by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza lives an enchanted, pampered life; that is, until her papa suffers an untimely death and her evil Tío Luís forces her mother to make a difficult decision rendering them penniless. As a result, Esperanza and her mother must immigrate to the United States with the family who once served hers. After they arrive, Esperanza learns many housekeeping skills while the adults work on a California farm labor camp. When her mother contracts Valley Fever, Esperanza becomes a field-worker as well. Although she no longer possesses the treasures from her past in Mexico, as she embraces her new life, she discovers life's greater treasures.
This chapter book, written for children aged five to eight, is multifaceted. It accurately depicts the circumstances of a Mexican family escaping across the border in order to survive. It also captures the plight of immigrant labor camp workers in 1924 and the struggle of whether or not to participate in a strike. Pam Muñoz Ryan expertly knits these elements within this beautiful coming-of-age story, inspired by Ryan's own grandmother's experiences. Readers and listeners will be inspired by the overarching theme: do not be afraid to start over.
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Author, Pam Muñoz Ryan's website: http://www.pammunozryan.com/
Book trailer:
Mexican immigration during the Great Depression: https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/mexican6.html
