Esperanza Rising

After reading Esperanza Rising, the one line that stuck with me the most was the final line of the Author's Note; "it's no wonder that in Spanish, esperanza means 'hope'." Hope is a very powerful word. It's limitless, knowing no bounds. With hope, all things are possible.

Esperanza Rising is the perfect title for this book, especially if we look at “esperanza” as both a common and proper noun. With a "lower case e", esperanza (hope) rises throughout the book as the characters struggle through the many challenges with which they are faced. Hope is exemplified through the characters’ escape to California, the growth of the rose plantings, Mama's recovery from Valley Fever, Abuelita joining the family and Esperanza and Miguel's budding romance. Esperanza, with an upper case E, rises throughout the story as well. We follow her journey, beginning with her life as a privileged, favorite daughter of wealthy Mexican farmers, to the scared girl as her world falls apart after her father’s death, to a teenager making tough decisions when her mother falls ill and finally to the strong young woman who does whatever needs to be done in order to help her family.

Hope was the emotion that ran through me as I read this charming story. I had hope that Papa would return home, hope that someone would stand up to the uncles, hope that Esperanza and the others would make it to California, hope that Esperanza would adjust to her new life, hope that Mama would get getter, hope that Abuelita would arrive and hope that the farm workers’ lives would improve. Of course, we know that not everything we hope for comes to fruition. But Esperanza had hope too and I believe that it was because of that hope that she was able to endure.

This is a wonderful story of an immigrant experience and what word better to represent immigration than hope. Most immigrants leave their homes to move to the United States because they are hoping for a better life. Pam Munoz Ryan paints a vivid picture of what life was like for the immigrants who worked the fields in California in the 1920s and 30s. The life Esperanza expected when she left Mexico was very different from the reality she lived when she began her new life in America. However different that reality was, Esperenza exemplified the hardworking spirit of the immigrant. She lived in hope that life would get better.

I think this book would be a welcome addition to an upper elementary/middle school reading curriculum. It is a fabulous example of historical fiction. That it was based on the life of the author’s grandmother is an added bonus. It stands as an example that writers draw from their own lives for inspiration. This book could also be used in a social studies context e.g. what life was like in California in the years preceding The Great Depression. The history of labor laws could be explored. Rich discussions could ensue about the varied treatment of the different workers groups (Mexicans vs. Okies). In reading this book, I learned something new and disturbing. During the workers’ rights movement American citizens of Mexican descent were captured and sent to Mexico against their will. I was shocked to read in the author’s note that more Mexicans were deported during The Great Depression than the number of Native Americans displaced in the 1800s or Japanese placed in internment camps during World War II. I think it is important for students to learn all parts of American history, even the “not so pretty” parts. We can only hope that they will learn from our country’s collective mistakes and strive to do better.

Black and White

Black and White by Paul Volponi is a gripping story of two friends who must live with the consequences of poor choices they have made. Told from both boys’ (Black is Marcus and White is Eddie) perspective, the story catches the reader up in the lives of these two best friends as the struggle to make sense of how their lives and their friendship have changed once Marcus gets arrested for the robbery/shooting that both boys committed.

When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t sure I would be able to identify with the story or the characters. I’m not a teenage boy from an urban area. I’m a Caucasian female who has lived her entire life in suburbia. I grew up comfortably, never needing to worry about the basic needs of life nor the extras such as “senior dues”. Yet, the further I read, the more engaged I became in these boys’ story. At points, I didn’t want to put the book down. Volponi’s idea to write the story alternating between Marcus and Eddie was brilliant. Not only was I brought along the path with these boys, I heard the story from each in their own voice. Volponi wrote in such a vivid ways, painting clear pictures not only of what physically was happening but also of the emotional journey the boys faced. I felt the excitement from the basketball court as Marcus and Eddie played as a well-oiled team, the rush the boys felt after the first two robberies and then the fear when the third went incredibly wrong. From Marcus, I first shared the shame he felt when he was arrested and he thought of his mother, the pain of uncertainty of his friendship with Eddie, acceptance of his punishment and hope at the end. Eddie shared Marcus’ uncertainty about their friendship; but the overriding feeling I got from him was that of guilt. Guilt because they hurt someone, guilt because Marcus took the fall, guilt because he lost the “big” game, guilt because his father knew about the gun, guilt because he accepted the scholarship the night Marcus was arrested, guilt he will have to live with the rest of his life if he does not come forward and accept responsibility the way Marcus did.

This book would be a powerful tool to use in a classroom to discuss race relations. I know one of the themes this book tries to bring forth is that of racial inequity in the justice system. This book would be a good springboard for the discussion. In my opinion, it wasn’t so much racial inequities but economic inequities. Marcus was identified by the victim and therefore arrested first. The police officers continued to investigate until they were able to arrest Eddie as the accomplice, though that victim wasn’t 100% sure. I feel the differing situations for the boys came down to money; Eddie’s parents were able to afford a lawyer to fight the charges. Might there also be the argument of morals? Though both boys were in the wrong, at the end of the story, Marcus was the only one to admit to his failures and to accept the consequences. In a way, the truth set him free while Eddie was weighed down by lies and guilt.

I think one of the reasons I like teaching in the elementary grades is because these children are for the most part still innocent. When I speak of time before the Civil Rights Movement, they are outraged that blacks were treated so differently. They cannot imagine school without all of their friends (regardless of color). If only life stayed so simple.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a well crafted, intriguing story about Arnold Spirit, a teenage Native American boy. As I was reading the book, I was taken aback by some of the "strong" language used. When I tried to put myself back into the mind of a teenager, I realized that this style would definitely grab the attention of a young adult reader. The book is filled with many scenarios that could lead to rich discussion about many topics such as the plight of Native Americans, race relations, poverty, alcoholism and coming of age issues. Though, I must admit, I found myself wondering how I would teach around those "prickly" sections.

When I first started reading the novel, I found I was bracing myself for a very sad, depressing story. I am happy to say that underestimated my ability to push through my emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. Yes, there are sad and depressing parts to the story but there are heartwarming and funny parts too. Alexie mixes the right amount of humor with reality to make the content palatable.

Throughout the story, I was most drawn to two characters; Arnold and Rowdy. In the beginning, I was so impressed with their friendship. I was happy that Arnold had a best friend who overlooked all of the issues with which he was born. I was therefore very upset with the way that Rowdy treated Arnold after his decision to better himself by attending High School in Reardan. I had hoped that Rowdy would go as well so that the two would have each other as they entered that new world. I felt Arnold's confusion as to why Rowdy was treating him so poorly. I actually gasped when Rowdy punched Arnold after telling Rowdy that he was attending school in Reardan and then again at the way Rowdy treated him during the basketball game. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that each character serves a purpose for illuminating one of the overall themes of the book - that of HOPE. Arnold represents hope and Rowdy represents hopelessness. Arnold did not accept that his life needed to follow the paths of his parents. Perhaps since he had to struggle since his very birth, Arnold learned to be a fighter, overcoming the odds. He had hope, hope that he could make something of himself. With that hope came the strength he needed to succeed. Rowdy didn't have that hope and therefore, while physically stronger, was the weaker character. I was encouraged at the end of the book when Rowdy and Arnold seemed to reconcile. Perhaps Arnold had enough hope to share with his friend.

I also enjoyed the illustrations used throughout the book. I totally agreed with Arnold's assessment of words versus pictures; that words are limiting and pictures are universal. Many of the illustrations could serve as springboards to lively discussions about many topics. I could see an entire lesson being structured around the illustration of the half white/half Indian boy. Overall, I feel that The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian would be a welcome addition to either a Reading or Social Studies curriculum.

First Class

Today is the first day of our Multicultural Education class. Many new doors are being opened for me. I look forward to this personal and professional growth.