Esperanza Rising

Pam Muñoz Ryan

Sep 2003 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Trini Alvarado

About this audiobook

When Esperanza and Mama are forced to flee to the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico, to a Mexican farm labor camp in California, they must adjust to a life without fancy dresses and servants they were accustomed to on Rancho de las Rosas. Now they must confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression. When Mama falls ill and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must relinquish her hold on the past and learn to embrace a future ripe with the riches of family and community.

Ratings and reviews

This was a great book! We listened to it on our road trip. Great messages, educational, and very well written. I hadn't know about some of the history written about here. Me and my sisters were all tearing up through the book. Narraration was flawless. Worth the money 100%!!!

This book is excellent and coming from a wealthy Spanish background i can relate this book keeps your brain thinking and can be funny and allows you to create scenes in your head I read this book for school in 4th grade and I am currently going into high-school freshman year and can't let go of this book diffanitly give this a try.

I'm reading this at school and its very interesting,anytime soon anyone can read it one,twice or more!.

About the author

Pam Muñoz Ryan grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of California and now lives with her family near San Diego. She has written over 40 books for children and young adults, including the acclaimed Riding Freedom and Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, an ALA Notable Children's Book. She is a recipient of the National Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the Ludington Award.

Trini Alvarado, a multitalented stage and screen actress, has been appearing onscreen since the late 1970s. She has narrated numerous Listening Library audiobooks, including Tamora Pierce's the Song of the Lioness series.