Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Title: Esperanza rising / Pam Munoz Ryan.

Publisher: Scholastic, p2000, c2000

ISBN-13: 978-0-439-12041-8

ISBN-10: 0-439-12041-1

Interest/Reading Level: Grades 5-8/6.2

Book Summary:

 Esperanza’s life completely changes when her rich father is murdered.  Esperanza’s mother is faced with marring her husband’s brother, who is vying for political position, or flee to America.  The great depression creates a difficult world for Esperanza and her mother. They must now be the servants working for pennies as immigrant workers. What would it be like to struggle as an immigrant during the depression? How could one stand going from riches to rags? Read this wonderful story and find out!er m       Hhjasf lkjas;dlkjfa;sldkfj ;safkj

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful portrayal of a family struggle when tragedy strikes.   The loss of a parent for a young girl is difficult enough, but having to be completely uprooted and change your life and country because of it would be completely devastating.  This tender story follows a young girl who starts to see life through adult eyes as she no longer views life through her father’s rose garden.  I know the difficulty of losing a parent at a young age, and readers who struggle with immigrant life styles, changes in family situations, and coming of ages will relate to this story and the loveable characters.

Library Toolbox of Tips and Tricks:

Individual Celebrations: All that I am poem:

Celebrate Esperanz’s experiences, travels, challenges, losses and victories in a three-stanza poem. Task the students to write an "I Am" poem to tell the story of Esperanza's migration to the fields and migrant labor camps of California. Then have them make a similar poem about their own lives. Post these outside the library!

Cultural Celebrations:

Invite students to bring in personal effects to hang on display for a Heritage month. Have students use yarn link items together with notes describing how the items are similar:  Race? Tradition? Family? Religion?  This is an excellent way to show that while we are all different we are still connected!

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References:

Image: Esperanza Rising [cover image]. Retrieved from: 

     http://www.titlewave.com/cover?FLR=21688K8&

     SID=2dcbeefa5ae31261c2c9e6cc10abccd8&type=cover

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Title: Ship breaker by: Paolo Bacigalupi 

Publisher: Little, Brown, p2010, c2010

ISBN-13: 978-0-316-05621-2

ISBN-10: 0-316-05621-9

Interest Level: YA

Book Summary:

Bacigalupi’ s violent futuristic world follows fifteen-year-old, Nailrer, who works the “light crew” where he does the grueling job of crawling through rusty abandoned ship’s ducts salvaging metals for his crew.  His “wirery” build allows him to slip along the dark passages of the ship, but he knows that if he grows larger he will be replaced. Young Nailer’s bleak world is one of patriarchal abuse and harsh living conditions and he needs a way out.  Thinking his luck is turned when he finds a rich shipwreck that could change his fortunes forever, he also finds stranded and beautiful Nita.  Nailer finds himself in a difficult situation, should he side with his derelict father and kill the girl  to scavenge her ship, or protect this girl he barley knows?   Choosing the latter he soon realizes that the true meaning of family and “crew” are only those you can trust, and those people are few and far between. 

My Thoughts:

The vivid imagery portrayed through contrasting characters and affluent word usage can be almost overwhelming.  Where other stories of its kind might lean towards a boring side with descriptions of the new “world’s” settings,  Bacigalupi intertwines landscaping, character development, and expressive details with non-stop action.  I found myself having to go back and reread certain parts thinking,  “that did not just happen!”   Bacigalupi leaves the reader asking difficult questions like:  is loyalty the most important part of any relationship? When we are faced with dangerous situations is it best to play it safe or take a risk?  Is any action acceptable in life-or-death situations?   I would recommend this book to any library that wants to make reading about facing difficult decisions no matter what world or time you live in! This is a must for any bookworm who is looking for a challenging read that is well worth the effort! 

Library Toolbox of Tips and Tricks:

Book talks: Book Trailers

Have students create trailers to promote this book in your library!  It is an excellent way to promote the library, technology, and electronic creativity.

Example: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJt_gL6r8p0&feature=related

Information Scavengers: Get to know some Michigan history!

There are estimated between 4to 5 thousand shipwrecks in the Great Lakes of Michigan! Have students “crew up” to scavenge one! Who can make quota and find out the most information about their ship! Each group member should have a roll on the crew and fight to be the first and best scavengers! 

References:

Image: Ship Breaker [cover image]. Retrieved from:

      http://www.titlewave.com/cover?FLR=0149EB6&

     SID=2dcbeefa5ae31261c2c9e6cc10abccd8&

     type=coverhttp://www.titlewave.com/cover?FLR=0149EB6&

     SID=2dcbeefa5ae31261c2c9e6cc10abccd8&type=cover