Digital Scrapbook

Pam Munoz Ryan

Esperanza Rising According to Mama

Pam Munoz Ryan

Ylleir Press

Furlong, PA • 2009

Esperanza Rising According to Mama

When life gives you grapes make grape juice.

Ramona “Mama” Ortega is an optimistic person, who looks for the best in every situation. Despite the murder for her husband and destruction of her home, Ramona does not give up. She instead seeks to build a new, better life for her family. She moves, along with her daughter Esperanza, to California from Mexico. There they find the true meaning of the word family together.

When life gives you grapes, make grape juice.

The death of Ortega combined with the greed of his brothers, especially Luis,made it impossible to remain in Mexico. Living conditions were not safe for Esperanza and I. Luis threatened the lives and safety of our servants. Rather than put them in danger, we moved to California.

When life gives you grapes make grape juice.

A wagon filled with guavas shuttled Esperanza and I to the United States.The dilapidated ,rickety wooden wagon certainly did not meet Esperanza’s expectations. She would have been content to be ushered t0 the States in a golden carriage fit for a queen.

When life gives you grapes make grape juice.

Esperanza struggled to realize life would not be the same ever again. We were no longer wealthy land owners; we were migrant workers. We would not be living in a mansion;we would be living in a minute cabin.