Esperanza Rising

Written by Pam Manoz Ryan. Ryan was born and raised in California.  One of her earliest literary memories was of looking through her grandmother's encyclopedia set to find pages with color prints. Her interest in illustrated literature stayed with her throughout her life.  She has written over 30 children's books, complete with illustrations.  This book drew on the experiences of her first real job where she was a preschool coordinator at a relocation camp for displaced Vietnamese families after the Vietnam War. Click here for more information.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Cultural diversity and adaptation
Ages: 10+

Summary: Esperanza Rising follows the story of Esperanza and her Mama.  They are forced to move from their comfortable lives in Mexico into California during the Great Depression.  Esperanza is made to learn how to do hard work in the fields and has to learn to live with an entire camp of displaced Mexican workers.

Link to Picture

 This is a story that I would do in a book club or literature circle in my classroom.  I would assign readings and then group discussion and assignments to go along with different readings. We would have whole group instruction and discussion followed by small group work.   Students would also have individual work to do, reading, writing, and completing journal responses.

Reflection:  This is such a wonderful story.  The setting and story in a historic context gives more meaning and understanding to a culture and time period that children might not other wise feel a relation or interest to.

Baseball in April and Other Stories

Written by Gary Soto. Gary Soto is an educator, author, and poet of Mexican American decent.  He uses his own childhood and experiences growing up in a Latino community in California and clearly draws on stories of young people that have also grown up in his home town of Fresno. For more information click here.

Genre: Fiction
Theme: Hispanic/Latino Culture
Ages: 9-14

Summary: This text includes 11 short stories of Mexican American youth.  The stories are perfect for young adults because they include themes which are easily relatable.  Coming of age stories, growing up, trying to make the baseball team, first loves, friendship, loyalty and family, are all big themes which students of any ethnicity can relate to. Although the characters may act tough on the outside, readers are let in on their secret vulnerability, dreams, and desires.

Link to Picture

Pre-Reading Activity: I want all of you students to close your eyes and picture this situation.  You are 11 years old, and you are nervous.  What are you nervous about?  You and your brother are going to try out for the baseball team.  This is the only fun activity that you can do with other children in your neighborhood.  Think about the emotions and hopes you would have going into that activity.

Post-Reading Activity:  Have students talk in small groups about the overall themes of which small story they have have done for assigned readings.

Reflection: Something that I really liked about this text is that there are tiny cultural slang or Spanish words integrated within a story.  They are placed appropriately enough that young reader could understand the word meanings from the context clues.  If not though the text provides a glossary at the end of the book with the definitions of phrases, expressions, and Spanish words included.  The stories are short and sweet, but you quckly get a sense for the setting, characters, and theme of each individual story.  Each vignette is a snap show into a young person's life that the reader can quickly become acquainted with and develops a sense of connection to the character's situation.