Esperanza is a rich (and at times spoiled) girl in Mexico during the 1920's. When her father dies, she and her mother immigrate to California and become farm workers; the only tangible evidence of her past life is her birthday doll. The resulting experiences of living conditions, friendships, prejudice, strikers, and the Depression all affect Esperanza into growing beyond her expectations.
(I had to ask...) "esperanza" translates to "hope" in English so the title means "[Hope] Rising" which is exactly what I felt. I was pleased to note that Esperanza was not spoiled to the point of "I can't stand this girl!" but just enough to have hope she could change. Her situation is rough but not so dire as to give up hope for making something good out of it.
I liked how each chapter was named after a crop!
Read Also:
Patty Reed's Doll: the story of the Donner Party by Rachel K. Laurgaard is another young girl's experiences losing most everything as her family travels to California. Again, the doll plays an integral role representing a more innocent time.
Lynne Reid Banks' Maura's Angel tells the story of Maura growing up during the Troubles in Ireland where Catholic and Protestant literally shoot it out. In this book, the angel takes the place of a doll.
To throw in a classic, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (author of The Secret Garden) follows Sarah who loses everything in a country far from her home. Her doll, Emily, is from her past life but remains with her representing hope of things getting better again.
Cute. Interesting. Perhaps worth checking out
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