Esperanza Ortega lives a privileged life on her large family farm Rancho de las Rosas in Mexico. Gorgeous dresses, servants at her side and with a loving Mama and Papa who adore her, Esperanza enjoys her private school, family traditions and beautiful home.

One night her world is torn from under her by bandits in the dark. Before long, she has lost not only a loved one, but her home, friends, school and future to those she never would have dreamed of betrayal.

Esperanza flees Mexico with her Mama and servants from her home. Always having seen these servants like family, they are what they now rely on for food, shelter and work. This work comes in the form of fieldwork in the United States. Year round there are peaches, asparagus, potatoes, and cotton to pick – back breaking work for meagre wages. This is the time of The Great Depression and there is always a hundred or more ready to step into your job if you complain.

Esperanza Rising is a story of Riches to Rags, Princess to Pauper, Disbelief to Courage and growing up faster than children should. This novel is based on the author’s own grandmother who faced the US Immigration sweeps of immigrant farming communities in order to combat rampant unemployment and to control Mexican labourers who went on strike for fair pay, housing and treatment.

Hundreds of thousands of people were rounded up if they even looked Mexican, whether they had been born in the US, had the correct immigration papers, or never caused any trouble. Transported over the Mexican / US border, they had nothing with them except the clothes they wore to the fields that day.

Another little known story of prejudice and racism, Esperanza Rising is still uplifting as a young girl steps up when she is faced with the unthinkable, doing what she needs to do for not only herself, but others and her own mother, to survive. Inspiring.

Author – Pam Muñoz Ryan

Age – 10+

(2002, Scholastic, Mexico, The Great Depression, Immigrant, Prejudice, Racism, Field work, Pickers, Strike action, Family, Courage, Betrayal, Greed, Grief, Land owner, Mexican, Rich and Poor, Wealth and Poverty, Grandmother, Historical)