Summary:
Esparanza is a young girl who lives in Aquacalientes, Mexico and has her life turned upside down, literally overnight. After several unfortunate events, Esparanza must start a new life in California; she soon realizes that her old life is over forever and she must move on, and make the most of her new life, because there is no point in living in the past.
Citation:
Ryan, P. M. (2000). Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
Review:
Booklist (December 1, 2000 (Vol. 97, No. 7))“Gr. 5-8. Moving from a Mexican ranch to the company labor camps of California, Ryan's lyrical novel manages the contradictory: a story of migration and movement deeply rooted in the earth. When 14-year-old Esperanza's father is killed, she and her mother must emigrate to the U.S., where a family of former ranch workers has helped them find jobs in the agricultural labor camps. Coming from such privilege, Esperanza is ill prepared for the hard work and difficult conditions she now faces. She quickly learns household chores, though, and when her mother falls ill, she works packing produce until she makes enough money to bring her beloved abuelita to the U.S.. Set during the Great Depression, the story weaves cultural, economic, and political unrest into Esperanza's poignant tale of growing up: she witnesses strikes, government sweeps, and deep injustice while finding strength and love in her family and romance with a childhood friend. The symbolism is heavy-handed, as when Esperanza ominously pricks her finger on a rose thorne just before her father is killed. But Ryan writes movingly in clear, poetic language that children will sink into, and the books offers excellent opportunities for discussion and curriculum support” (Titlewave 2011).
Impression:
This book was very engaging and hard to put down. I read it in a day and a half. I was very impressed with the way the book was written. I like the way the author divided the chapters by what was being grown on the farms. Esperanza associates the crops with her misfortunes. As a Mexican-American woman I can relate to the language in the story and some of the traditions and rituals mentioned.
I plan on reading other books by the same author.
Library SettingFor Hispanic Heritage Month, have students research Cesar Chavez, who was a huge supporter and advocate of the rights of migrant farmers and laborers and write a mini-biography with pictures or drawings that relate to him and the book.
Booklist. (2000). [Review of the book Esparanza Rising by Pam Ryan Munoz]. Booklist 97(7). Retrieved from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=9f59ac95e7618c3aeb31485674e8242a
Citation:
Grimes, N. (2002). Talkin’ About Bessie, The Story of Aviator Bessie Coleman. New York: Orchard Books of Scholastic, Inc.
Summary
The life of Bessie Coleman, the first female African-American aviator is told through a oral history by characters who knew her best. We learn of the obstacles she encountered and how she overcame them to fulfull her dream of becoming a pilot.
Review
Library Media Connection (January 2003)“Nikki Grimes has chosen a unique format to present the life of Bessie Coleman, a pioneer in the field of aviation. Twenty individuals reminisce about Bessie, presented through a series of one-page, first person monologues. These fictional remembrances come from a variety of characters, including family members, teachers, classmates, and finally, Bessie herself. Each testimonial covers a different aspect of Bessie's character or career. As a group they paint a vivid picture of this woman and her accomplishments. The visual layout consists of two-page spreads, with one page featuring a small portrait of the observer and accompanying text, and the facing page featuring a full-page watercolor illustration. Many of these illustrations have a muted, shadowy feel to them, appropriate to the memoir-like tone of the book. The pictures are warm and inviting, and complement the text as they present a panorama of scenes from Bessie's life. The passages don't pull any punches when it comes to relaying the obstacles that Bessie had to overcome in order to achieve her dream. These mature themes and the monologue-style suggest the book's appeal to an older audience. It can be used in language arts classes as an example of a creative way to present information. Additional applications include Black History Month, Women's History Month, and character education units. Highly Recommended. Kathleen McBroom, Media Specialist, Dearborn (Michigan) Public Schools” (Titlewave 2011).
Impression:
I actually had heard of Bessis Coleman before; she is mentioned in our Texas History book, so I wanted to learn a little bit more about her. I often read biographies written for juveniles because they are shorter and easier to read. They give me the basic information that I need to share with my students in class. This one was written as a oral history by characters that would have known Bessie Coleman. The characters range from her parents, to her siblings, to people at flight school and others. They give us a real insight to the type of person she was and the determination it took to accomplish what she did.
Library settingFor Black History Month, have students create a collage of pictures that they found on the Internet or perhaps drew themselves of influential African-Americans like Bessie Coleman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Oprah Winfrey, etc.
Library Media Connection. (2003). [Review of the book Talkin’ About Bessie, The Story of Aviator Bessie Coleman by Nikki Grimes]. Library Media Connection. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=9f59ac95e7618c3aeb31485674e8242a
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