what this looks like with Esperanza Rising.

The first week of our Esperanza Rising novel study is a good time to explore the Mexican Revolution so that students better understand why Esperanza’s papa was killed. We read about the series of struggles and challenges faced in Mexico during this tumultuous period.

Week two brings us to the California Agricultural Strikes of 1933 . Students grasp the stark realities behind Marta’s words in the novel, understanding that these were real issues that affected many migrant workers in the mid-1930s. We read about the migrant living conditions, why unions are formed, and how things escalated to the point that the federal government got involved. It’s a powerful moment for text-to-world connections as students recognize that unions and strikes are still used today.

By the third week, our focus shifts to the Dust Bowl , exploring the consequences of Manifest Destiny and the harsh farming conditions that led to the “black blizzards.” Students learn about the government incentives to settle and farm the Great Plains… and why it went awry, forcing many to migrate and resettle in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

In our final week, we tackle the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930s, shedding light on the complexities and injustices of that era. It’s a crucial lesson in understanding the varied historical narratives of America and the impact of policy on real lives.

While somewhat dense, these topics offer an interesting glimpse into the past. They help bridge connections to the present and encourage students to think critically about ongoing issues.

Check out my Esperanza Rising paired passages and question sets here.

Exploring Literary Elements with a Flipbook

As we make our way through Esperanza Rising, I like to weave in a review of key literary elements using a flipbook. It’s easy to prep for me, and it lasts for the entire novel study.

Setting:  The first flap is about the setting, pinpointing the story’s two main backdrops and using text quotes to bring these environments to life. Students then explore how the setting affects the story’s outcome.

Characters:  The second flap shifts to characters, specifically Esperanza. We describe what she was like in the beginning and compare it to her evolution by the end.

Conflict:  The third flap discusses the different types of conflict in the novel: person vs. self, person vs. person, person vs. nature, and person vs. society.

Plot:  The fourth flap dives into the plot, and we complete a plot diagram, then discuss the point of view and significance of crocheting and Papa’s roses.

Themes:  Under the final flap, we unpack the novel’s theme.

This flipbook brings the literary elements in Esperanza Rising to life in a structured, interactive way. You can check it out here .

Engaging Hands-On Esperanza Rising Activities

One of my favorite things about teaching upper elementary or early middle schoolers is how much they still love hands-on activities. Here are the projects I recommend to keep the energy up while reading Esperanza Rising.

Create a Yarn Doll:  A memorable scene early in the novel features Esperanza and Ramona on the train to California. Esperanza’s reaction to a little girl’s interest in her porcelain doll leads Mama to create a yarn doll to comfort the child. This activity ties back to a poignant moment in the story and is surprisingly simple. With just a skein of yarn, students can create their own yarn dolls. For a step-by-step guide, this  wikiHow page  is a great resource.

Crochet a Chain:  In the second week, we explore crocheting, a skill that relates to the novel’s themes of perseverance and grit. Armed with crochet hooks and yarn, each student creates a crochet chain.

Build a Dust Storm Shelter:  The third week introduces a STEM challenge. Students design shelters to protect migrant workers against dust storms, reflecting the environmental challenges from the novel. Using common recyclable materials and Makerspace supplies, students put their engineering skills to the test, making the historical context of the story tangible.

Host a Jamaica: During the last and final week of our Esperanza Rising novel study, we have our own Jamaica , a celebration inspired by the story’s rich cultural elements. We enjoy the fruits of each chapter and Jamaican flower punch or Hibiscus water.

These Esperanza Rising activities make the novel fun and help students connect with the story. If you’d like to know more, you check them out here .

Making Your Esperanza Rising Activities Memorable

Esperanza Rising shows students the power of resilience and hope that many of our classrooms desperately need. With the right blend of reading, writing, hands-on activities, and thoughtful discussions, you’ll offer an Esperanza Rising novel study that will stick with your students long after they’ve turned the last page.

If you’d like to see my complete Esperanza Rising Novel Study, click the link below.

I hope this blog has given you some ideas, resources, and structures to guide you through your Esperanza Rising novel study. Questions? Comments? Drop them below! Happy teaching!

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Esperanza Rising Teaching Ideas

• By Gay Miller in Book Units

October 10, 2016

Do you have students who like to hear the story read aloud? You can find the entire novel on Youtube.

Teaching Idea #3 – Ten Interesting Facts . . . The Great Depression

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The Colorful Apple

Novel Engagement: Esperanza Rising

1. Sample Esperanza’s food

Food plays an important role in the novel, Esperanza Rising , both figuratively and literally.  Throughout the book, Esperanza’s life is connected to the variety of crops that are harvested.  Each chapter represents a different fruit or vegetable that plays a significant role in the story.

While you are reading, bring in the different foods that portray major events in Esperanza’s life.  For example, bring in plums for students to try in the Las Ciruelas chapter.  Give students the opportunity to taste them (always check for food allergies first)!

2. Have a heated debate

An important topic that arises in the novel is whether Esperanza and her family should go on strike.  Marta offers up some powerful reasons as to why the workers should refuse to do their jobs.  Esperanza and Miguel’s families, however, strongly believe that a strike would not be a good option.

Divide your class into two groups and have them debate whether or not the characters should go on strike.  Students should use examples from the book (and outside research) to back up their reasonings.

3. Simulate the Dust Storm with a STEM Challenge

Provide students with a variety of STEM materials (tape, cardboard, string, popsicle sticks, saran wrap, etc.) and have them create a cabin similar to the one Esperanza lives in.  The challenge is to construct a building that is strong enough to withstand a dust storm.

Students can work in groups or pairs to design their cabin over the course of a few hours or days.  Once all structures are completed, use a hair dryer to simulate the storm.  I recommend testing the structures outside!  Which cabin will be strong enough?

4. Design a scrapbook for Esperanza

As a culminating project for Esperanza Rising , have students create a scrapbook of her adventures over the course of the novel.  Each page of the scrapbook could represent one chapter of the book. The illustrations, captions and wording that students use on each page should show their understanding of the events of each chapter.

5. Create a Reader’s Theater for Esperanza Rising

What better way to engage students in what they are reading than having them get up and reenact it?  Create a few small groups in your class and have them each choose a scene to act out (or you can assign them specific ones).

Students can simply use the book or re-write the scene to make it easier to read.  Have them choose roles and practice acting.  They can even add props and costumes to enhance their performance!  Once they are ready, each group can perform in front of their class (or visit another class to share!).

6. Create a piñata

In the Los Aguacates chapter, Esperanza shares her piñata for Mama with the children in Marta’s camp.  In the following chapter, she goes back to the camp with Miguel to discover that the piñata has been “…beaten with a stick, its insides torn out.”

Bring in materials to create a piñata with your class (or get one from a party store) .  Allow students to (safely!) beat the piñata apart.  Then have a discussion about what it means to be “beaten apart” and how it connects to the characters in the novel.

7. Listen to Esperanza Rising on Audio

Audio books are an amazing way for students to experience a book, especially one that has a different language in it.  Your class will be able to hear the correct pronunciation of all the Spanish words and names with a beautiful accent.  The narrator portrays the raw and powerful emotions as she takes the listeners through the story.  I highly recommend listening to at least a few of the chapters of Esperanza Rising on audio !

8. Track the mountains and valleys of Esperanza’s life

Abuelita tells Esperanza that “…after you have lived many mountains and valleys, we will be together.”  As you read the novel, track Esperanza’s obstacles and successes on a chart paper, illustrating it to look like mountains and valleys.  I used banner paper  to create this visual for students, since it got quite long as we wrapped it around the classroom.

9. Research the settings of Esperanza Rising

Both the geographical place and the historical time period are pivotal to Esperanza’s experiences in the novel.  Keep a map on the wall for students to access while discussing the locations in the book – Mexico and California.  Bring in resources for students to learn about Mexico in the 1930s and the Mexican Revolution.  Discuss how the settings have a strong impact on Esperanza’s life.

10. Create a figurative language quilt

Esperanza Rising relies on many instances of figurative language to capture Esperanza’s complex emotions and the vivid settings of the story.  Have students search for examples of metaphor, simile, personification, idiom or hyperbole in the text.

Next, ask them to depict each example in an illustration to explain its meaning and significance.  Give each student a square piece of paper for their drawing.  On their paper, they should write the quote from the book and the type of figurative language, along with their illustration.  Once they are all done, stitch the squares together to form a classroom quilt.

Grab the Esperanza Rising Novel Study before you begin reading with your class.  By engaging your students in their reading, it will be a book experience they won’t soon forget!

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Book Club Report: Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

February 28, 2022 By Maya Mahony

An update from our thirty-third book club meeting!

On February 26th, we discussed Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. This uplifting and beautifully-written novel follows thirteen-year-old Esperanza Ortega. She has a charmed childhood as the daughter of a wealthy ranch-owner in Mexico, but a tragedy causes her to flee to the United States with her mother. In California, Esperanza and her mother become farmworkers, and must navigate poverty, racism, and labor strikes with the support of new friends.

Everybody said that they had really enjoyed Esperanza Rising, and we all shared our favorite moments in the book. We started our discussion by talking about the evolving relationship between Esperanza and her friend Miguel. Back in Mexico, when Miguel was Esperanza’s parents’ servant, Esperanza had said there was ‘a deep river’ between them. We discussed what we thought this river symbolized, and agreed that it meant the gulf of wealth between them, which made Esperanza unwilling to have a relationship with him. We also agreed that it was satisfying to watch this dynamic change over the course of the book.

Then we had a debate: would we have chosen to join the labor strike if we had been farmworkers like Esperanza? Most people said they would have been too scared to join the strike, out of fear of being deported, but one student said she would join the strike because she wanted to work for better wages. It was interesting to hear everybody’s different opinions!

Next we talked about proverbs, or sayings, like the ones that Esperanza’s father and grandmother always told her. It was fun hearing proverbs from different people’s families.

Last but not least, it was creative writing time! Since Esperanza Rising was based on the life story of the author’s grandmother, students had a choice to write down a story they remembered from a grandparent or other elderly person in their life. Or, they could write about a fruit harvest, like in the novel, using all the different senses to make it come alive. Some students chose to share out their writing with the group. It was lovely to hear about people’s grandparents, and the way they described the harvest with detail.

I really enjoyed this month’s book club meeting, and am looking forward to next month, when we will be discussing The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell.

Our next book, to be discussed March 26: The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

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Esperanza Rising Plot Summary

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities.

• This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides

Use this lesson plan with your class!

A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures, such as five act structure .

Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

Example Esperanza Rising Plot Diagram

Esperanza lives with her mother, father, and abuelita (grandmother) on El Rancho de las Rosas, a large vineyard in 1930s Mexico. Due to the family land, wealth, and faithful servants, Esperanza has lived a happy and privileged life with plenty of food, dresses, toys, and fun.

When Papa is killed by bandits, his brothers, Tio Luis and Tio Marco, try to take over his home. When Mama refuses to marry Tio Luis, he burns down the house and vineyard. After this, Mama and Esperanza decide to secretly move to the U.S. with their servants Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel. Sadly, they must leave Abuelita behind for now.

Rising Action

Esperanza has difficulty adjusting to the work and the poor conditions in the farm camps in Los Angeles. When Mama is sent to the hospital, she begins working in the fields to support them. Each week, Esperanza saves a little money to pay for Abuelita's journey to the U.S. She never knows if the work will last, though, due to the threat of labor strikes.

Esperanza reaches her breaking point and tells Miguel she no longer has hope for the future. The next day, Miguel disappears, taking Esperanza's money with him.

Falling Action

Eventually, Mama comes home from the hospital. A little later, Miguel returns home with a surprise: he has brought Abuelita all the way from Mexico!

Esperanza celebrates her first birthday after Papa's death. She has struggled through many difficulties, but grown stronger as a result. Her family is back together, and she once again has hope for the future.

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a visual plot diagram of Esperanza Rising .

• Click "Start Assignment".
• Separate the story into the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
• Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components.
• Write a description of each of the steps in the plot diagram.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: Plot Diagrams and Narrative Arcs

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

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Esperanza Rising

By pam muñoz ryan.

• Esperanza Rising Summary

The novel opens in el Rancho de las Rosas in Aguascalientes, Mexico. 12-year-old Esperanza lives a charmed life with her Papa , Mama , Abuelita , and several servants and workers. Esperanza is very close to Papa. He feels a strong connection to the land and teaches Esperanza how to listen to the heartbeat of the earth. The day before Esperanza's thirteenth birthday, she pricks her finger on a thorn - a sign of bad luck. Later that night, Esperanza and her family receive the terrible news that Papa has been killed by bandits.

Papa's stepbrothers, Tío Luis and Tío Marco , are both powerful men in Aguascalientes. Together, they try to manipulate the situation after Papa's death in order to seize el Rancho de las Rosas. Tío Luis offers to marry Mama and threatens her when she turns him down. Shortly after Papa's death, Esperanza wakes up to find their home on fire. Everybody escapes, but Abuelita hurts her ankle and all of the crops are burnt to a crisp. Without a home or any source of income, Mama agrees to marry Tío Luis. Later, she tells Esperanza that her acceptance is simply a diversion so she can plan their escape to the United States. One night, Alfonso , Hortensia , and Miguel sneak out of Aguascalientes and leave Mexico for good. Abuelita must stay behind in a convent because her injury prevents her from traveling.

Newly penniless, Esperanza struggles to adjust to her new social status during the journey to the United States. After several days on the train, the group arrives in California. Alfonso's brother, Juan , comes to pick them up. Juan and his wife, Josefina , have three children: Isabel , who is a bit younger than Esperanza, and twin babies, Pepe and Lupe. Esperanza is shocked to see her new home: a cramped, shared cabin in a migrant workers' camp.

Isabel teaches Esperanza how to do household chores. Once Isabel goes to school, Esperanza must care for the babies and the house on her own while everyone else works in the fields. She has never done manual labor before and struggles to learn. She develops a rivalry with Marta , a young politically-minded woman who is organizing the migrant workers to strike for better living conditions.

One day, a dust storm ravages the San Joaquin Valley. Everyone returns home safely, but Mama becomes sick with Valley Fever. Unwell and unable to work, Mama stays at home while Esperanza starts working in the field. Mama becomes sicker and must be moved to the hospital. In order to pay the medical bills, Esperanza takes on more work, despite the danger that the upcoming strike may pose.

The strike occurs during the asparagus harvest. However, immigration officials break it up and haul several strikers away to be deported. Esperanza later finds Marta hiding in a shed. Instead of turning her in to the officials, Esperanza helps Marta escape. In her new role as head of the house, Esperanza grows tremendously and is able to balance all of her chores while looking after Isabel and the babies.

Eventually, Mama returns from the hospital. Esperanza's contentment is short-lived, though, when Miguel loses his mechanic job to workers from Oklahoma who are willing to work for less. Esperanza becomes outraged and picks a fight with Miguel about the social position of Mexican migrant workers in the United States. Miguel is gone the next morning. Soon after his departure, Esperanza discovers that the money she had been saving to bring Abuelita to the United States is gone. Frustrated and angry, Esperanza throws herself into her work.

A few days later, Miguel returns to California with Abuelita, whom he managed to sneak out from under the watchful eye of Tío Luis. It turns out he took Esperanza's money to do exactly what she had planned to do with it. In the year after Papa's death, Esperanza's life comes full circle. Her family is together and she has found happiness once again.

Esperanza Rising Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Esperanza Rising is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What happened to Esperanza's hands? What did Hortensia do to make them better?

Due to all of the work she has been doing, Esperanzas's hands have become rough and calloused. Hortensia makes an avocado salve to soothe her injuries, but Esperanza knows that no remedy will ever restore her hands to their former softness.

I'm sorry, did you have a question regarding Esperanza rising?

What are some things the strikers do to try to accomplish their mission? Do you agree or disagree with their methods? Explain.

There are people holding signs all over the camp, urging everyone else to join the strike. Some throw rocks and hurl insults at the workers going in. I can understand their frustrations at the bad working conditions and low pay. It seems like a...

Study Guide for Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising study guide contains a biography of Pam Muñoz Ryan, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Esperanza Rising
• Esperanza Rising Video
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Esperanza Rising

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Esperanza Rising
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Esperanza Rising Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Esperanza Rising

• Introduction

Esperanza Rising, Novel BACKGROUND INTRO & EDITABLE BOOK REPORT template-PPT

Products in this Bundle (2)

Description.

This NONFICTION PowerPoint bundle provides digital pre-reading resources & factual historical background information for Esperanza Rising by Pam M Ryan BL 5.3, PLUS, a Digital Book Report Template!

**Audiobook link included

1. HISTORICAL POWERPOINT: • Opening slide -genre, author photo and short bio.

• Setting slides -Location facts, photos, maps -Time period facts, photos and links -Link to period music -Links to historical video clips

*Assessments

-Pre and Post assessments and answer key

DIGITAL USES IN THE CLASSROOM: · Introduce new story · Provide factual backstory to historical fiction text · Stimulate group discussion · Create predictions about text · Use as distance learning resource · Post on webpage for review · Add to electronic notebooks · Provide test review · Prompt Writing or Research assignments

2. CULMINATING BOOK REPORT PROJECT - e ditable template

This PowerPoint template has been designed to assist students in creating an upper elementary historical fictional book project. The editable slides are highly organized with titles of story elements needed for a thorough project. The end product may be used as a Reading assessment. Questions and prompts are included so students will always include all critical information.

Teachers can adapt the template to their needs and the needs of their students. The template is perfect to support Special Education students, ESL students, struggling students, or guide the entire class!

Fictional story mapping includes elements such as exposition, rising action, character traits, climax, turning point……. The slides are logically organized and allow for adding photos or drawings. Slides can be deleted, and others added where needed.

This PowerPoint template will allow all students to complete their Reading Project, book report, or assessment and present an end product of which they are they proud!

This lesson is also available in Google slides. Enjoy -from Kiwious About Vocab!

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Pam muñoz ryan.

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Thirteen-year-old Esperanza Ortega lives a life of abundance and luxury on her father Sixto ’s sprawling vineyard, El Rancho de las Rosas. It is 1930, and in Aguascalientes, Mexico, the pain and tumult of the Mexican Revolution has at last begun to subside—or at least the sheltered Esperanza believes. She and her family enjoy a lush, beautiful life full of happiness and plenty, and Esperanza hopes that she will never have to leave her family’s ranch—even as she grows increasingly aware of an invisible “ river ” that divides her from others, such as her housemaid Hortensia ’s teenage son, Miguel . The day before Esperanza’s birthday, at the start of the grape harvest, she picks flowers in her father’s rose garden and waits for him to come home from a day in the fields. When he doesn’t arrive, though, Esperanza and her mother grow worried. Hortensia sends her husband Alfonso —the boss of all the field workers and Sixto’s good friend—out with Miguel to look for Papa. While the family sits up and waits, Esperanza’s Abuelita comforts her with a crocheting lesson, in which she urges Esperanza not to be afraid of starting over in the face of a mistake. Papa’s older stepbrothers, the shady Luis and Marco , come by the house to offer their good wishes, but Esperanza is wary of their presence. Late that night, Alfonso and Miguel at last return with Papa’s body in the back of their wagon. He has been killed by a group of bandits—though Papa was a kind, generous man who loved the land and all of the people he employed to work on it, many people in Mexico harbor resentment towards wealthy landowners like Sixto.

As Papa’s funeral—and Esperanza’s birthday—fly by, all is a hazy storm of grief and commotion. Marco and Luis come by the house each day to meet with lawyers and “take care of the family business,” but in a meeting to settle Sixto’s will, it becomes clear that they are trying to take over his land and wealth. Luis proposes marriage to Esperanza’s mother Ramona in an attempt to secure control of the ranch—and bolster his upcoming campaign for governor—but Ramona refuses, telling him that she will never agree to marry him. That night, Esperanza is awoken by Ramona shaking her—the house is on fire. Ramona, Esperanza, Abuelita, Miguel, Hortensia, and Alfonso escape with their lives, but the house and the vineyard are burnt to the ground by morning. Luis arrives to “comfort” Ramona—and to offer her a chance to reconsider his proposal—and it becomes clear that he and Marco have burned the ranch down in an attempt to blackmail Ramona. She tells Luis she’ll consider his offer, but once he leaves the ranch, she privately meets with Alfonso, Hortensia, Miguel, and Esperanza to come up with a plan for how they can escape Luis’s clutches. Alfonso and Hortensia, now out of a job on the ranch, declare their intent to travel to California and join Alfonso’s brother and his family working on a company farm. They offer Ramona the chance to come with them, but warn her that the work will be physical and demanding. Ramona says she’s ready for anything. The next day, she tells Luis that she accepts his proposal, but over the next several days, schemes with the group and with her neighbor, Señor Rodriguez , to devise an escape plan. Esperanza is devastated to learn that they’ll have to leave the frail Abuelita behind, but as they part ways, Abuelita reminds Esperanza that life is a series of “mountains and valleys,” just like in crochet.

Late one night, Esperanza and the others hastily set out on their journey. They will be taking a wagon to the nearby town of Zacatecas to board a train there, away from the watchful eyes of Esperanza’s powerful uncles. At the station, though, Esperanza is shocked and horrified to realize she and her family will be travelling in steerage with “peasants.” Ramona urges Esperanza to understand that they, too, are now poor peasants, and no better than anyone else on the train—but Esperanza clings to Papa’s final present to her, a beautiful porcelain doll, and refuses to accept her fate.

After an arduous journey, Esperanza, Ramona, and the others arrive in California. They’re greeted by Alfsonso’s family—his brother and sister-in-law Juan and Josefina , and their children Isabel , Lupe , and Pepe . Isabel, a girl of eight, wants to hear all of Esperanza’s stories about her beautiful life back in Mexico and how rich she once “was.” Esperanza insists she’s still rich, and is just awaiting the arrival of her wealthy Abuelita. After arriving at the farm, Esperanza is shocked by the pitiful living conditions—there is no indoor plumbing, and the cabin she, Ramona, Hortensia, Miguel, and Alfonso must share is small and drafty. Esperanza meets a girl named Marta , who teases her for being a “princess,” and Esperanza worries she’ll never be happy again. The next morning, as Mama and Hortensia go to work in the fields, Isabel helps Esperanza learn her way around the camp, and introduces her to some of their neighbors including the kindly Irene and Melina . When Isabel tries to instruct Esperanza in some housework, she is amazed to realize how little Esperanza knows about taking care of herself, and endeavors to teach her to watch the babies, do laundry, cook, and clean house. Meanwhile, Miguel and Alfonso reveal that they have salvaged some stems from Papa’s beloved rose garden and replanted them out back in hopes they’ll bloom. A large fiesta in the middle of camp is a nice distraction for everyone, but quickly grows serious when the radical Marta takes center stage and announces that a strike for better wages and conditions will be starting soon. Many boo her out of the party, but it’s clear that she has a strong group of supporters behind her.

Just as Esperanza gets a handle on caring for the babies and keeping house all day, the arrival of a terrible dust storm shakes things up. Mama falls ill with Valley Fever, an infection of the lungs, and is taken into the hospital to recover. Esperanza fears the worst, and falls into a depression. She knows she must work to bring some money in, though, and begins going to work at the packing shed with Hortensia and Josefina. Rumors of the strike have spread throughout the camp, and anxieties are high. Though white Americans from places like Oklahoma are willing to work for pennies, threatening the Mexican workers’ job stability, participating in a strike for fairer wages and better housing could put them out of a job entirely and force them to roam about migrant camps looking for work. Esperanza understands the value of the strike, but is determined to keep working no matter what. Even though the work is difficult and has transformed Esperanza’s hands into cracked, dry claws, she is determined to save enough money to bring Abuelita to America.

On the weekends, Esperanza visits Mama—but one day, she’s told that the infection has worsened and Mama cannot have any visitors. Miguel takes Esperanza into town to cheer her up, but when they run into Marta and her mother on the way back, Esperanza is filled with jealousy. In the midst of Esperanza’s misery, Marta looks forward to the start of the strike while Miguel celebrates having at last secured a job as a railroad mechanic. The strike begins, and Esperanza and her fellow workers are tormented daily for crossing the picket line, but remain desperate to hold onto their jobs. When at last la migra , or the immigration police, arrive at the farm to deport anyone caught striking, Esperanza helps Marta disguise herself as a worker—but when she and Miguel go to check up on Marta the next day, they can’t find any sign of her or her mother anywhere.

As Isabel and Miguel suffer racist treatment at work and school, Esperanza grows increasingly frustrated with the conditions she’s found herself in. One night, she explodes and vents to Miguel about how life is not better in America for anyone. Miguel urges Esperanza to remain positive, but she cruelly tells him she won’t stand for his blind hope. The morning after their argument, Esperanza wakes to find that Miguel has left the farm to look for railroad work in northern California. She is overcome with guilt and worry—but is momentarily distracted when she receives the good news that Mama has recovered enough to return home. On Mama’s first day back, Esperanza opens her valise to show her mother all the money she’s worked so hard to save—but is shocked when she finds that all of her funds are gone. Everyone believes that Miguel has stolen the money, and Alfonso promises to pay Esperanza back.

Mama grows stronger, and Papa’s roses begin to bloom at last. Things are easy and nice for a change—and then one day Alfonso receives word that Miguel is returning by bus to Los Angeles. Everyone goes to the station to meet him, concerned and confused—but they are delighted when he steps off the bus with none other than Abuelita. Miguel took Esperanza’s money to go to Mexico and retrieve her, and as they all arrive back at the farm and reunite Abuelita and Ramona, a happiness fills their humble home.

The day before her fourteenth birthday, Esperanza asks Miguel to drive her out to the foothills—she wants to listen for the earth’s heartbeat, a tradition she and her father began when she was small. As Esperanza urges Miguel to lie down in the grass with her and listen for the sounds of the earth, she pictures herself floating high in the air, looking down on all her loved ones, and at last crossing a torrential river to land, with Miguel, on the other side. At Esperanza’s birthday celebration, there are no presents to open, but the house is filled with love, joy, and warmth. Esperanza teaches Isabel to crochet, and repeats Abuelita’s most important lesson: in the face of difficulty or mistakes, one must never be afraid to start all over again.

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