nist determination had its impetus in my family history
because I do seem interested in stories where the character
succeeds despite circumstances that society stacked against
her. The quirky, preoccupied Rosa Maria in my picture book
Mice and Beansis also based on my grandmother. Ironically,
Joe Cepeda agreed to illustrate the book because he thought
the grandmother in the story was so much like his mother.
Certainly not all Mexican grandmothers are like this character,
but I think there is a certain Hispanic verity that is captured
within these stories—an adoration of children, big family
celebrations, proverbs to live by, and of course, food. The
women who have inspired me are the ones about whom I
havewritten: Charlotte Parkhurst, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor
Roosevelt, and my own grandmother.
Q: Why did you name the chapters in Esperanza Rising after
fruits and vegetables?
A: That wasn’t something that came about early in the plan-
ning ofthe book. It came about later. I started to feel that
Esperanza’s life was taking on the rhythm ofthe harvest, so I
called my editor and said, “What if I named the chapters after
the harvest that she’s experiencing in each chapter?” She said
Ishould give it a try, and it worked. Then I went back and
reworked the chapters a little to pull that thread a little tighter
and to make those chapter headings more symbolic.
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