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Esperanza Rising
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From: Jonathan Hunt <jhunt24>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 23:33:09
My fifth grade class is nearly two-thirds of the way through ESPERANZA RISING. We have been listening to Trini Alvarado's excellent narration on Listening Library cassettes as we follow along in our own books. I had them write some responses to the book today.
We have some pretty strong differences of opinion on this book. Some students thought the book did not have enough humor and adventure, especially compared with past books we have read together. Other students, however, cited humor and adventure as particularly strong points.
Michael-
"My favorite part in the book is the dust storm. It is my favorite because it is exciting, and you don't know what's going to happen. This book is very descriptive. I like books that have won lots of awards like ESPERANZA RISING, HARRY POTTER, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, etc."
Dominick-
"ESPERANZA is one of my favorite books because it is about living in Mexico where your life is perfect and the next day your papa dies, your house catches on fire, and your mom is almost forced to marry her uncle. They have to move to California and they are poor and they have to work."
Lauren-
"I think it can be really exciting at times and I like to read ahead. I like when the dust storm came and when things come when least expected. The book can also be very funny."
Some students seemed to focus on Esperanza's physical journey from Mexico to the United States- Derek-
"My favorite part in ESPERANZA RISING is when they are sneaking away in the fields from Tio Luis. This is my favorite part because I like hiding and moving without people knowing. And I just love hearing books that have excitement and action and all the other things like that. When I heard this part, I felt excited because they are getting away from the bad guy and they have a plan set up to do the escape."
Sarika-
"My favorite part was when everyone except Tio Luis and Tio Marco were discussing about going to California to work. That was one sneaky plan they had!"
While other students focused on Esperanza's internal journey- Teddy-
"I like this book because she was once rich but now she is poor and learning how to live poor . . . I would definitely not change places with Esperanza because she has barely any time to rest."
Sondra-
"Esperanza acts like a snobby little rich girl thrown in the slums would normally be expected to act, and you actually feel like you are in the story. It just puts and extremely good picture in my mind abouty what life was like in situations like that."
Sonam-
"She is so brave and positive. For example, when her father died she didn't take it as the end of the world. She moved on as her father would probably want her to. Also, she had to move and learn how to do things she had never done before."
I expected many comments about the strength of Esperanza's characterization, but what is a bit more surprising is that nearly every boy who likes this story most strongly identifies with Miguel rather than Esperanza.
Christian-
"I like Miguel because he used to live in Mexico and because he wants to work on the railroad and if I was there I would want to work on the railroad."
Nick-
"In this book my favorite character is Miguel because he works so hard in the fields, and he is kind to Esperanza."
Another surprise were comments about the Spanish in the book- Maiah-
"I like the way the author put Spanish words in the book. I love books that have different languages and then tell what they are saying."
Marinisha-
"I like books that have a lot of Spanish in them because it I think that Spanish is a very interesting language and because I've taken Spanish before."
Emil-
"You also kind of learn about a new language, unless you already know it, which is Spanish . . . the Spanish words are said strangely for me. Some of the words are like mija. It is said strangely probably just because it is a different language."
When we finish the book, I will have students work on a Venn diagram with three spheres, one each for ESPERANZA RISING, A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO, and BUD, NOT BUDDY. All of these books happen to be set during the 1930s, a fact I stumbled upon accidentally last year. This, too, will yield some interesting observations as it did last year.
I thought the world of BREAKING THROUGH and, like Steven, thought it could have won just as easily. What a wonderful story! I've only briefly skimmed the other books, but like what I've seen so far. I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but Joe Cepeda did the cover art for ESPERANZA.
Jonathan
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Received on Wed 27 Feb 2002 11:33:09 PM CST
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 23:33:09
My fifth grade class is nearly two-thirds of the way through ESPERANZA RISING. We have been listening to Trini Alvarado's excellent narration on Listening Library cassettes as we follow along in our own books. I had them write some responses to the book today.
We have some pretty strong differences of opinion on this book. Some students thought the book did not have enough humor and adventure, especially compared with past books we have read together. Other students, however, cited humor and adventure as particularly strong points.
Michael-
"My favorite part in the book is the dust storm. It is my favorite because it is exciting, and you don't know what's going to happen. This book is very descriptive. I like books that have won lots of awards like ESPERANZA RISING, HARRY POTTER, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, etc."
Dominick-
"ESPERANZA is one of my favorite books because it is about living in Mexico where your life is perfect and the next day your papa dies, your house catches on fire, and your mom is almost forced to marry her uncle. They have to move to California and they are poor and they have to work."
Lauren-
"I think it can be really exciting at times and I like to read ahead. I like when the dust storm came and when things come when least expected. The book can also be very funny."
Some students seemed to focus on Esperanza's physical journey from Mexico to the United States- Derek-
"My favorite part in ESPERANZA RISING is when they are sneaking away in the fields from Tio Luis. This is my favorite part because I like hiding and moving without people knowing. And I just love hearing books that have excitement and action and all the other things like that. When I heard this part, I felt excited because they are getting away from the bad guy and they have a plan set up to do the escape."
Sarika-
"My favorite part was when everyone except Tio Luis and Tio Marco were discussing about going to California to work. That was one sneaky plan they had!"
While other students focused on Esperanza's internal journey- Teddy-
"I like this book because she was once rich but now she is poor and learning how to live poor . . . I would definitely not change places with Esperanza because she has barely any time to rest."
Sondra-
"Esperanza acts like a snobby little rich girl thrown in the slums would normally be expected to act, and you actually feel like you are in the story. It just puts and extremely good picture in my mind abouty what life was like in situations like that."
Sonam-
"She is so brave and positive. For example, when her father died she didn't take it as the end of the world. She moved on as her father would probably want her to. Also, she had to move and learn how to do things she had never done before."
I expected many comments about the strength of Esperanza's characterization, but what is a bit more surprising is that nearly every boy who likes this story most strongly identifies with Miguel rather than Esperanza.
Christian-
"I like Miguel because he used to live in Mexico and because he wants to work on the railroad and if I was there I would want to work on the railroad."
Nick-
"In this book my favorite character is Miguel because he works so hard in the fields, and he is kind to Esperanza."
Another surprise were comments about the Spanish in the book- Maiah-
"I like the way the author put Spanish words in the book. I love books that have different languages and then tell what they are saying."
Marinisha-
"I like books that have a lot of Spanish in them because it I think that Spanish is a very interesting language and because I've taken Spanish before."
Emil-
"You also kind of learn about a new language, unless you already know it, which is Spanish . . . the Spanish words are said strangely for me. Some of the words are like mija. It is said strangely probably just because it is a different language."
When we finish the book, I will have students work on a Venn diagram with three spheres, one each for ESPERANZA RISING, A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO, and BUD, NOT BUDDY. All of these books happen to be set during the 1930s, a fact I stumbled upon accidentally last year. This, too, will yield some interesting observations as it did last year.
I thought the world of BREAKING THROUGH and, like Steven, thought it could have won just as easily. What a wonderful story! I've only briefly skimmed the other books, but like what I've seen so far. I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but Joe Cepeda did the cover art for ESPERANZA.
Jonathan
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Received on Wed 27 Feb 2002 11:33:09 PM CST
