Esperanza Rising
About
Living life like a princess, Esperanza is a young girl in Mexico. She's forced to leave her country with her mother and everything she's known and tries to figure out life and how to survive as an immigrant in American society.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
What did Esperanza's papa teach her about the earth?
Page 2 — It had a heart beat/ life
2
Chapter 2 Las Uvas (Grapes)
Comprehension questions
Why is the harvest Esperanza’s favorite time of year?
Page 6 — She got to cut the first clump of grapes for the harvest and it’s her birthday after harvest is done
6
Tell me about Esperanza.
Page 8 — Rich, has servants, loves that people dote on her, lives on a ranch, like a princess
8
What did Esperanza do that was bad luck?
Page 8 — She pricked her finger on a rose thorn.
8
What did Esperanza’s papa do for her birthday every year?
Page 9 — Sang the birthday song out the window, gave her a porcelain doll
9
Chapter 3 Las Papayas (Papayas)
Comprehension questions
How do Esperanza and her mother feel about Tio Luis and Tio Marco?
Don’t like them. 29
Who owned the land after Esperanza’s father died?
Page 30 — Her uncles
30
How did Esperanza’s mother respond when Tio Luis asked her to marry him?
Page 32 — Said no
32
Who is Miguel?
Page 35 — Works for Esperanza’s family, her best friend
35
Chapter 4 Los Higos (Figs)
Comprehension questions
Who could have started Esperanza’s home on fire?
Page 32 — Her uncles
32
Why would her uncles have started the fire?
Page 32 — To get back at Ramona for not marrying Tio Luis
32
Why would Esperanza’s mother consider going to the United States?
Page 47 — So she wouldn’t have to marry Tio Luis, so Esperanza wouldn’t have to go away to school
47
Why is Abuelita staying behind in Mexico?
Page 47 — Her ankle needs to heal, then she’ll come when she’s ready.
47
Chapter 5 Las Guayabas (Guavas)
Comprehension questions
How did Esperanza and her mother leave Mexico?
Page 59 — Secretly, hidden on a wagon
59
Why did Hortensia talk about the bandits, Miguel and the mouse, and going on a train ride?
Page 61 — To keep Esperanza’s mind off the tight quarters in the wagon.
61
How did Esperanza respond when she saw the train car they were riding in?
Page 67 — didn’t want to ride in it, uncomfortable, hard, for poor people
67
Why did Esperanza’s mother get after her when she wouldn’t let the little girl hold her doll?
Page 70 — Esperanza was acting selfish and better than the other people on the train
70
What did Carmen mean when she said, “I am poor, but I am rich?
Page 76 — ” she has no money, but is rich with family and other things that are important to her.
76
Chapter 6 Los Melones (Cantelopes)
Comprehension questions
What worried Esperanza when Miguel’s family didn’t board the train?
Page 84 — They would have to go back to Mexico.
84
Who made it possible for Esperanza and her mother to come to the United States?
Page 86 — Juan and Josephina
86
Why did Esperanza want to hear the earth’s heartbeat?
Page 91 — Connect her to her papa, to feel something familiar
91
How did Marta treat Esperanza?
Page 97 — Not very nice, judgmental, insulting
97
Chapter 7 Las Cebollas (Onions)
Comprehension questions
What were the two choices Ramona gave Esperanza when she was angry about their cabin?
Page 104 — Be together and miserable or be together and happy
104
Was it hard for Esperanza to accept the fact that they were peasants now?
Page 105 — yes
105
How would you feel if you were in Esperanza's shoes?
Listen to your child's answer
How had Ramona changed to Esperanza?
Page 109 — Hair in braids, she seemed shorter, not herself
109
Compare and contrast Esperanza's life in Mexico to her new life in the United States.
She lived very comfortably enjoyed comfort and leisure; in her new home, she has to work hard and does not live comfortably. Listen to your child's answer
Chapter 8 Las Almendras (Almonds)
Comprehension questions
What was in the secret package that Alfonso and Miguel brought with them from Mexico?
Page 123 — Papa’s rose plants
123
What was Esperanza old enough to do as the ladies got hot water ready?
Page 126 — bathe herself
126
Why was it important for Esperanza to go to the jamaica?
Page 128 — To face everybody after she was so embarrassed in front of them.
128
Why does Marta want everyone in the camp to strike so badly?
Page 133 — To make more money and get better living conditions
133
Chapter 9 Las Ciruelas (Plums)
Comprehension questions
What made the babies have so many messy diapers?
Page 141 — Raw plums
141
Why is a dust storm so terrible?
Page 148 — Wind blows dust around getting into the houses, can last a long time, can break glass
148
What was the consequence of Ramona being out in the dust storm?
Page 155 — Got sick/ Valley Fever
155
What is Esperanza facing with her mother being so sick?
Page 157 — Ramona could die
157
Chapter 10 Las Papas (Potatoes)
Comprehension questions
Why did Abuelita and Esperanza knit their hairs into the blanket?
Page 159 — It symbolized their love and good wishes
159
What trial did the valley symbolize Esperanza was in?
Page 162 — Valley of her mama being sick
162
Why did Esperanza want to work so badly?
Page 165 — Pay for her mama, bring Abuelita from Mexico
165
What were the people who were going to strike threatening to do to the people who kept working?
Page 171 — Hurt them
171
Chapter 11 Los Aguacates (Avacados)
Comprehension questions
What did Hortensia do to help Esperanza’s hands feel better?
Page 181 — Rubbed an avocado mixture on them
181
What were some things Esperanza was missing about her mother?
Page 181 — Laughter, hands knitting, walking into a room graceful and regal
181
After Ramona had been in the hospital, why wasn’t Esperanza able to visit her?
Page 182 — she caught pneumonia
182
Why was it hard for Esperanza to want to give Marta and her mother a ride?
Page 191 — Marta had been rude to her
191
Why was Miguel so excited after talking to the railroad?
Page 198 — He got a job.
198
Chapter 12 Los Esparragos (Asparagus)
Comprehension questions
Why did Esperanza feel bad about working when the strike began?
Page 200 — She wasn't supporting the people striking; she didn't take a stand with them; Lots of families were starving and wanting better conditions, other people were working for pennies
200
Why were armed guards protecting the workers?
Page 201 — The strikers were throwing rocks at them, threatening them, yelling at them
201
What else did the strikers do to try to slow down the workers or hurt them?
Page 202 — Put snakes, a rat, razor blades, and shards of glass in the crates of asparagus
202
Why did police and immigration officers put those striking onto a bus?
Page 206 — To deport them to Mexico, they’re causing problems for the government
206
Why did Esperanza not tell the police about Marta hiding in the shed?
Page 208 — She didn’t want to take her away from her mother
208
Chapter 13 Los Duraznos (Peaches)
Comprehension questions
Why was Isabel praying so frequently?
Page 214 — She wanted to be chosen for the Queen of May at school
214
What nice things were going to be at the camp for the Oklahoma people?
Page 218 — hot water, swimming pool, inside toilets
218
What happened to Miguel at work and why was he all muddy?
Page 219 — He lost his job at the railroad to men from Oklahoma and dug ditches
219
Why did white Americans treat Mexicans differently?
Page 187 — They think they’re uneducated, good for only manual labor, dirty, poor, unskilled
187
What did Esperanza do to comfort Isabel for not being chosen the Queen of May?
Page 227 — Gave her the doll her father gave her for her birthday
227
Chapter 14 Las Uvas (Grapes)
Comprehension questions
What did Miguel take from Esperanza?
Page 234 — Her savings/ money orders
234
Was it all right that Miguel took the money to get Abuelita?
Yes Why? That’s what Esperanza was saving her money for
Instead of the months of the years to help her remember when things happened, what did Esperanza use?
Page 247 — Fruit and when it was harvested
247
How did the author incorporate into the story what Esperanza used to remember the events in her life?
Page 247 — Esperanza used the harvesting season of each fruit, vegetable, nut, etc. to remember events and the author used those as chapter titles
247
What did Esperanza learn as she traveled through the challenging mountains and valleys of life?
Page 253 — That she could be happy and accepting of life whichever way it took her.
253
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