![Picture](/uploads/5/0/5/9/50595681/6174079.jpg?181)
Ryan, P.M. (2000). Esperanza rising. New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN: 0-439-12042-X
Genre: Historical Fiction, Multicultural
Grade Level: 6-8
Awards: Pura Belpré Award
Summary: At the beginning of the book, Esperanza lives on her family’s ranch in Mexico in the years following the Mexican Revolution. When her father is killed by bandits, Esperanza and her mother learn that the family ranch is legally supposed to be passed down to Esperanza’s evil uncle, Tío Luis. When Tío Luis proposes to Esperanza’s mother, Ramona, she refuses, and Luis promises retribution. After the family house burns down, Luis offers marriage again, and Ramona accepts, on the terms that the house is rebuilt. However, Ramona has no intention to marry Luis, but instead sets up a plan to escape to California. Tricking Luis into giving her money, Ramona escapes Mexico and flees to America with Esperanza and a few servants. Unfortunately, they have to leave Esperanza’s grandmother behind because she hurt her ankle in the house fire. Arriving in California during the Great Depression, Esperanza and her mother take up residence in a labor camp, and both work to support themselves. Esperanza works to save money to bring her grandmother to California, but when she finally has enough, she realizes all of her money has been stolen. Luckily, the money was taken by one of Esperanza’s friends, who used it to bring Esperanza’s grandmother to California, and the family is finally reunited.
Activity: After reading the book, help students think about certain characters by using Literary Report Cards. Instead of grading based on academics, students can grade literary characters based off of personality traits. For each personality trait listed on the report card, students assign a grade and explain why they chose that grade. For this activity, it does not matter what the students grade the character, as long as they can support their decision. Allow students to review the grades they gave on the report cards in small groups. Attached is a sample report for Esperanza, but any character can be used with a variety of personality traits.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Multicultural
Grade Level: 6-8
Awards: Pura Belpré Award
Summary: At the beginning of the book, Esperanza lives on her family’s ranch in Mexico in the years following the Mexican Revolution. When her father is killed by bandits, Esperanza and her mother learn that the family ranch is legally supposed to be passed down to Esperanza’s evil uncle, Tío Luis. When Tío Luis proposes to Esperanza’s mother, Ramona, she refuses, and Luis promises retribution. After the family house burns down, Luis offers marriage again, and Ramona accepts, on the terms that the house is rebuilt. However, Ramona has no intention to marry Luis, but instead sets up a plan to escape to California. Tricking Luis into giving her money, Ramona escapes Mexico and flees to America with Esperanza and a few servants. Unfortunately, they have to leave Esperanza’s grandmother behind because she hurt her ankle in the house fire. Arriving in California during the Great Depression, Esperanza and her mother take up residence in a labor camp, and both work to support themselves. Esperanza works to save money to bring her grandmother to California, but when she finally has enough, she realizes all of her money has been stolen. Luckily, the money was taken by one of Esperanza’s friends, who used it to bring Esperanza’s grandmother to California, and the family is finally reunited.
Activity: After reading the book, help students think about certain characters by using Literary Report Cards. Instead of grading based on academics, students can grade literary characters based off of personality traits. For each personality trait listed on the report card, students assign a grade and explain why they chose that grade. For this activity, it does not matter what the students grade the character, as long as they can support their decision. Allow students to review the grades they gave on the report cards in small groups. Attached is a sample report for Esperanza, but any character can be used with a variety of personality traits.
Literary Report Card
Hope Academy
Student: Esperanza Ortega
Grade Scale: A-outstanding, B-above average, C-average, D-below average, E-poor
Characteristic | Grade | Comments
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Patient | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Caring | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Imaginative | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Accepting | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hope Academy
Student: Esperanza Ortega
Grade Scale: A-outstanding, B-above average, C-average, D-below average, E-poor
Characteristic | Grade | Comments
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Patient | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Caring | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Imaginative | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Accepting | |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Literary Report Cards adapted from: Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-Based reading activities (6th ed., pp. 97-99). New York, NY: Pearson.