Esperanza Rising
by Pam Muñoz Ryan · Grade 5-7 · Ages Ages 10-13
Esperanza lives a comfortable life on her family’s ranch in Mexico, but after a sudden family trouble, she and her mother must leave for California. There, Esperanza has to learn a very different way of life in a farm workers’ camp during the Great Depression.
Key vocabulary
Esperanza means “hope” in Spanish. It is also the main character’s name.
A rancho is a ranch, a large place where people may grow crops or raise animals.
A migrant is a person who moves from one place to another, often to find work or a safer home.
A harvest is the time when ripe fruits, vegetables, or grains are picked from the fields.
A vineyard is a field where grapes grow on vines.
A campesino is a farm worker or peasant, especially in Spanish-speaking places.
A siesta is a short rest or nap, often taken in the afternoon.
Abuelita means “grandmother” in Spanish. It is a warm, loving way to say grandma.