Esperanza Rising

“Do you crochet?” Melina asked. “I know a little, but only a few stitches,” said Esperanza, remembering Abuelita’s blanket of zi ...

hoping they would go to sleep soon, but they were restless and wouldn’t settle even though they had their bottles. The afternoon ...

desperately needed money and a roof over their heads. She worried about what many were say- ing: If they didn’t work, the people ...

“What about Mama and Hortensia and the others? Alfonso and Miguel...they are in the fields.” “They will send trucks for them,” s ...

ine. Alfonso and Juan and Miguel, could they breathe? Irene, Melina, and Esperanza sat on the mat- tress in the front room tryin ...

Esperanza waited, nervously pacing the room and worrying about the others. The school bus came first. Isabel burst into the cabi ...

Hortensia. “We hid behind some crates and buried our heads but it did not help much.” Josefina took the babies next door and Mam ...

table, Esperanza asked, “What happened with the strike?” “There was no strike,” said Alfonso. “We heard that they were all ready ...

were already talking about preparing for potatoes. The camp routine repeated itself like the regi- mented rows in the fields. Ve ...

“Irene and Melina are coming over after dinner to crochet,” said Esperanza. She thought that would cheer Mama. “You sit with the ...

“He has come to the camp before and people trust him,” said Irene. “And there are not many doctors who will come out here.” Alfo ...

time, the body can overcome the infection. Some people will have no symptoms at all. Some will feel like they have the flu for a ...

The doctor’s face looked tired. He ran his hand through his short blond hair. “There are some medicines she can take, but even t ...

LAS PAPASPOTATOES E speranza almost never left Mama’s side. She sponged her with cool water and fed her tea- spoons of broth thr ...

One morning, Mama said weakly, “Esper- anza...” Esperanza ran to her and took her hand. “Abuelita’s blanket...” she whispered. E ...

They both needed her. But what was Esperanza to do? She picked up Mama’s limp hand and kissed it. Then she handed the strip of z ...

and when her hair fell into her lap, she picked it up and wove it into the blanket. She cried when she thought of the wishes tha ...

The fields frosted over and Mama began to have trouble breathing. The doctor came again, with worse news. “She should be in the ...

made from the truck’s headlamps, feeling as if she were in a trance. “Hortensia, what did the doctor mean when he said that Mama ...

But maybe we can find someone going to Aguas- calientes who can carry a letter.” “I have to do something,” said Esperanza, hold- ...