Battle of the books
ESPERANZA RISING
1. Where does the story take place? Aguascalientes , Mexico
2. What does Esperanza’s Papa say about the land? “Our land is alive”
3. Where were Esperanza and her father walking? Gentle slopes of the Vineyard.
4. What draped the arbors? Leafy green vines.
5. What were the grapes ready to do? To drop.
6. How old was Esperanza? Six years old.
7. What did Esperanza love to do with her papa? She loved to walk the winding rows in the
Vineyard.
8. What did Esperanza’s father say about the valley? “This whole valley breathes and lives”.
9. What does it give them? Grapes
10. What did Esperanza’s papa touch as he reached into the row? Wild tendril.
11. What did Esperanza’s papa pick up to study? A handful of Earth.
12. What did Esperanza’s papa say about lying down on the ground? That you can feel it breathe.
13. What did Esperanza want to do? She wanted to feel the land.
14. Where did Esperanza and her papa walk to? They walked to the end of the row where the
incline of the land formed a grassy swell.
15. What did Esperanza’s papa do? He lay on his stomach and patted the ground next to him.
16. What did Esperanza smooth out? Her dress
17. What did she do? She slowly inches flat next to her papa.
18. What touched Esperanza’s cheeks? The warm sun on one side and the earth on the other.
19. What did Esperanza do? She giggled
20. What did Esperanza’s papa tell her to do? He told her to keep quiet to hear the Earth
breathe.
21. What did Esperanza’s swallow? Her laughter.
22. What did Esperanza’s papa tell her to be? Patient.
23. What did Esperanza’s do? She waited and lay silent, watching her Papa’s eyes.
24. What did Esperanza’s feel? The slow thumping which grew stronger.
25. What was rushing into Esperanza’s ears? The Beat shoomp. shoomp.
26. What did Esperanza’s do next? She stared at her papa and pressed closer to the ground.
27. Which three hearts were beating together? Esperanza’s, Papa’s and the Earth’s.
28. What did Esperanza’s do? She smiled at her papa.
29. What did Esperanza’s papa do? He smiled back.
LAS UVAS GRAPES—SIX YEARS LATER
30. What did Esperanza’s Papa hand her? The Knife.
31. How was the knife shaped? The short blade was curved as a scythe and had a wooden
handle.
32. Who was this job reserved for? The eldest son in the family
33. Why was Esperanza given the job? She was the only child and her Papa’s pride and glory.
34. What did Esperanza do last night? She watched her papa sharpen the knife.
35. What did he sharpen the knife on? A Stone
36. What was the knife edged like? A Razor
37. What did Esperanza’s Papa tell her to watch? Watch her fingers.
38. Which month was it? August
39. Who was gathered at the edge of the field? Everyone who lived and worked at El Rancho de
las Rosas.
40. What did everyone wear? Long sleeved shirts, baggy pants tied at the ankles with strings and
bandanas.
41. What was the use of the Bandanas? To protect their heads and necks from the sun, dust and
spiders.
42. What did Esperanza wear? She wore a light silk dress that stopped above her summer boots.
42. What did Esperanza wear on her head? Nothing, no hat.
43. What were Esperanza’s parent’s names? Ramona & Sixto Ortega.
44. What did Esperanza’s papa do? He swept his hands toward the grapevines, signaling
Esperanza.
45. What did Esperanza do with the knife? She grasped a thick stem, cut it with a quick swipe.
46. What happened to the grape cluster? It dropped into her waiting hands.
47. What did Esperanza’s papa do next? He kissed the fruit and held for all to see.
48. What did Esperanza‘s papa say? HARVEST
49. What did the workers do? They cheered and spread out and began the task of reaping the
fields.
50. Which was Esperanza’s favorite time of the year? Harvest in August.
51. What transported the grapes? The wagons.
52. Where were the grapes stored? In the barn till they went to the vineyard.
53. When was Esperanza’s birthday? Three weeks after the harvest.
54. What happened after the harvest? Mama and Papa would host a fiesta.
55. Who was her best friend? Marisol Rodriguez.
56. What did Marisol Rodriguez’s father do? He was a fruit rancher.
57. When did they meet? Every Saturday.
58. Who were Esperanza’s other friends? Chita and Bertina.
59. What did the friends all talk about? Quinceaneras.
60. How many years did they have to wait? Two years.
61. What would happen after the Quinceanera? They would be old enough to be courted, marry,
and become head of households.
62. Where would Esperanza like to live? At home, El Rancho de las Rosas.
63. What did Esperanza’s Papa order for every table? A bouquet of roses and a basket of grapes.
64. Where did Papa promise to meet her? In the garden.
65. What happened to her in the garden? A vicious thorn poked the tip of her thumb.
66. What did she do? She wrapped her hand in the corner of her apron and clipped the brown
rose that wounded her.
67. Where did the sun disappear? Behind the Sierra Madre.
68. When did Papa come home? He always came home before sundown.
69. What did he sometimes bring? Beef jerky that the cattlemen had made.
70. What was happening the next day? It was her birthday and Papa and the men would
congregate under her window and sing a birthday song.
71. What gift did she expect from Papa? A porcelain doll.
72. What would Mama gift her? Things that Mama had made; linens, camisoles, or embroided
blouses.
73. Where were the linens put away? In a trunk at the end of her bed.
74. What did Esperanza do with her thumb? She washed her hand in the stone fountain.
75. What did Esperanza’ s Mama say when she saw her poked thumb? Bad luck.
76. Who were Esperanza and her Mama waiting for? Papa.
77. Who did the neighbors warn Papa about? Bandits.
78. What year was it? 1930.
79. When did the revolution in Mexico end? Ten years ago.
80. Who went to search for Papa? Alfonso and Miguel.
81. What was ready in Papa’s study? Tea and Abuelita.
82. What did Abuelita have in her hand? Yarn and crochet hooks.
83. What did Abuelita want to teach her grand daughter? How to make a new blanket.
84. What was Abuelita wearing? A black dress and gold ear-rings.
85. What was peeking out from beneath the sleeve of her dress? A lace edged handkerchief.
86. Where did Esperanza sit? Next to her grand mother.
87. What did the housekeeper do? She came in with a plate of small sandwiches.
88. Where was Hortensia the housekeeper from? She was a Zapotec Indian from Oaxaca.
89. Who was Hortensia’s husband? Alfonso, the boss of all the field workers.
90. Where did Alfonso’s brother work? In the United States.
91. How old was Alfonso and Hortensia’s son? Miguel was sixteen.
92. Who did Esperanza play with since they were babies? Miguel.
93. Why would Papa take Miguel to parts of the property? To help him learn his job to fix things.
94. Who did Esperanza say she would marry when she was a young girl? Miguel.
95. What did Mama hear? She heard riders.
96. Who were the riders? Tio Luis and Tio Marco, Papa’s step brothers.
97. Who was a bank president? Tio Luis.
98. Who was the mayor of the town? Tio Marco.
99. Why did Esperanza not like them? Because they were serious and gloomy and held their chins
too high.
100. What did Papa say about them not being married? They loved money and power more than
people.
101. What did Tio Luis hand Ramona? Papa’s silver belt buckle.
102. What did Abuelita and Hortensia do? They began lighting candles and saying prayers.
103. What did Esperanza struggle with? Her stiches.
104. What did she try to think about? About the fiesta and all the present she would receive.
105. What did Mama finally see? A lantern.
106. What came into view? A wagon with Alfonso at the reins and Miguel holding a lantern.
107. What did Esperanza see in the wagon? A body completely covered with a blanket.
108. What happpened to Mama when she saw this? She fainted.
109. Who ran to Mama’s side? Abuelita and Hortensia.
110. What did Esperanza do? She fell to her knees and cried.
111. Who did Esperanza hear singing? Her papa and others.
112. Where were they singing? Outside her window.
113. Where was Esperanza sleeping? In her parent’s bed.
114. What had she been dreaming? About her papa and others singing like they used to for her
birthday.
115. What had happened to Papa and his Vaqueros? They had been ambushed and killed near
the fences.
116. What had they been doing at the fences? They were repairing them.
117. What did the bandits steal? Their boots, saddles and their horses.
118. What did Esperanza do after she got out of bed? She wrapped a shawl around her
shoulders.
119. Where did she go the? Down stairs in to the large entry hall.
120. Where has her mother gone? To see the priest.
121. Who had taken her mama to see the priest? Abuelita and Alfonso.
122. Who knocked on the door? Senor Rodriguez.
123. What did he bring? Papayas.
124. Who had ordered the papayas? Esperanza’s papa had ordered them for the Fiesta.
125. What was Esperanza’s favorite dish? Papaya, coconut and lime salad.
126. Who told Senor Rodriguez the bad news? Esperanza did.
127. Who took Esperanza inside to her bedroom? Hortensia.
128. What happened for three days? Rosaries, masses and Funeral.
129. What did the families bring when they came to visit? Plenty of food and flowers.
130. Who came with Senor and Senora Rodriguez? Marisol
131. Who sat by Mama’s bedside at night? Abuelita.
132. What would wake either Mama or Esperanza up? Hearing each other’s cries.
133. What did Esperanza avoid doing? Opening her presents.
134. Why did she not want to open them? Because it reminded her of the Happy Fiesta.
135. Who handed her the gifts? Abuelita
136. What gift did Marisol get for her? A white purse for Sundays with a Rosary
137. What did Chita give her? A Rope of blue beads.
138. What did Abuelita get her? The book-Don Quixote.
139. What did her mama get her? A beautiful embroidered dresser scarf.
140. Who was the last present from? Her Papa.
141. What was it? A doll who wore a fine white batiste dress.
142. Who did the doll look like? Like an Angel.
143. Who came every day to the house? Tio Luis and Tio Marco.
144. What did they do? They tended to family business in Esperanza’s papa’s study.
145. What were the uncles compared to? A plant la calabaza
146. Who came to settle the estate? The Lawyer.
147. What were the ladies wearing? Black dresses.
148. Where was the meeting being held? In the study.
149. Who sat in Esperanza papa’s chair? Tio Luis.
150. What was Tio Luis wearing on his belt? Papas belt buckle.
151. What did the lawyer say was left to Esperanza and her mama? The house and all of its
contents.
152. Who was the land left too? Tio Luis
153. Why was the land left to him? Since he was the banker and land was never left for the
woman.
154. What did Tio Luis want to do? He wanted to buy the house from Esperanza’s mama.
155. What did Ramona do? She declined his offer stating that the land was worth 20 times more
than the offer and that this was their home.
156. What proposal did Tio Luis have? Marriage after the mourning period.
157. What was considered an appropriate period? One year.
158. What did Tio Luis want to do? Campaign for Governor.
159. What did Ramona do? She declined his offer.
160. What did Abuelita call the uncles? Vultures.
161. What did Tio Luis really want? He wanted Ramona by his side to win the election.
162. In the evening who were discussing the problem? Hortensia, Alfonso, Mama & Abuelita.
163. Where did Abuelita have money? In Tio Luis bank.
164. Who was corrupt and powerful? Tio Luis & Tio Marco.
165. Where did Esperanza go to? The garden
166. What did she do? She sat on a stone bench.
167. What could you make of the fallen rose petals? Rosehip tea.
168. Who had planted roses for Miguel and Esperanza? Papa had.
169. What would Miguel and his family do if the Ranch closed? Go to the United States to work.
170. Who had lost faith in the country? Miguel and his dad.
171. What was Esperanza right about? She and Miguel standing on different sides of the river.
172. How many dolls did Esperanza have on the dresser? 13, one for each birthday.
173. What did she put on to sleep? A cotton night gown.
174. Who did Esperanza hug when she went to bed? Her doll.
175. Who was chasing Esperanza in her dream? A bear.
176. Who was shaking Esperanza to wake her up? Her Mama.
177. What had happened to the house? It was on fire.
178. What did Esperanza mama hand her? A damp cloth to cover her mouth.
179. Who was calling out to them? Alfonso
180. What was the house enveloped in? A thick fog of smoke.
181. What happened near the stables? The horses were being released.
182. Who ran to the burning house to find Abuelita? Miguel
183. How did the stables catch in fire? The wind carried the sparks from the fire to the stables.
184. Who shirt was on fire? Miguel.
185. Why could Abuelita not walk? She had hurt her ankle.
186. What did Abeulita stop to get? Her crocheting bag.
187. Where did the fire go next? In to the vineyard engulfing the grapes.
188. Where did Abuelita, Mama and Esperanza sleep after that? Servant’s cabin.
189. Who did they think had arranged the fire? Tio Luis and Tio Marco
190. What had not burnt in the fire? Cast –iron skillets and mortars and pestles from the kitchen
which were made of Lava rock.
191. Who approached the cabin on horseback? Tio Luis and Tio Marco
192. What did Tio Luis propose? To build a bigger and finer house and to replant everything if
Ramona accepted his proposal.
193. Whose jobs and lives were at stake? The Servants and workers of the Ranch.
194. What was Ramona’s reply? She would consider the proposal.
195. What would Tio Luis look into today? Boarding schools to send Esperanza too.
196. What was Ramona discussing with the others? Her options
197. What would happen if she stayed in the servant’s quarters? Possibility of another fire.
198. Where was Alfonso’s brother located? In California
199. Where was Ramona planning to go with Esperanza? To California.
200. What was Esperanza afraid of leaving? Her friends, her school.
201. What had happened to their papers? Burnt in the fire.
202. Who could help them get duplicates? Abuelita’s sisters in the convent.
203. Where had Abuelita come from? From Spain
204. Who had Abuelita come with? Her father, mother and sisters.
205. How long was the journey? Many months
206. Which story was Abuelita reminding Esperanza about? Story of the Phoenix bird
207. What did Espernaza say to make everyone laugh? “ I will work too”
208. Who came to collect Abuelita the next day? Her sister’s from the convent.
209. What did Abuelita hand over to Esperanza? Her crocheting bag to finish while she was
waiting
210. What was in the trunk? Their papers and clothes for them to wear.
211. Where had the clothes come from? The poor box at the convent.
212. What did Senor Rodriguez bring to them every evening? Basket of figs.
213. What did Ramona tell Tio Luis the next day? She agreed to his proposal and asked him to
start rebuilding
215. What did Ramona need? A wagon to visit Abuelita in the convent.
216. What did Tio Luis promise to send next week? Dressmaker and new fabrics
217. When did they depart for their journey? At night.
218. Who Ranch did they go to first? Senor Rodriguez.
219. What did they see while walking? Twisted charred trunk, burnout vines
220. What separated papa’s land from senor Rodriguez land? The Fig Orchard.
221. Why was Esperanza sad? To leave behind her school, friends, her life, papa and Abuelita.
222. Who was waiting for them after they cleared the orchard? Senor Rodriguez
223. Who fluttered on the rafters? Pigeons.
224. Who was Esperanza waiting to see? Marisol
225. Why did Marisol not come? Because Senor Rodriguez told no one.
226. What protection did they need? Protection of the darkness.
227. Where did Esperanza and her mother hide? In the bottom of the wagon.
228. What had Hortensia lined the floor with? With blankets.
229. Where were they taking the wagon to? Zacatecas.
230. How would they travel form there? By Train.
231. How often could they get out of the wagon? Every few hours to stretch
232. What was dumped on the floor of the Wagon? Guava fruit.
233. What appearance did they want to give? Of a farmer and his son taking fruit to the market.
234. When had Esperanza hidden from Thieves? When she was five years old.
235. What kind of dress was Hortensia altering at that time? Blue silk dress.
236. Why was she altering it? Because Esperanza wanted it pinned higher so her new shoes
would be seen.
237. How many bandits had come? Six Men
238. Where did Esperanza and Hortensia hide that day? Under the bed
239. What did Miguel have in his pocket that day? A field mouse.
240. What had the thieves taken that day? All the Silver.
241. What was Miguel's reward for distracting the Bandits? A long train ride.
242. What did they wear on the ride? Esperanza wore her blue silk dress and Miguel wore a
bowtie.
243. Who accompanied them on the train ride? Esperanza’s Papa.
244. What kind of seats did compartment have? Soft leather seats.
245. What did they do in the dining car room? Lunch.
246. How were the men and women around then dressed? In fancy clothes and Hats.
247. What happened when they arrived at Zacatecas? A sale woman boarded the train.
248. What was she selling? Mangoes on a stick.
249. What was Esperanza wishing for? That same train ride to reach Zacatecas.
250. What colored dress was Esperanza wearing when she reached the station? Yellow
251. What did she smell of ? Guavas
252. How long had it taken them to arrive there? Two Days.
251. Where did they sit on the train? In the compartment with wooden benches crowded with
other peasants.
252. What did the compartment smell of? Rotten food and urine.
253. Who grinned at Esperanza? A man with no teeth with a goat on his lap.
254. What was the old frail beggar carrying? Picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
255. Why was Esperanza worried? She had never been around so many peasants before and
she was afraid they would rob from her.
256. Why did they have to use that compartment and not the fancy one? They were poor and
could afford only that fare.
257. What did Esperanza’s mom remind her about? A better life than living with Tio Luis.
258. What did Hortensia and Ramona do once the train was on it way? Crocheting lace.
259. What did Ramona want to teach Esperanza? How to crochet.
260. What did Esperanza do on the train ride? Watch the landscape and dream of memories.
261. What did Espernaza take out of her valise? Her doll.
262. Who came to see the doll? A bare foot peasant girl?
263. What happened next? She touched the doll and so Esperanza hid it.
264. Who was Ramona apologizing to? The girl’s mother.
265. Why did Esperanza not want to part with the doll? Because it was special and she was afraid
the girl would dirty it.
266. Where did Hortensia go? To see if Miguel and Alfonso had bough any Tortillas.
267. What did Ramona make for the little girl with the yarn? A look alike doll.
268. Who got off at the next stop ? The girl and her mother.
269. Which direction was the train going in? North
270. What did Miguel and Alfonso do at every stop? Dampen a package with water.
271. How was Esperanza doing? She was irritable and tired of all that was happening around her.
272. What did Miguel talk about all the time? About Trains and the schedules.
273. Who did Miguel want to work for in California? The railroad.
274. What were they eating? Pepinos, cucumbers sprinkled with salt and ground chilies.
275. What had Esperanza’s papa promised Miguel? To get him a job at the railroad when he was
older.
276. How long were they on the train for? Four days and four nights.
278. What did the next passenger bring on the train? Six red hens that squawked and crackled.
279. What was the woman name? Carmen
280. How many children did she have? 8.
281. What was she offering Esperanza? Dulces, sweets.
282. Who gave Carmen the hens? Her brother.
283. What did she do for a living? Sell eggs
284. What was Esperanza shocked about? About her mother telling another peasant about their
problems.
285. What did Ramona feel? Ramona was at ease since she felt they were not in the same
category as Peasants.
286. What did Ramona give Crame? Three beautiful lace carpets for her house.
287. What did Carmen give them? Two chickens for their future.
288. What did Carmen give the beggar lady? A coin and some tortillas.
289. What did Miguel say about the Spanish blood? Full bellies and Spanish blood go hand in
hand.
290. Where did everybody disembark? At the border at Mexicali.
291. Where did every one go? In to the building for Immigration.
292. What did Ramona say was the purpose of her visit to USA? For work.
293. What did the immigration stamp on their papers? Mexican National.
294. Why had some of the people to re-board the train and go back? Since their papers may not
have been in order or had no proof of employment.
295. What was Alfonso and Miguel looking for? For water for their parcel.
296. Where had they finally arrived? At Los Angeles.
297. Who had come to greet them? Miguel’s brother Juan and his family
298. How many kids did they have? Three- Isabel and Twins.
299. How old was Isabel? Eight
300. Who was Ramona thanking? Juan and Josephina for all their help.
301. What were they all going to travel in? A truck
302. What was Esperanza relived to see? That Los Angeles had lush palm trees and green grass
and blooming flower beds?
303. What aroma came from the nearby Grave? Aroma of oranges.
304. Who sat in the front of the truck? Juan, Josephina, Mama and Hortensia
305. What valley was the vehicle climbing? San Fernando Valley.
306. How did they get shade? Alfonso tied a blanket across the slates to provide shade.
307. What were the twins called? Lupe and Pepe.
308. What was the major difference between the twins? The earring in Lupe’s ears.
309. Who feel asleep in Esperanza’s arms? Pepe.
310. What did Isabel and her family live in last year? A tent on a farm in El Centro.
311. Where did they move to this year? Arvin
312. How much rent do they pay for the camp? Seven dollars.
313. How big is the farm? Six thousand acres.
314. When had Esperanza started school? When she was 4
315. When was she planning to go to school again? After Grandmother came.
316. What did Isabel want to do in school? Learn to read and English.
317. What did they have for lunch? Burritos, Avacados & Grapes
318. Who fell asleep on the blanket? Isabel.
319. Where did Esperanza go after lunch? To look around.
320. What did she try to feel? The Earth heart beat like how her papa had taught her.
321. Was she successful? No she was not.
322. What happened to her? She fainted.
323. Who found her on the ground? Miguel.
324. What did Miguel do? He tried to comfort Esperanza.
325. Which highway were they headed on? Highway 99
326. Where was it headed to? San Joaquim Valley
327. What passed by them? A caravan of trucks filled with cantaloupe and melons.
328. What did they pick up at one of the fields? Some melons
329. Who got into the truck for a ride? Martha
330. Where did Martha live? In another camp where cotton was grown but she sometimes
stayed in the same camp with her aunt and uncle.
331. What did Martha’s papa do in Mexico? He had fought in the Mexican revolution.
332. Who lived in camp 8? People from Oklahoma.
333. What did the different groups of people do? They all worked separately and lived in
separate camps.
334. Did any of the camps have hot water? No
335. What was going on this Saturday night? There was to a Jamaican night.
336. What happened at the Jamaica’s? There would be food, music and dancing.
337. Why was it going to be the last Saturday for Jamaica? Since it was going to be cold soon.
338. What did the cabins remind Esperanza of? Of the horse stables on the ranch
339. What did Esperanza want to learn? To Talk English
340. Who were they to share a cabin with? With Alfonso and Hortenisa.
341. Why could Esperanza and her mama not get their own cabin? Since only one man in each
family could get a cabin and not the woman.
342. Where would Miguel sleep? In the next cabin.
343. What did Ramona tell Esperanza to be grateful about? About how lucky they were to get a
place to stay and work in no time.
344. Who did Esperanza think would save them all? Her Abuelita
345. What greeted Esperanza the next morning when she woke up? The smell of coffee and
sausages.
346. Who had bought groceries for them? Josephina did
347. What was Isabel and Esperanza’s job for the day? To watch the babies.
348. Who was going to pick grapes? Juan and Alfonso.
349. What were the ladies going to do? Pack the grapes
350. What did Esperanza want to do? Work with mama
351. What was their camp job? To sweep the platform every night.
352. Where had Miguel gone too? To look for a job at the railroad at Bakersfield.
353. What was Ramona making for lunch? Soft tortilla filled with pinto beans.
354. What time did the trucks leave? 6:30
355. What did Esperanza see rolling by outside? Trucks with produce
356. What were the twins having for breakfast? Cereal.
357. Who came to see them while they were touring the camp? Silvia, Isabel’s friend.
358. Who did Isabel introduce Esperanza to? Irene and Melina
359. Where was Melina husband from? Also from Aguscalinetas
360. What did the girls have to do next? Change the diapers of the twins and the some laundry.
361. Where was Esperanza told to dump the contents of the diapers? In the toilets
362. What did Isabel teach Esperanza to do? To wash a cloth diaper and how to wash clothes.
363. Who used to do the laundry for Esperanza? The servants
364. Did Esperanza know how to sweep? No
365. Why was Esperanza embarrassed and humiliated? Since everyone on the camp found out
that she didn’t know to wash clothes or sweep.
366. Who taught her to sweep? Miguel showed her how it was done.
367. Did Miguel find a job? Not at the railroad but at the farm.
368. What did Ramona hurt? Her neck
369. What was troubling Hortensia? Her arms were sore.
370. What did they have for dinner that night? Tortillas and beans and arroz.
371. What was for desert? A slice of Cantaloupe.
372. What surprise did Miguel and Alfonso have for them? They had built a shrine of Our Lady of
Guadalupe and it was surrounded with her papa’s roses.
373. What happened the next day? The ladies had a bath and cleaned up.
374. What was everyone in the camp getting prepared for? Jamaica
375. Who had bathed Esperanza when she was little? Hortensia.
376. How did they get hot water for their baths? By boiling water on the stove top
377. Why was Esperanza not keen on going to the Jamaica? She was afraid people would laugh at
her.
378. Where had Martha been born? In U.S.A
379. What was Josephina making tonight? Flan de almendra.
380. What had lit up the platform? Big Lights.
381. What were the men wearing tonight? Neat starched and pressed shirts and cowboy hats.
382. What instruments were they getting ready to play? Guitars and Violins
383. What were the women selling at the long table? Tamales, desserts, agua de Jamaica.
384. What game was going to be played? Bingo
385. Who attended this fiesta? People from all the camps
386. What happened when the music started? Peoples started dancing and clapping and singing.
387. Who was in the cardboard box around which the girls had gathered? A litter of kittens
388. What did Isabel want? A kitten from the litter
389. Whose permission did Esperanza go to get? Isabel’s mama.
390. What was happening at the site? Martha and her friends were torturing the kittens and
trying to prove a point.
391. What were Martha and her friends planning to do in two weeks? To go on strike to get
better wages and housing.
392. What kind of camp did Martha work in? A migrant camp which traveled all over for harvest
times.
393. What were the current wages to pick cotton? 7 cents a pound for picking cotton
394. What increase were the workers asking for? 10 cents
395. What did Isabel ask Esperanza about? About parties back home.
396. What did Esperanza miss most? Her friends.
397. What did Ramona miss most? Her dresses
398. Where were they going tomorrow? To a church in Bakersfield and then to Cholita.
399. What did Cholita sell? Every king of sweet roll and Mexican candies
400. Who was Esperanza going to light a candle for in church? For her papa’s memory
401. What was she going to pray for? For Miguel to get a job. For the twins and Isabel at school.
For Abuelita to get well and come soon.
402. Who had to be put down for a nap first? Pepe
403. What did Lupe not eat? Bananas.
404. Where was Isabel going? To school
405. What did Esperanza feed the twins for lunch? A bowl of plums and milk to drink
406. What had happened to the babies? They were having loose motions
407. What had happened to dinner that was simmering on the stove? It got burnt at the bottom.
408. What had made the babies ill? Too much raw plums.
409. What made the twins feel better? The rice water that Esperanza had prepared.
410. How hot was it during the day? Around 90 degrees
411. Who came to visit after lunch? Melina and her baby
412. What storm blew in to the camp? A dust storm.
413. What the sky turning into? Brown swirling fog
414. What made the noise? The high speed in picking up all the sand around.
415.Who was Esperanza most worried about? Mama, Hortensia and Josephina who were in an
open shed.
416. How long did the storm last? Few hours mostly.
417. Who was Isabel most worried about when she got home? About her cat.
418. Did the trucks get to the ladies on time? No so they hid under the crates to hide from the
storm
419. What was everyone condition? Covered in dirt and coughing from all the dust.
420. Who had been ready for a strike? Workers in the cotton camp.
421. What had happened? The storm covered the fields in dust and hence there would be no
cotton picking anyway.
422. Were the grapes affected by the storm? No, since they were higher off the ground.
423. What was the next crop to be planted in the fields? Potatoes.
424. What had happened to Ramona after the storm? She never stopped coughing.
425. What was Hortensia going to make? Chicken soup with a lot of garlic.
426. Who came to see Ramona that night? A doctor.
427. What did the doctor say Ramona had? Valley fever.
428. What were her symptoms? Fever off and on for weeks, persistent coughing, headaches,
joint aches.
429. Was the disease contagious? No.
430. How long would the recovery be? Six months.
431. Who always stayed by Ramona’s side? Esperanza.
432. What did Miguel offer to do? Sweep the platform.
433. What did the doctor say when he came back for a check-up in a few weeks? That there was
no change in her health.
434. What did Ramona ask for one morning? Abuelita’s blanket.
435. What did Esperanza continue to do? Needlework on Abuelita’s blanket.
436. Where did the doctor suggest her Mama to be taken? To the county hospital for better care.
437. Where did Alfonso drive them to? Kern General Hospital in Bakersfield.
438. Why did the doctor say Mama was depressed? Because in a few months she had lost her
husband, her home, her money and was separated from her mother.
439. Who did Esperanza want to write to? Abuelita.
440. What did Esperanza need to do? Work to get some money.
441. Who would watch the babies if Esperanza went to work? Melina and Irene would watch the
babies.
442. What was harvested in the spring? Asparagus.
443. What were Hortensia and Josefina going to do? Cut potato eyes.
444. What was Esperanza wearing the next morning? Old wool pants, a sweater, a ragged jacket
and an old cap.
445. What was Esperanza hugging? A heating brick wrapped in newspaper.
446. What did Esperanza do at the site? She copied everything that Hortensia and Josefina did.
447. What were the women chatting about? About an impending strike.
448. What anyone going to Mexico for Christmas? No one seemed to be travelling.
449. What did Isabel make for Silvia? A yarn doll.
450. What did Esperanza also want to make? Clothes.
451. What used to happen for Christmas at the Ranch? Lots of festivities.
452. What did Esperanza want for Christmas this year? She wanted Mama to be well and she
wanted soft hands.
453. What did Esperanza do at night? She cried herself to sleep.
454. What did Esperanza wish she could give Mama for Christmas? A red coat with a pin that
sparkled.
455. Where was Ramona staying? In a ward for people with long-term illness.
456. Why was Esperanza saving money? To bring Abuelita to LA.
457. What did Hortensia rub on Esperanza’s hands? An avocado mixture.
458. How long was she to keep the mixture on? 20 minutes.
459. What was Ramona diagnosed with next? Pneumonia.
460. Where was Hortensia sending Esperanza to that morning? To the grocery store for an
outing.
461. Where did Hortensia remind her to go? To Mr. Yakota’s market.
462. What were the valleys filled with? Citrus groves.
463. Why did people go all the way to Mr. Yakota’s market? Because he was kind to Mexicans
and stocked a lot of their things.
464. What was the general feeling about Mexicans? That they were all dirty, poor, unskilled and
uneducated.
465. What was Esperanza’s favorite part of Mr. Yakota’s store? The ceiling.
466. What was Esperanza going to do with all the money orders she purchased? She was saving
them so that one day she could bring Abuelita to LA.
467. Who did she buy the piñata for? For her Mama.
468. What was she putting in the piñata? Caramels.
469. Who did they give a ride to on their way? Martha and her mother.
470. Why had Martha been kicked out of the camp? Because she was trying to instigate a strike.
471. Where did Miguel drop them off to? To a campsite surrounded by chain-linked fencing and
barbed wire.
472. Who inhabited the camp? Workers who had gone on strike.
473. What did Esperanza fill the man’s hat with? Dried beans.
474. When was the strike supposed to happen? In a few weeks.
475. What was the celebration that night? Miguel had got a job with the machine shop at the
railroad.
476. How long would the asparagus season last? Up to ten weeks.
477. Why had the company sent a man with a gun to ride on a truck with the workers? For
protection.
478. Where were the strikers attacking the workers? At the picket lines at the entrance of the
fields.
479. What did Josefina find in the crate one day? A large rat.
480. What else was found in the vegetable crates? Razor blades, shards of glass and a
rattlesnake.
481. How did the supervisor kill the snake? He cut its head off with the hoe.
482. What bothered Hortensia every day? The yelling.
483. Why did the yelling stop? Due to an immigration sweep.
484. What would be done with the people who got caught? They would be put on a train to El
Paso and then to Mexico.
485. What would happen to the families? Voluntary deportation would occur.
486. Why did Esperanza go to the back of the dock? To get some more rubber bands to tie the
asparagus.
487. Who did she find there? Martha hiding.
488. What did the immigration officers do? They went to every major grower and put hundreds
of strikers on the buses.
489. What had Isabel been going for nine days? Saying a novena.
490. What would happen on May Day? There would be a festival and a dance around a pole with
colored ribbons.
491. Who would be the festival queen? The best girl from third grade.
492. Who had straight As? Isabel.
493. Why was Miguel dirty that night? Because he was digging trenches.
494. What had happened to his job at the railroad? It was given to some other workers for half
the wage.
495. What was Esperanza complaining about? About the way the Mexican workers were treated.
496. What did Miguel assure her about? That things would get better.
497. Did Isabel win queen of the May festival? No.
498. What did Esperanza give her that day? Her prized porcelain doll.
499. What did the doctor say to Esperanza and Hortensia? That Ramona was coming home.
500. How long had the hospital stay been? Five months.
501. What had gone missing from the valise? The money orders.
502. Who did they suspect had taken the money orders? Miguel.
503. Why had Alfonso come early? To take Esperanza to the bus station.
504. Who was to arrive that day? Miguel.
505. At what time? At 3 o’clock.
506. Who had Miguel brought along with him? Abuelita.
507. What did Abuelita have in her pockets? A flat sleek stone which she gave to Isabel.
508. What did Isabel give Abuelita? Wildflowers.
509. How did Ramona react to Abuelita’s appearance? She was extremely happy.
510. What did Esperanza want to do for her birthday? She wanted to feel the Earth’s heart
beating before sunrise.
511. Who was outside her window on the morning of her birthday? Miguel, Alfonso and Juan.
512. What was for breakfast? Cantaloupe, lime and coconut salad.
513. What was Esperanza’s favorite dessert? Flan almendras.
514. What was Abuelita teaching Isabel? To crochet.