Esperanza Rising

our finances and our future. And that trunk of clothes for the poor? Esperanza, it is for us.” < Señor Rodríguez was the only ...

the interest of the servants and Esperanza, I will marry you, in due time. But you must begin re- planting and rebuilding immedi ...

“Yes, of course,” he said, not even glancing at her. Esperanza smiled at him anyway, because she knew she would never spend a ni ...

enough moonlight so that they could see the out- lines of the twisted and charred trunks, the burnt- out vines rolling in parall ...

steps, looking back. She hated leaving, but how could she stay? With each stride, Papa’s land became smaller and smaller. She hu ...

LAS GUAYABASGUAVAS T hey emerged from the fig orchard and contin- ued through a pear grove. When they came into a clearing, they ...

Esperanza had known about the plan, but now she hesitated when she saw the small space. “Please, can I sit with Alfonso and Migu ...

Miguel, and Señor Rodríguez dumping crate after crate of guavas onto the floor above them, the almost-ripe fruit rolling and tum ...

“Do you remember,” said Hortensia, taking her hand, “when you were only five years old and we hid from the thieves? You were so ...

steal from the rich and give to the poor. But they didn’t always give to the poor and they sometimes killed innocent people.” “W ...

“Until a pin poked me and I moved my leg and made a noise.” “I was so frightened they would find us,” said Hortensia. “But Migue ...

blue silk dress and could still see Miguel standing at the station, wearing a bow tie and practically shining, as if Hortensia h ...

rebozo, a blanket shawl, boarded the train selling mangoes on a stick. The mangoes were peeled and carved to look like exotic fl ...

Zacatecas, but finally, that morning, they left the wagon hidden in a thicket of shrubs and trees and walked into town. After th ...

town, she was escorted and hurried around any beggars. And the peasants always kept their dis- tance. That was simply the way it ...

cotton thread to make carpetas, lace doilies, to put under a lamp or a vase. She held up her work to Esperanza and smiled. “Woul ...

had died on the tracks and if somewhere there was another girl who missed him, too. Esperanza opened her valise to check on the ...

Mama looked at Esperanza. “I don’t think it would have hurt to let her hold it for a few mo- ments.” “Mama, she is poor and dirt ...

for me.” She raised her eyebrows and nodded toward the girl. Esperanza knew exactly what Mama intended to do. They had done it m ...

smile again. Before she walked away, she made the yarn doll wave good-bye, too. Esperanza was glad the girl got off the train an ...