“We are like the phoenix,” said Abuelita. “Rising again, with a new life ahead of us.”
My four kids and I loved this book. Ryan has created a beautiful story using her ancestors and history as her guides. A coming of age story about a Mexican girl who learns and grows through tragedy, injustice, love, family, and work. As readers, we cried and laughed.
My great grandparents owned a farm in California during the Great Depression and Ryan’s novel reminded me of their stories and their landscape. Esperanza’s story is tragically unique and deeply relatable.
Immigrant labor during the depression 
Farm labor camps