Esperanza+Rising

Esperanza Rising
We started this book on May 4th.

Daisy~This book is so good it's one of my favorite storys it has a lot of spanish words ( Tio,Aguantate tantito y la fruta caea en tu mano,cuidate los dedos,fiesta,la cosecha,ole,quineaneras) i know those words.

Miss G- I agree with you Daisy. I love the Spanish words because it makes the story and the characters more believable. I just finished this book on Friday, May 14th. It was hard for me to get into this book at the beginning, but then I couldn't put it down. Esperanza (the main character) lived in Mexico on a beautiful farm. Her family was very wealthy and even had servants. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes and Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave Mexico. They work as farmers or //campesinas// in the United States. The conditions in the immigrant camp is nothing like the life Esperanza is used to. She has to really mature and change her way of living and thinking in order to survive and be happy in the camp.

Hannah~ This was a very good book because it basically taught you spanish. It basically taught you spanish because it would say the sentence in spanish and then say what it ment in english. Also because it toght you to love the things you have because someday they will be gone and that theme taught me to try not to argue with my parents so much because as I get older we may never forgive each other and while we haven't forgave each other she'll be gone and I'll be living with gult the rest of my life. It also is a good book because at first Esperanza is very judgementall about the people at camp but in the end she learns she is like everyone else.

Questions for the Club:

What are the themes in this story? *Brittany be thankful for what you have live life to its fullest because it only takes seconds for it to disapear. treat others the way you want to be treated there are many moutains and valleys in life when your down just come back up* ​ ​Miss G- I agree with Brittany. I think the major theme in this story is be thankful for what you have, because it can be gone in a second. Some other themes are learn to be independent, don't judge others, and do whatever it takes to provide for your family. Esperanza has to grow up a lot when she arrives in the United States. She didn't even know how to sweep. Later she changes and learns how to be independent. She became a //campesina//, like the others. When she first arrives in the camp in the United States, she judges and looks down upon the members of the camp. It takes her a while to realize that she is not above them.

In what ways do you think Esperanza changed in the story? *Brittany her attitude chaned with things she started kind the stingy and judged people by the way they looked then she changed she became nicer and very giving. she got her mothers personality. she was like a mother to many. with a little hard work she made it to being oh so very kind like her mothr. when she gave her doll her fauther gave her before he died that really showed how much she changed it started off not even leting a little kid touuch it to giving it away. she went to mean to a kind person.*

Would you recommend this book to other students? Why or why not?  Daisy~Yes I would recommend to other students because it's verygood it's not boring at al for me I wish that there will be a second book of it so are bookclub can read.
 * Brittany Yes i would it is a greatbook and it is not like one ofthose boring books like some people in class thought my book was weird but they had NEVER read it dont judge a book by its cover. Yes i admit it is a little slow going but once yuo really get into it its great. Hannah didn't really think it was that ninteresting when i started seing is as a grat book. that shows it is different for different people. it could get good fast or it could be slow. Esperenza goes through so much in such a short time as a fourth or fifth grader you could really feel what she is going through throughout this book. thats why i encourage many people to read this book *

What was your favorite or not favorite part about the end? Why or Why not ? Miss G- I did not like the way the book didn't explain what happened with Esperanza and Miguel. I would have liked to see them get married. If you read the author's note, it does seem that her grandma (Esperanza) who the story is written about marries a mechanic like Miguel.

What was your favorite part about the beginning? Why or why not? Miss G- I liked the description of the ranch. I definitely could picture the setting. For me it was a little slow to get going, but by about chapter 4, I was hooked. I loved when she talked about hearing the Earth's heartbeat. It made me want to try it.

If you could write a sequal what would it be about? Miss G- I think I would have it be about Esperanza and Miguel living their lives in America. Maybe they could go back to Mexico to visit. Also, they could have kids and maybe they end up making enough money to move out of the immigrant camp. Daisy~If there was a sequal I think Miguel and Esperanza will have kids.