Novel •Ties
Esperanza Rising
Pam MuÑoz Ryan
A Study Guide
Written By Lois Hoffman
Edited by Joyce Friedland and Rikki Kessler
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ESPERANZA RISING
For the Teacher
This reproducible study guide consists of lessons to use in conjunction with
the novel Esperanza Rising. Written in chapter-by-chapter format, the guide contains
a synopsis, pre-reading activities, vocabulary and comprehension exercises, as well as
extension activities to be used as follow-up to the novel.
In a homogeneous classroom, whole class instruction with one title is
appropriate. In a heterogeneous classroom, reading groups should be formed: each
group works on a different novel at its reading level. Depending upon the length of time
devoted to reading in the classroom, each novel, with its guide and accompanying lessons, may be completed in three to six weeks.
Begin using NOVEL-TIES for guided reading by distributing the novel and
a folder to each child. Distribute duplicated pages of the study guide for students to
place in their folders. After examining the cover and glancing through the book,
students can participate in several pre-reading activities. Vocabulary questions
should be considered prior to reading a chapter or group of chapters; all other work
should be done after the chapter has been read. Comprehension questions can be
answered orally or in writing. The classroom teacher should determine the amount of
work to be assigned, always keeping in mind that readers must be nurtured and that
the ultimate goal is encouraging students’ love of reading.
The benefits of using NOVEL-TIES are numerous. Students read good
literature in the original, rather than in abridged or edited form. The good reading
habits will be transferred to the books students read independently. Passive readers
become active, avid readers.
Novel-Ties® are printed on recycled paper.
The purchase of this study guide entitles an individual teacher to reproduce pages for
use in a classroom. Reproduction for use in an entire school or school system or for commercial
use is prohibited. Beyond the classroom use by an individual teacher, reproduction, transmittal
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Copyright © 2003, 2006 by LEARNING LINKS INC.
ESPERANZA RISING
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old Esperanza has a wonderful life with Mama, Papa, and her
grandmother Abuelita on their ranch in Mexico. Even though it is 1930 and most of the
world is suffering in the grip of the Great Depression, the family is wealthy enough to
employ servants; Esperanza is always beautifully dressed. She and her best friend
Marisol Rodríguez are looking forward to their presentation parties when they become
fifteen.
All this is changed when Papa and some of his workers are ambushed and
killed. Tío Luis, Esperanza’s unscrupulous uncle, wants to marry Mama, take over the
ranch, and send Esperanza away. As a way of threatening Esperanza and Mama, he sets
the ranch on fire. Mama and Esperanza, along with their servants Hortensia and Alfonso,
and their son Miguel, escape to California. Abuelita is too ill to accompany them.
With few choices available to them, Mama and Esperanza join Hortensia’s family
and other Mexican immigrants as farm laborers, subsisting on extremely low wages and
living in poor and crowded conditions. Esperanza struggles to adapt to her new life despite
crippling difficulties. There is a strike which causes disagreements and hard feelings
among the workers and a terrible and destructive dust storm. Mama develops a serious
lung disease, causing her to be hospitalized for five months. Esperanza also comes face
to face with the Americans’ prejudice against Mexicans when she discovers that not all
migrant workers are treated in the same way.
Although life around her becomes extremely bleak, Esperanza has positive
experiences. She makes friends with Isabel. She also develops many skills, such as taking
care of babies and doing household chores. Finally, with the help of Miguel, Abuelita is
reunited with her family. Through the losses she suffers and the new experiences she has,
Esperanza becomes a different person. She matures into a courageous, generous, optimistic, and determined young woman, ready to face the challenges and joys of the future.
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ESPERANZA RISING
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Mexican Revolution of 1910
For most of Mexico’s history, a small minority of the population controlled the
country’s power and wealth, while the majority of the country lived in poverty. The gulf
between the rich and poor grew wider under the leadership of General Porfirio Diaz. He
was challenged by Francisco Madero who led a series of strikes throughout Mexico.
Although Diaz was pressured into holding an election in 1910, in which Madero
was able to gather a significant number of votes, he imprisoned Madero and maintained
control of the government. The insurgency continued, however, and Diaz resigned in 1911.
Madero was elected president and hoped to implement land reforms in which
some land owned by the wealthy would be redistributed to the poor. Impatient for land
reform to begin, Emiliano Zapata usurped Madero and immediately chased out estate
owners and divided their lands among the peasants.
During this time, Mexico remained in great disorder. The country broke into
many factions and guerrilla units roamed across the country, destroying and burning
large haciendas and ranchos. Madero was taken prisoner and executed while different
factions fought for presidential control.
In 1917, Venustiano Carranza rose to the presidency and organized an
important convention whose attendees drafted a constitution that is still in effect. It
established a farm cooperative program that redistributed much of the country’s land
from the wealthy land holders to the peasants.
November 20th is celebrated as a national holiday in Mexico, commemorating
the day when Madero denounced President Diaz, declared himself president of Mexico,
and called for a national insurrection.
The Great Depression
The prosperity and the economic policies of the 1920s in the United States surprisingly led to the crash of the stock market in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed. Since the wages of farmers and unskilled workers had not grown during the time
of prosperity, there were more goods on the market than could be bought. Europe, still in
debt following World War I, could not buy America’s goods. When there are more goods on
the market than can be consumed, prices fall. Also, easy lending policies allowed people
to borrow money for homes, household goods, and stocks well beyond their means.
The collapse of the stock market in the United States had a domino effect on
the economy. Farmers in Texas, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
and Missouri, unable to invest money in their land, which was suffering from drought
conditions, were forced to abandon their farms to become part of the migrant labor force
that moved to the west coast of the United States. Willing to accept lower wages and
poorer working conditions than their Mexican and Mexican-American counterparts, they
successfully competed for existing jobs on the cotton and fruit farms in California and
Oregon. Poverty and unemployent lasted until 1941, the year America entered World War
II and began to spend heavily on national defense.
During the height of the depression, there were sixteen million people unemployed in America. This was about one-third of the labor force at that time. Since federal
programs for unemployment insurance and social security did not yet exist, the effects of
the Great Depression were devastating.
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ESPERANZA RISING
GLOSSARY OF SPANISH WORDS
abuelita
grandmother
aguacate
avocado
almendra
almond
arroz
rice
buena suerte
good luck
burro
donkey
calabaza
squash plant
campesinos
peasants
cebolla
onion
ciruela
plum
compañero
close friend and companion
cosecha
harvest
dedos
fingers
durazno
peach
esparragos
asparagus
fantasma
ghost
gata
cat
gayaba
guava
higo
fig
jefe
boss
mano
hand
melone
melon
milagro
miracle
nieta
granddaughter
papas
potatoes
Quinceañeras
presentation party for a 15-year-old girl
rebozo
blanket shawl
reina
queen
sala
drawing room
tormenta de polvo
dust storm
uvas
grapes
vaqueros
cowboys
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ESPERANZA RISING
PRE-READING QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Preview the book by reading the title and the author’s name and by looking at the
illustration on the cover. Also, read the chapter titles. What do you think the book
will be about? When and where do you think it takes place? Will it be a story about
real life or a fantasy?
2. Read the Background Information on the Mexican Revolution on page two of this
study guide and do some additional research to learn about the political climate in
Mexico from 1900 to 1930. As you read the book, notice how political events in Mexico
affected the lives of the characters.
3. Read the Background Information on the Great Depression on page two of this study
guide and do some additional research about this period in American history. As you
read the book, notice how Esperanza and the Mexican farm workers were affected by
the Great Depression.
4. Although all of the Spanish words in the book are defined in context, spend a moment
before you begin the book to become familiar with the Glossary of Spanish Words on
page three of this study guide. Work with a partner to memorize these words and pronounce them aloud. Add other Spanish words and phrases to the list.
5. Imagine yourself moving permanently to a foreign country with your family. What are
some of the problems you would face? How would you go about overcoming these
problems?
6. We often say that life has its ups and downs. Divide a piece of paper into two
columns. On the left side make a list of the “ups” in your life—the good and positive
things that have happened to you. On the right side make a list of “downs”—the negative and bad things that have happened to you. As you read the book, record the
“ups” and “downs” in Esperanza’s life.
7. In this novel Esperanza has to make some difficult decisions. Have you ever had to
make an important decision? What were your choices? How did you go about making
up your mind?
8. Several characters in this novel show courage. What is your definition of courage?
Think of someone you have either read or heard about who had great courage. What
difficulties did the person face, and how did the person’s courage help him or her to
overcome them? As you read the book, notice the characters who displayed courage.
9. Do some research to learn about current economic conditions in Mexico and the status
of Mexicans who come to America as farm workers. As you read, compare current
conditions to those described in the book.
10. On the following page you will find a chart that shows important events that affected
Mexicans who immigrated to America and the year the event occurred. As you read
the book fill in the third column with events in the book that reflected the history of
the time.
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ESPERANZA RISING
Year
Events in History
1910
The Mexican Revolution begins.
Hundreds of thousands of people flee
north from Mexico and settle in the
southwestern United States.
1911
In Mexico, the long dictatorship of
Porfirio Diaz comes to an end when
he is forced to resign in a revolt led
by Francisco Madero.
1921
The first of two national origin quota
acts is passed to curtail immigration
from eastern and southern Europe.
As a result, Mexico becomes a major
source of American farm workers.
1929
With the onset of the Great
Depression, Mexican immigration to
the United States slows down and
many workers return to Mexico.
1930–
1940
Many Mexican workers are displaced
by the dominant southern whites and
blacks of the migrant agricultural
labor force.
1933
Mexican farm workers in the Central
Valley, California cotton industry
go on strike, supported by several
groups of independent Mexican union
organizers.
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Events in Book
5
ESPERANZA RISING
AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO; LAS UVAS; LAS PAPAYAS; LOS HIGOS
Vocabulary: Draw a line from each word on the left to its definition on the right. Then
use the numbered words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.
1. venom
a. warm and friendly
2. propriety
b. anger
3. forlorn
c. politeness; good manners
4. resurrected
d. feeling of anxiety over a future event; foreboding
5. cordial
e. poison
6. premonition
f. sad
7. composure
g. brought back to life
8. indignation
h. calmness
......................................................
1. The teacher asked the class to give the new students a(n) ____________________
welcome so they would feel at home in their new country.
2. Even though the baseball fans were yelling and shouting insults, the pitcher kept
his ____________________ and won the game for the team.
3. By cutting back the overgrown bushes and removing weeds, the Smiths
__________________ the garden in their new home.
4. The child expressed great ____________________ when his parents blamed him for
something he had not done.
5. As Kim looked back at the house that had been her birthplace, her heart filled with
____________________ thinking about the landlord who had forced her to leave.
6. Jon felt ____________________ when his best friend moved to another state.
7. Mother taught us that ____________________ was important in life, especially saying
“please” and “thank you.”
8. When a black cat crossed my path, I had a(n) ____________________ that bad luck
would come my way.
Read to find out why Mexico becomes unsafe for Mama and Esperanza.
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ESPERANZA RISING
Aguascalientes, Mexico; Las Uvas; Las Papayas; Los Higos (cont.)
Questions:
1. How does Papa express his love for his land?
2. What evidence suggests that Esperanza’s family is wealthy?
3. Why had Papa been warned about going out to work the cattle?
4. Why had Esperanza’s relationship with Miguel come to an end?
5. How does Papa’s death affect Esperanza and her family?
6. Why does Tio Luis want to marry Mama?
7. Why don’t Mama and Esperanza discuss the cause of the fire?
8. How does Mama trick Tio Luis?
Questions for Discussion:
1. What is “the deep river” between Esperanza and Miguel? Are you aware of similar
deep rivers in your own world?
2. Do you think Papa was guilty of causing the difficulties that his family faced after his
death?
3. Do you think Mama makes the right decision? Can you think of other options she
might consider?
4. Should Mama and Esperanza be hopeful about the life they will face in America?
Literary Elements:
I. Foreshadowing—Foreshadowing refers to the hints or clues that an author provides
that suggest what will take place later in the story. For example:
[Esperanza]…pricked her finger on a vicious thorn. Big pearls
of blood pulsed from the tip of her thumb and she automatically
thought, ‘bad luck.’
What does this foreshadow?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
II. Symbolism—A symbol in literature is a person, object, or event that represents an
idea or a set of ideas. What did Esperanza’s trunk symbolize? What did its destruction symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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ESPERANZA RISING
Aguascalientes, Mexico; Las Uvas; Las Papayas; Los Higos (cont.)
III. Simile—A simile is a figure of speech in which two unlike objects are compared using
the words “like” or “as.” For example:
The flames ran along the deliberate rows of the vines, like long
curved fingers reaching for the horizon, lighting the night sky.
What is being compared?
__________________________________________________________________________________
What mental image does this create?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
I V. Metaphor—A metaphor is a suggested or implied comparison. For example:
Her [Esperanza’s] smile faded, her chest tightened, and a heavy
blanket of anguish smothered her smallest joy.
What is being compared?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Why is this an apt comparison?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
V. Personification—Personification in literature refers to human qualities that an
author grants to nonhuman objects. For example:
He gently touched a wild tendril that reached into the row, as if
it had been waiting to shake hands.
What is being personified?
__________________________________________________________________________________
How does it convey Papa’s feelings about his vineyard?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Writing Activities:
1. Pretend you are Esperanza and that you are preparing to leave your home in Mexico
for the United States. Write a farewell letter to your best friend Marisol Rodríguez
explaining the reasons for your departure and how you feel about it.
2. Esperanza’s Papa shares with her his love for the land. Think of an object or a person
that you love. Describe that person or object by using words that will create a picture
in the reader’s mind. Tell why this person or object is important to you.
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ESPERANZA RISING
LAS GUAYABAS; LOS MELONES
Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Draw a line from each word
in Column A to its antonym in Column B. Then use the words in Column A to fill in the
blanks in the sentences below.
A
B
1. frail
a. unfamiliar
2. peasants
b. fresh
3. monotonous
c. changing
4. irritable
d. plentiful
5. intimate
e. fertile
6. barren
f. robust
7. stagnant
g. aristocrats
8. sparse
h. patient
......................................................
1. To avoid gossip, Jodi shared her secrets only with her most ____________________
friends.
2. Getting caught in traffic often makes people ____________________.
3. The Mexican ____________________ worked long hours in the fields yet received very
low wages.
4. The grass on the front lawn became ____________________ because it was not given
sufficient water and fertilizer.
5. After being hospitalized for a month with a severe illness, the patient appeared
____________________.
6. The moon is a(n) ____________________ place where no trees, grass, or flowers can be
found.
7. It is not safe to drink the water from a(n) ____________________ pool.
8. The ____________________ voice of the speaker caused many people in the audience to
fall asleep.
Read to find out how Mama and Esperanza face the drastic changes in their lives.
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ESPERANZA RISING
Las Guayabas; Los Melones (cont.)
Questions:
1. Why do Mama, Esperanza, and Hortensia have to leave at night hidden in a wagon?
2. During the wagon ride, why does Hortensia recall the story of a train journey that
Esperanza made with Miguel and Papa?
3. Why does Mama make a yarn doll for the little girl on the train?
4. How did Papa’s death change Miguel’s life?
5. Why does Esperanza’s mother say, “Now we are peasants, too.”
6. How does Mama convince the officials to let her cross the border?
7. Why does Miguel apologize to Esperanza for her cousin Isabel’s comments?
8. How will Esperanza and her mother earn their living in California?
9. Why does Esperanza dislike Marta?
10. According to Isabel why do the farm workers of different nationalities live in
separate camps?
Questions for Discussion:
1. Do you think Esperanza’s reaction to the people on the train is justified? Can you
understand her feelings?
2. What does Esperanza learn from the new people she meets—the little girl, Carmen,
and Isabel?
3. In what ways was Esperanza becoming more aware of class distinctions?
4. How do you think Esperanza and her mother will be able to endure their new life?
Literary Devices:
I. Symbolism—What was the symbolic importance of Esperanza’s inability to hear the
earth’s “heartbeat” once she arrived in California?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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ESPERANZA RISING
Las Guayabas; Los Melones (cont.)
II. Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?
As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulled
away from each other, like a curtain opening on a stage, revealing
the San Joaquin Valley beyond.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
What visual image does this create?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Literary Elements:
I. Sensory Details—A writer uses words that appeal to our five senses to make a story
more vivid. Esperanza experiences new sights, smells, and sounds as she leaves her
familiar life in Mexico and travels to California. Fill in the chart below with appropriate words and expressions from the chapters you have just read.
Sights
Smells
Sounds
II. Characterization—We may learn a great deal about a character from his or her
actions. Reread the section of the story that tells about Miguel and the thieves. Then
fill in the chart below.
Miguel
Action
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Character trait
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ESPERANZA RISING
Las Guayabas; Los Melones (cont.)
Social Studies Connection:
Do some research on migrant workers in the United States during the years of the Great
Depression. Use a social studies textbook, an encyclopedia, or the Internet. What were
some of the hardships in the lives of migrant workers? Be prepared to share your information with the class. [If you use the Internet, try www.google.com using the keywords
migrant workers great depression in the Search box.] Then do some additional research to
learn about the life of farm workers today. What problems still exist in the lives of
migrant workers?
Writing Activities:
1. Doing something important for the first time can be challenging, exciting, and sometimes scary. Think of the first time you did something important, such as the first day
you attended school, the first time you went away to camp, or the first time you tried
to swim. When and where did the experience take place? How did you feel? What did
you learn from the experience?
2. Imagine you are Esperanza or Miguel and write a journal entry describing your
thoughts and feelings about the trip from Mexico and your arrival in California.
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ESPERANZA RISING
LAS CEBOLLAS; LAS ALMENDRAS
Vocabulary: Analogies are equations in which the first pair of words has the same relationship as the second pair of words. For example, DARK is to LIGHT as MERRY is to
GLUM. Both pairs of words are opposites. Choose the best word from the Word Box to
complete each of the analogies below.
awkward
debris
WORD BOX
humiliation
obvious
moat
ridicule
swaddle
temporary
1. DULL is to EXCITING as _______________________ is to GRACEFUL.
2. WRAP is to PRESENT as _______________________ is to INFANT.
3. _______________________ is to NOTICEABLE as ELDERLY is to OLD.
4. SWIMMING POOL is to RECREATION as _______________________ is to
PROTECTION.
5. OCEAN is to SEA as EMBARRASSMENT is to _______________________.
6. GARBAGE is to _______________________ as PLAYTHING is to TOY.
7. PRAISE is to _______________________ as BUILD is to DESTROY.
8. _______________________ is to PERMANENT as COMMON is to UNUSUAL.
Read to find out why it is so hard for Esperanza to adjust to her new life.
Questions:
1. Why does Esperanza feel like a misfit?
2. Why does Mama believe that she and Esperanza are fortunate?
3. How has Mama’s appearance changed since she left Mexico?
4. Why is it difficult for Esperanza to do the jobs she is assigned?
5. How does Miguel help Esperanza?
6. Why does Miguel decide to work in the fields instead of working on the railroad?
7. How is the mystery of the bundle that Miguel and Alfonso had to water at each train
stop solved?
8. Why does Esperanza feel humiliated at bath time?
9. Why does Marta come to the jamaica?
10. Why aren’t many of the workers at Isabel’s camp eager to strike?
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ESPERANZA RISING
Las Cebollas; Las Almendras (cont.)
Questions for Discussion:
1. Why do you think Esperanza tells Isabel that her current situation is temporary?
2. Why are Mama and Esperanza so emotionally affected by the rose bushes that Miguel
and Alfonso plant?
3. What do you think Mama means when she tells Esperanza, “Do you know I am so
proud of you? For all you are learning”? What is Esperanza learning?
4. Do you think the workers should strike?
Literary Device: Symbolism
What do the roses symbolize?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
What does the kitten that Marta holds symbolize?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Writing Activity:
Write about an object you possess, such as a photograph, a souvenir, a letter, a piece of
jewelry, or a toy or game from your early childhood. Tell about the memories this object
brings forth. What feelings do you associate with it? Who or what does the object symbolize?
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ESPERANZA RISING
LAS CIRUELAS; LAS PAPAS
Vocabulary: Use the words from the Word Box and the clues below to complete the
crossword puzzle.
amber
atrocious
bereft
contagious
Across
4. ceremony
5. very unpleasant
7. too tired to care about anything
8. deprived of something
10. uniform
11. having a damp, moldy smell
WORD BOX
intent
listless
musty
nimble
propelled
regimented
ritual
roil
Down
1. light and quick
2. drove forward
3. disturb
5. yellowish-brown
6. tending to spread from person to
person, as an illness
9. having the attention fixed upon
Read to find out what happens as a result of a dust storm.
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ESPERANZA RISING
Las Ciruelas; Las Papas (cont.)
Questions:
1. Why is Esperanza left alone to care for the two babies?
2. Why do the babies become ill under Esperanza’s care?
3. Why doesn’t the strike take place?
4. Why is the dust storm so destructive?
5. How does Mama become ill? Why is Esperanza fearful after hearing the doctor’s
diagnosis?
6. Why does Esperanza continue working on the crocheted blanket that Abuelita had begun?
7. Why is Mama taken to the hospital?
8. Why does Esperanza decide to work in the sheds?
Questions for Discussion:
1. How would you assess Esperanza’s first day caring for Lupe and Pepe? Do you think
the babies should have been left in her care?
2. What is happening to Esperanza’s memories about life in Mexico? Has this ever
happened to you?
3. What does Esperanza mean when she says that Isabel has nothing but she has everything? Do you know anyone who is like Isabel? Do you know anyone who has
everything, but has nothing?
4. Do you think that Esperanza will succeed in being strong for Mama?
Science Connection:
Do some research on infectious diseases to learn why Mama in 1930 received so little
medical help for her lung disease. Find out when the first antibiotics were used to treat
diseases.
Literary Devices:
I. Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?
It [the dust] had settled on the world, covering everything like
a suede blanket.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Why is this better than saying “Dust was everywhere”?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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ESPERANZA RISING
Las Ciruelas; Las Papas (cont.)
I I. Metaphor—What is being compared in the following metaphor?
Would she [Esperanza] ever escape this valley she was living
in? This valley of Mama being sick?
__________________________________________________________________________________
What mood does this create?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Writing Activity:
Return to the pages in which the dust storm is described. Notice the details and descriptive language that the author uses. Write about a dramatic natural event that you have
experienced. Use language that will help the reader relive your experience.
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ESPERANZA RISING
LOS AGUACATES; LOS ESPÁRRAGOS
Vocabulary: Use the context to determine the meaning of the underlined word in each of
the following sentences. Then compare your definition with a dictionary definition.
1. The cotton sheet was pulled taut over the mattress so that it would be free of
wrinkles on the bed.
Your definition ____________________________________________________________________
Dictionary definition ________________________________________________________________
2. As part of the wedding ceremony, rose petals from the flower girl’s basket were
strewn all along the aisle.
Your definition ____________________________________________________________________
Dictionary definition ________________________________________________________________
3. Although she had a closet full of clothes, Sophie impulsively bought a dress she saw
in a store window.
Your definition ____________________________________________________________________
Dictionary definition ________________________________________________________________
4. When the wind blew Mr. Brown’s hat off his head, he ran down the street trying to
retrieve it.
Your definition ____________________________________________________________________
Dictionary definition ________________________________________________________________
5. The boys enjoyed playing softball in the vacant lot so that traffic would not interrupt
their game.
Your definition ____________________________________________________________________
Dictionary definition ________________________________________________________________
6. Your recuperation from knee surgery will be faster if you do special exercises.
Your definition ____________________________________________________________________
Dictionary definition ________________________________________________________________
7. When the watchdog let out a menacing growl, the intruder became frightened and
ran away.
Your definition ____________________________________________________________________
Dictionary definition ________________________________________________________________
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ESPERANZA RISING
Los Aguacates; Los Espárragos (cont.)
Read to find out if Esperanza joins the strike.
Questions:
1. What evidence reveals that Esperanza did good work in the shed cutting potatoes for
planting?
2. Why is Esperanza told that she may not visit her mother in the hospital for one month?
3. Why doesn’t Miguel shop for groceries at the store closest to camp?
4. Why are Marta and her mother living in conditions that are worse than those at
Esperanza’s camp?
5. How does Esperanza help a starving family?
6. Why does the strike become a time of opportunity for Miguel?
7. How does the strike present Esperanza with a difficult conflict?
8. Why does Miguel disagree with his father and insist that “things will get worse” for
the workers?
9. What tactic does the government use to stop the strike?
10. How does Esperanza help Marta?
Questions for Discussion:
1. In what ways did people of Mexican origin face prejudice in 1930? Does this prejudice
still exist in the United States?
2. Do you sympathize more with the strikers or those that cross the picket lines to go to
work? Do you think the farm workers could improve their lives without striking?
3. Why do you think the government chooses such drastic measures to end the strike?
Are there any other options to employ? Could such an action take place today?
4. Do you think Esperanza should have risked her own safety to help Marta? What does
this reveal about Esperanza’s character?
Literary Devices:
I. Symbolism—What does the change in Esperanza’s hands symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
What does the damaged piñata on the tree symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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ESPERANZA RISING
Los Aguacates; Los Espárragos (cont.)
II. Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?
The picket signs lay on the ground, discarded, and like a mass
of marbles that had already been hit, the strikers scattered
into the fields…
__________________________________________________________________________________
Why is this an apt comparison?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Science Connection:
Do some research to learn about the disease of pneumonia. Find out why it is considered
a dangerous illness and why it was even more dangerous in 1930 when Mama became ill.
Writing Activity:
Imagine you are a reporter and write a news article about the striking farm workers.
Remember that a reporter must be fair and present all sides in an issue. Your article
should include a headline, a byline (your name), a dateline (date and place), a lead paragraph that tells the who, what, when, where, and why about the story, and one or two body
paragraphs that contain other important details.
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ESPERANZA RISING
LOS DURAZNOS; LAS UVAS
Vocabulary: Synonyms are words with similar meanings. Draw a line from each word in
Column A to its synonym in Column B. Then use the words in Column A to fill in the
blanks in the sentences below.
A
B
1. optimism
a. full-grown
2. primly
b. endless
3. mature
c. doubtfully
4. antiseptic
d. hopefulness
5. skeptically
e. cheered
6. buoyed
f. formally
7. infinite
g. germ-free
......................................................
1. The walls and floors were scrubbed and the doctors’ instruments were sterilized so
that everything in the operating room was ____________________.
2. My parents promised me a dog when I was ____________________ enough to care for
it on my own.
3. The teacher regarded her student ____________________ when he gave her a lame
excuse for not doing his homework.
4. Lisa ____________________ called her babysitter “Miss Wallace” instead of calling her
“Cindy.”
5. You have a greater chance of success if you face a new challenge with
____________________.
6. As a talented writer, scientist, and musician, Paul was assured by his guidance counselor that he would have ____________________ choices for his future profession.
7. The hopes of the stranded victims of a boating accident were ____________________
when they saw the Coast Guard coming to their rescue.
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ESPERANZA RISING
Los Duraznos; Las Uvas (cont.)
Read to find out if Abuelita comes to America.
Questions:
1. Why does Esperanza know that Isabel’s wish to be la reina will not come true?
2. How does the arrival of the families from Oklahoma affect Esperanza and the other
Mexicans at the camp?
3. In what ways does Esperanza reveal that her feelings about the inequalities in
American life are becoming stronger?
4. Why does Esperanza give Isabel her porcelain doll and a bag of peaches?
5. How does Esperanza and Hortensia’s family prepare for Mama’s return from the
hospital?
6. Why did Miguel take Esperanza’s money?
7. Why is Abuelita amused when she sees the blanket she started and Esperanza has
almost finished?
8. Why was it risky for Miguel to take Abuelita out of Mexico?
Questions for Discussion:
1. Do you think Esperanza or Miguel is more realistic about the future of Mexicans in
America?
2. Do you think Esperanza should feel guilty about Miguel’s departure?
3. Why do you think the small homemade shrine inspires deep feelings in many of the
people who come to Esperanza’s cabin?
4. Why doesn’t Esperanza understand and speak English? Do you think she will learn
the language one day?
5. Why do you think the chapters of this book are given the names of fruits and
vegetables instead of the months of the year? Why do you think two different
chapters in the book are called “Las Uvas”?
6. Why is Esperanza once again able to hear the earth’s heartbeat?
Literary Devices:
I. Cliffhanger—A cliffhanger is a device borrowed from serialized silent films in which
an episode ends at a moment of suspense or heightened tension. In a book it usually
appears at the end of a chapter to encourage the reader to continue on in the book.
What is the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter entitled “Los Duraznos”?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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ESPERANZA RISING
Los Duraznos; Las Uvas (cont.)
II. Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?
Then, like the irrigation pipes in the fields when the water is
first turned on, her [Esperanza’s] anger burst forth.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Why is this an apt comparison?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Literary Element: Theme
Theme in literature refers to the statement(s) about life the author is trying to get across
to the reader. Often the theme is repeated in different parts of the book. For example:
Papa says in Chapter One, “Wait a little while and the fruit will fall into your hand.”
Toward the end of the book, this quote is repeated by both Miguel and Esperanza.
What does this quote mean?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
How does this quote apply to Esperanza’s life?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
How may it apply to other people’s lives?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Writing Activity:
Write a letter to yourself and put today’s date on it. In the letter write about your hopes
and dreams for the year to come. What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish?
What do you hope will happen to you, your family, and your friends? When your letter is
finished, put it in a safe place. Reread it one year from now to see if you have come closer
to your goals.
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ESPERANZA RISING
CLOZE ACTIVITY
The following passage has been taken from the chapter entitled “Las Papas.” Read it
through completely and then go back and fill in each blank with a word that makes
sense. Then, you may compare your language with that of the author.
What had Abuelita told her when she’d given her the bundle of crocheting? And
then she remembered. She had said, “____________________1 this for me, Esperanza…and
promise me ____________________2 take care of Mama.”
After Mama fell ____________________,3 Esperanza picked up the needlework
and began ____________________4 Abuelita had left off. Ten stitches up ___________________5
the top of the mountain. Add one ___________________.6 Nine stitches down to the bottom of
____________________7 valley, skip one. Her fingers were more ____________________8 now
and her stitches were more even. ____________________9 mountains and valleys in the
blanket were ____________________.10 But as soon as she reached a ____________________,11
she was headed back down into a ____________________12 again. Would she ever escape
this valley ___________________13 was living in? This valley of Mama ___________________14
sick?
What else had Abuelita said? After ___________________15 had lived many mountains and valleys they ___________________16 be together again. She bent over her
____________________,17 intent, and when her hair fell into ____________________18 lap,
she picked it up and wove ____________________19 into the blanket. She cried when she
___________________20 of the wishes that would go into ___________________21 blanket forever.
Because she was wishing that ____________________22 would not die.
The blanket grew longer. ____________________23 Mama grew more pale. Women
in the ____________________24 brought her extra skeins of yarn and ____________________25
didn’t care that they didn’t match. Each night when she went to bed, she put the growing
blanket back over Mama, covering her in hopeful color.
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ESPERANZA RISING
POST-READING ACTIVITIES
1. Return to the chart of historical events that you began in the Pre-Reading Activities
on page five of this study guide. Fill in the column with any events in the novel that
reflect the historical events noted in the second column. Compare your responses with
those of your classmates.
2. Return to the Pre-Reading Activity in which you defined “courage.” Work with a partner to list all of the characters who exhibited courage and give examples of behavior
that showed courage. Compare your responses with those of your classmates.
3. Prejudice refers to an unfavorable opinion about a person, group of people, or object
that is formed without prior knowledge, thought, or reason. How were Esperanza and
her family and friends affected by prejudice? Was there anything they could do to
change the feelings of prejudice that were leveled against Mexicans and Mexican
Americans? Have you ever observed or been the object of prejudice?
4. In a chart, such as the one below, compare Esperanza at the beginning and the end of
the novel. One comparison has been done for you.
Esperanza at the Beginning
Esperanza lived a privileged life in
Mexico with her loving family.
Esperanza at the End
Esperanza lived in poverty on a
California farm laborers’ camp with
her mother and loving friends.
5. Imagine that Esperanza Rising is made into a film. Who might play the role of
Esperanza? What scenes might be best shown in a film version of the story? Which
scenes might be too difficult or inappropriate to show in a film? Would any scenes
need to be changed or omitted?
6. In fiction, as in real life, all problems may not be solved. At the end of Esperanza
Rising, which problems remain unresolved? In an imaginary sequel to this novel,
what do you think will happen to Esperanza, her family, and her friends? Do you
think the title of the book suggests what Esperanza’s future will be?
7. Use the recipe for flan on the next page to share Esperanza’s favorite dessert with
your classmates.
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ESPERANZA RISING
Post-Reading Activities (cont.)
Coconut Flan
What you need:
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/3 cups whole milk
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut
What you do:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Arrange six 3/4-cup custard cups in a 13 × 9 × 2-inch baking pan.
3. Whisk first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl to blend. Mix in coconut.
4. Divide mixture among cups. Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up
sides of cups.
5. Bake flans until just set in center, about 30 minutes.
6. Remove flans from pan and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared
1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
8. Literature Circle: Have a literature circle discussion in which you tell your personal reactions to Esperanza Rising. Here are some questions and sentence starters to
help your literature circle begin a discussion.
• How are you like Esperanza? How are you different?
• Do you find the characters in the novel realistic? Why or why not?
• Which character did you like the most? The least?
• Who else would you like to read this novel? Why?
• What did you learn about the conditions of life among Mexican farm workers in the
United States in the 1930s?
• What questions would you like to ask the author about this novel?
• It was not fair when. . .
• I would have liked to see. . .
• I wonder. . .
• Esperanza learned that. . .
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ESPERANZA RISING
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
Anaya, Rudolfo A. Bless Me, Ultima. Warner Books.
__________________. Farolitos for Abuelo. Hyperion Books.
__________________. The Farolitos of Christmas. Hyperion Books.
Atkin, S. Beth. Voices From the Fields. Little, Brown.
Bunting, Eve. Going Home. HarperCollins.
* Cushman, Karen. The Midwife’s Apprentice. HarperCollins.
* Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust. Scholastic.
Mickaelsen, Ben. Sparrow Hawk Red. Hyperion Books.
Nascimbene, Yan. A Day in September. Creative Editions.
Nixon, Joan Lowery. Land of Hope. Random House.
* Patterson, Katherine. Lyddie. Penguin.
* Peck, Richard. A Long Way From Chicago. Random House.
Smith, Roland. The Last Lobo. Hyperion Books.
* Soto, Gary. The Skirt. Random House.
Spurr, Elizabeth. Mama’s Birthday Surprise. Hyperion Books.
Stanley, Diane. Elena. Hyperion Books.
* Taylor, Mildred. Let the Circle Be Unbroken. Penguin.
* Taylor, Theodore. The Maldonado Miracle. Random House.
Thomas, Jane Resh. Lights on the River. Hyperion Books.
Walsh, Jill Paton. A Chance Child. Farrar Straus & Giroux.
* Uchida, Yoshiko. A Jar of Dreams. Simon & Schuster.
Some Other Books by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride. Scholastic.
Becoming Naomi Leon. Scholastic.
California, Here We Come! Charlesbridge.
The Flag We Love. Charlesbridge.
Hello, Ocean. Charlesbridge.
Mice and Beans. Scholastic.
One Hundred is a Family. Hyperion Books.
Riding Freedom. Scholastic.
*NOVEL-TIES Study Guides are available for these titles.
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ESPERANZA RISING
ANSWER KEY
Aguascalientes, Mexico; Las Uvas; Las Papayas; Los Higos
Vocabulary:
Questions:
1. e 2. c 3. f 4. g 5. a 6. d 7. h 8. b; 1. cordial 2. composure 3. resurrected
4. indignation 5. venom 6. forlorn 7. propriety 8. premonition
1. When Esperanza was a little girl, her father would take her for walks and express his
deep love for his land. He would encourage her to touch the soil and lie down to feel the
“earth’s heart beat.” 2. It is clear that Esperanza’s family is wealthy because at the age of
fifteen, Esperanza will have a “presentation” party, wear a white gown, dance with all the
wealthy boys, and receive many wonderful birthday gifts from Papa. Her family owns a
large vineyard and oversees many servants. 3. Papa had been warned about going out to
work the cattle because he could become the target of bandits or people who resented the
inequality of wealth in Mexico even after the Revolution had been won. 4. Although
Esperanza and Miguel, the son of the family’s servants, had been close friends while growing up, the social disparity between them mitigated against a friendship or romantic liaison, particularly after Esperanza pointed out the social barriers. 5. When Papa dies,
Esperanza and Mama grieve while Esperanza’s unscrupulous uncles threaten to take away
their house and land and to send Esperanza away to boarding school. 6. Tio Luis wants to
marry Mama because her beauty and esteemed position among the people will advance his
political goals. 7. Mama and Esperanza do not need to discuss the cause of the fire because
it is assumed that the uncles were to blame. 8. Mama tricks Tio Luis by “accepting” his proposal but actually planning to escape to the United States with Esperanza.
Las Guayabas; Los Melones
Vocabulary:
Questions:
1. f 2. g 3. c 4. h 5. a 6. e 7. b 8. d; 1. intimate 2. irritable 3. peasants 4. sparse
5. frail 6. barren 7. stagnant 8. monotonous
1. Mama, Esperanza, and Hortensia have to leave at night well hidden in a wagon because
they fear being attacked by bandits and noticed by Tio Luis’s spies. 2. Hortensia recalls the
train journey in order to distract Esperanza from the discomforts of the wagon ride. 3. Mama
makes a yarn doll for the peasant girl on the train as a gift and as a way of apologizing for
Esperanza’s rudeness in not allowing her to touch her special doll. 4. If Papa had lived,
Miguel could have trusted in his love for him and his influence to help him reach his goal
of working on the railroad in Mexico. With Papa gone, Miguel must leave Mexico in order
to reach beyond his lowly social status. 5. Mama says, “Now we are peasants, too” because
they will now be migrant workers; their life of luxury is over. Actions which once seemed
socially incorrect, such as engaging in intimate conversation with a stranger, are to be considered normal now that they are poor and uprooted. 6. So that the officials will let her cross
the border, Mama stands straight and tall and looks directly into the official’s eyes. She
speaks in a way that assures them that her work papers are to be trusted. 7. Miguel apologizes to Esperanza because Isabel’s remarks suggested that he had once criticized
Esperanza for being rich and spoiled. 8. To earn a living, Mama and Esperanza will work
on a large farm in California picking crops. 9. Esperanza dislikes Marta because she is the
object of her insults. Marta sarcastically calls her a “princess,” and she expresses deep
resentment toward landowners like Papa. 10. According to Isabel the farm workers of different nationalities are housed in separate camps so that they will not communicate with
each other and not compare working conditions. The conditions are so bad that the land
owners fear the workers will organize and strike.
Las Cebellas; Las Almendras
Vocabulary:
Questions:
1. awkward 2. swaddle 3. obvious 4. moat 5. humiliation 6. debris 7. ridicule 8. temporary
1. Esperanza feels like a misfit because she does not speak English, and she is not accustomed to the poor living conditions in the camp. She also feels a pang of envy whenever she
sees children running to their fathers. 2. Mama tells Esperanza that they are fortunate
because they are together and have gotten a job and a place to live immediately while others have to wait months. 3. Since she left Mexico, Mama appears older and more dowdy. She
now wears a long cotton dress with an apron tied over it instead of the elegant dresses she
used to wear in Mexico. She wears her hair in a long braid instead of a beautiful plaited bun
so that she can wear a hat while she works. 4. Accustomed to servants doing all of the
household work, Esperanza does not know how to wash clothes or even how to sweep. She
needs to be taught the skills that every young girl in the camps already knows. 5. Miguel
helps Esperanza by teaching her the correct way to sweep with a broom and by being sympathetic with her lack of knowledge. 6. Although Miguel has great mechanical skills, he is
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ESPERANZA RISING
only offered menial jobs on the railroad because of prejudice directed against Mexicans.
Disillusioned, Miguel decides to do field work, instead. 7. The mystery of the bundle is
solved when Miguel and Alfonso reveal the rose plants which they had rescued from the fire
at Rancho de las Rosas, carried all the way from Mexico, and planted near their cabin.
8. Esperanza is humiliated at bath time because she forgets her new situation in life and
expects Hortensia to undress and bathe her, as all the women and girls look on. 9. Marta
comes to the jamaica because it is a gathering for hundreds of farm workers, a place where
she hopes to organize workers to join together to strike. 10. The workers at Isabel’s camp
are more comfortable than those at migrant camps and are not eager to strike. Unlike the
migrant camps, the workers can stay in one place and have better sanitary conditions. If
they strike, the owners may replace them with former dust bowl farmers who are desperate to work.
Las Ciruelas; Las Papas
Vocabulary:
Questions:
Across—4. ritual 5. atrocious 7. listless 8. bereft 10. regimented 11. musty; Down—1. nimble
2. propelled 3. roil 5. amber 6. contagious 9. intent
1. Esperanza is the only one who can care for the babies because Isabel is going to school
and everyone else is working. 2. The babies become ill because Esperanza is too inexperienced to know that uncooked fruit cannot be digested by infants. 3. The strike does not take
place because those workers who are against it are afraid of being unable to feed their families and themselves, and those workers in favor of it are prevented from striking by the
dust storm. 4. The dust from the storm destroys the entire cotton crop, leaving the migrant
cotton workers without jobs. People’s lungs are filled with dust and their faces and bodies
become encrusted with the dust. 5. Mama develops Valley Fever, a lung infection from the
dust spores she inhaled during the storm. Esperanza is fearful after hearing the doctor say
that her mother’s recuperation could take six months if she survives the initial infection.
Esperanza is afraid her only living parent will die. 6. Esperanza continues working on
Abuelita’s blanket because she wants to fulfill her grandmother’s parting concerns, particularly now that Mama is ill. Esperanza also believes superstitiously that the mountains
and valleys she crochets in the zig-zag pattern will speed Abuelita’s arrival in California.
7. Mama is taken to the hospital so that she may receive the care that she needs to recover
from the lung illness and also come out of a state of depression into which she has fallen.
8. Esperanza decides to work in the sheds in order to earn money to bring Abuelita to
California. Esperanza is sure that her presence will make Mama well.
Los Aguacates; Los Espárragos
Vocabulary:
Questions:
1. taut–tight 2. strewn–scattered 3. impulsively–without planning beforehand 4. retrieve–
get back 5. vacant–empty 6. recuperation–recovery 7. menacing–threatening
1. It is clear that Esperanza did a good job cutting out eyes in potatoes because she is about
to start on another job—tying grapevines. Miguel had told her that if she did well at one
job, another would be offered to her. 2. Esperanza is told that she may not visit her mother
for one month because she has contracted pneumonia, an illness that would make her weak
and susceptible to other infections that could be fatal. 3. Miguel doesn’t shop at the closest
store because he prefers to travel farther to Mr. Yakota’s store in order to be treated without prejudice. 4. Marta and her mother have moved to a camp that is even worse than any
other because all of the strikers were evicted from the migrant worker camp. They now live
together in a makeshift camp with no facilities and are guarded for their own protection.
5. Esperanza helps a starving family by giving them some of the beans she had just bought
and by giving the children a donkey piñata filled with sweets. 6. Since many railroad workers joined the strike, Miguel, who is willing to work, has an opportunity to get a job as a
mechanic on the railroad. 7. When the strike begins, Esperanza is faced with the conflict
between her sympathies for the needs of striking workers and her personal need to earn
money for her family. She is faced with threats from strikers as she crosses the picket lines.
8. Miguel insists that “things will get worse” because the Valley is being flooded by more
and more people who are desperate enough to pick cotton for very low wages. 9. To stop the
strike, the government sends in immigration officials to deport only the farm workers who
are on strike. Even striking workers who are citizens are deported. 10. Esperanza protects
Marta from Immigration by giving her an apron and some asparagus so that she looks like
a worker instead of a striker.
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ESPERANZA RISING
Los Duraznos; Las Uvas
Vocabulary:
Questions:
1. d 2. f 3. a 4. g 5. c 6. e 7. b; 1. antiseptic 2. mature 3. skeptically 4. primly
5. optimism 6. infinite 7. buoyed
1. Esperanza knows that the school officials, who have shown prejudice against Mexicans and
Asians in the past, will choose a blonde, blue-eyed child to be la reina, instead of Isabel, their
best third-grade student. 2. The arrival of the families from Oklahoma has a devastating
effect upon Esperanza and the other Mexicans at her camp. Miguel loses his mechanic’s job
at the railroad and must do a menial railroad job or return to the fields. The Mexican farm
workers fear that they will ultimately have to accept lower wages and they chafe at the new,
better appointed living quarters being offered the Oklahomans. 3. It is clear that Esperanza’s
feelings about the inequities in American life are stronger when her temper flares upon hearing that Miguel was fired. She also argues passionately with Miguel about discrimination
against Mexicans and the hopelessness of expecting to improve their lives. 4. Esperanza gives
Isabel the porcelain doll and the peaches because she sympathizes with her young friend’s disappointment over not being chosen Queen of the May. 5. To prepare for Mama’s homecoming,
Esperanza and Hortensia clean the cabin until it is antiseptically clean. Alfonso fashions
cushions for a chair that Mama can place outside in the shade. 6. Miguel took the money
Esperanza had been saving to unite Abuelita with Mama. He returns to Mexico, helps Abuelita
escape from Tio Luis, and brings her to California. 7. Abuelita is amused and delighted to see
the blanket she had started almost finished by her granddaughter: it is long enough to fit
three beds because Esperanza knit for the five months that her mother was ill. 8. It was dangerous for Miguel to take Abuelita out of Mexico because she was being spied upon by Tio Luis
who was so powerful and evil that he might have caused them harm.
LEARNING LINKS INC.
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®
Little Novel •T ies
Study Guides
Abby...........................................L0813
Alexander, and the Terrible, Horrible,
No Good, Very Bad Day.......L0043
Alexander Who Used to Be
Rich Last Sunday.................L2045
Amelia Bedelia...........................L0206
Anansi the Spider.......................L0897
Anna Banana and Me.................L0266
Arthur’s Baby.............................L1047
A Big Fat Enormous Lie.............L0795
Blueberries for Sal ....................L0331
Bringing/Rain to Kapiti Plain......L2666
Caps For Sale.............................L0336
A Chair For My Mother..............L1370
for
Novel • T ies
GRADE 1
Arthur’s Camp-Out ....................S2543
A Bargain for Frances..................S0321
Biscuit..........................................S0290
Buzby...........................................S0157.
The Case of/Hungry Stranger.......S1211.
Danny and the Dinosaur..............S0347
Forest...........................................S0272.
Frog and Toad All Year................S3409
Frog and Toad Are Friends...........S0363.
Frog and Toad Together...............S0364
George and Martha......................S1451
The Grandma Mix-up...................S1826
Grandmas at Bat..........................S2716
Grandmas at the Lake..................S1830
The Great Snake Escape..............S0943
Here Comes the Strikeout............S1704.
Kick, Pass, and Run.....................S2730
The Lighthouse Children..............S2731
Little Bear.....................................S0162
Little Bear’s Friend.......................S1389.
Little Bear’s Visit..........................S0504
Little Runner of the Longhouse...S1318
Mouse Tales.................................S0121
Mrs. Brice’s Mice.........................S2073
Newt.............................................S2930
Oliver...........................................S3760
Sammy the Seal...........................S3284
The Smallest Cow in the World...S0101.
Tales of Oliver Pig ......................S2544.
Uncle Foster’s Hat Tree................S3115
Wagon Wheels.............................S1321
GRADE 2
Anna, Grandpa and /Big Storm.....S2545
Annie and the Old One.................S0758.
Balto: The Bravest Dog Ever........S3744
A Bear for Miguel.........................S2931
The Beast/Ms. Rooney’s Room....S0475
The Big Balloon Race...................S1322.
Blackberries in the Dark...............S0148.
The Boston Coffee Party..............S1302
The Boy with the Helium Head.....S3384
Buffalo Bill and/Pony Express......S2732
Busybody Nora............................S0018.
Cam Jansen /Dinosaur Bones......S0130.
Cam Jansen /Gold Coins..............S0462.
Chang’s Paper Pony.....................S2358.
Daniel’s Duck...............................S1312
Dinosaurs Before Dark
(Magic Tree House)...............S1754
The Drinking Gourd.....................S1323.
Emma’s Magic Winter..................S0681
Flat Stanley..................................S2733
Freckle Juice................................S0361.
Henry and Mudge........................S0408.
Hill of Fire....................................S1324
Hour of the Olympics...................S3348
In the Dinosaur’s Paw
(Polk Street)............................S0256
The Jamie and Angus Stories......S3794
The Josefina Story Quilt...............S1317
Primary Picture Books
The Last Puppy..........................L0736
The Legend of the Bluebonnet...L2929
Leo the Late Bloomer.................L0690
The Little Island.........................L0715
Lyle, Lyle Crocodile....................L1536
Madeline....................................L0505
Madeline’s Rescue.....................L0662
Make Way For Ducklings...........L0380
May I Bring a Friend?................L0382
Mike Mulligan and
His Steam Shovel................L0774
Millions of Cats..........................L0691
Miss Nelson is Missing..............L0707
Miss Rumphius..........................L0932
Clifford the Big Red Dog............L0685
Clifford the Small Red Puppy.....L0342
Cloudy with a Chance
of Meatballs..........................L3135
Corduroy....................................L0344
Crictor........................................L1198
Curious George..........................L0345
Dandelion...................................L1226
Franklin Fibs...............................L2398
Gilberto and the Wind................L1668
Goodnight Moon........................L0687
Gregory the Terrible Eater..........L0704
Harry the Dirty Dog....................L0771
Humphrey’s Bear.......................L1186
Ira Sleeps Over..........................L0696
®
Juan Bobo....................................S2546
Julian’s Glorious Summer...........S0549
Junie B., First Grader (at last!)....S3612
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid
Smelly Bus..............................S1753
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie...S3260
Kidnapped at Birth?
(Marvin Redpost)....................S3313
The Knight at Dawn
(Magic Tree House).................S1943
Little Soup’s Hayride....................S1402
Molly’s Pilgrim.............................S1375
Monster/3rd Dresser Drawer.......S0558
Mummies in the Morning............S2560
(Magic Tree House)
Nate the Great..............................S0602
Nate the Great /Missing Key........S0267.
Nate the Great /Musical Note.......S1403.
Next Spring an Oriole...................S1060.
The One in the Middle is a
Green Kangaroo......................S0994.
The Outside Dog..........................S2547.
Rip-Roaring Russell.....................S0920.
Russell Sprouts...........................S0921
Sam the Minuteman.....................S1308
Seven Kisses in a Row.................S0528.
Snowshoe Thompson..................S2273
Song Lee in Room 4B..................S1839
The Stories Huey Tells.................S3116
The Stories Julian Tells................S0765.
Thunder at Gettysburg.................S0420.
Tornado.......................................S2734
Tye May and the Magic Brush.....S0158
Who Cloned the President?
(Capitol Mysteries)..................S3568
GRADE 3
Adventures/Ali Baba Bernstein.....S0918
Aldo Applesauce..........................S0917
Amber Brown Goes Fourth..........S1009
Amber Brown is Not a Crayon.....S2729
Be a Perfect Person /Three Days..S0515
Ben and Me..................................S1061
The Boxcar Children.....................S0378
The Chalk Box Kid........................S0988
The Chocolate Touch...................S0532
Class Clown.................................S0919
The Courage of Sarah Noble........S0833
Donovan’s Word Jar....................S3117
Ellen Tebbits................................S0146
Felita............................................S1062
Front Porch Stories......................S2548
A Gift for Mama...........................S0539
Go Fish.........................................S3306
A Grain of Rice.............................S2361
Helen Keller..................................S0040
Herbie Jones................................S2735
How to Eat Fried Worms..............S0374
The Hundred Dresses..................S0991
The Hundred Penny Box..............S0760
The Indian School........................S2932
J.T................................................S0052
Ox-Cart Man...............................L0646
Pinkerton, Behave!.....................L2130
Roxaboxen.................................L1187
The Snowy Day..........................L0658
Stevie.........................................L1360
Stone Soup (Brown)..................L0412
The Story of Ferdinand..............L0414
Strega Nona...............................L1647
Sylvester/Magic Pebble..............L0653
Timothy Goes to School............L1225
Umbrella....................................L1368
Where the Wild Things Are........L0422
Whistle For Willie.......................L0801
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in
People’s Ears........................L0423
Study Guides
Jake Drake, Bully Buster..............S1139
Judy Moody Saves/World............S0309
Justin and the Best Biscuits
in the World...........................S3138
The Littles....................................S0553
Maurice’s Room...........................S1063.
Mishmash....................................S3745
The Most Beautiful Place/World...S0299
The Mouse and the Motorcycle...S0181
A Mouse Called Wolf...................S0135
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle......................S0298
Muggie Maggie............................S0127
My Father’s Dragon.....................S0202
The Night Crossing......................S3118
O’Diddy........................................S1064
Ralph S. Mouse...........................S2616
Ramona Forever...........................S0186
Ramona Quimby, Age 8...............S1158
Ramona the Brave.......................S0565
Ramona’s World..........................S0886
The Secret Soldier.......................S0279
The Shoeshine Girl.......................S0993
Shortstop From Tokyo.................S0938
Sidewalk Story.............................S2549
Silver............................................S1075
The Skirt......................................S0140
Surprise Island
(Boxcar Children)....................S2000
A Taste of Blackberries................S0201
There’s an Owl in the Shower......S3144
The Trouble with Tuck.................S1404
26 Fairmount Avenue...................S3613
The Year of the Panda.................S2171
GRADE 4
All-of-a-Kind Family.....................S0005
Almost Starring Skinnybones......S2161
Anastasia Krupnik........................S0985
Arthur, for the Very First Time.....S0522
Baby.............................................S2680
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple.........S0250
Because of Winn-Dixie.................S0959
Best Christmas Pageant Ever.......S2624
The BFG.......................................S1393
The Big Wave...............................S0123
Bunnicula.....................................S1065
By the Great Horn Spoon.............S2550
Caleb’s Story................................S1761
Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory....................S0132
Charlotte’s Web...........................S0023
Chocolate Fever...........................S2337
The Cricket in Times Square........S0229
Dear Mr. Henshaw.......................S0141
Encyclopedia Brown:
Boy Detective........................S0449
The Enormous Egg......................S0147
The Family Under the Bridge.......S1081
Fantastic Mr. Fox.........................S0033
Finding Buck McHenry.................S2642
The Friendship.............................S1613
Frindle..........................................S3119
Fudge-A-Mania.............................S1477
The Gold Cadillac.........................S1672
The Great Brain............................S0037
Henry Huggins.............................S0160
House with/Clock in its Walls......S1405
Iggie’s House...............................S0163
The Indian in the Cupboard.........S0992
James and the Giant Peach.........S0170
The Janitor’s Boy.........................S3761
Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William
McKinley, & Me, Elizabeth......S0258
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key.....S0908
Journey to Jo’burg.......................S1066
The Kid in the Red Jacket............S2227
The Landry News.........................S1021
Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe................................S0060
A Lion to Guard Us......................S0835
Little House in the Big Woods.....S0467
Little House on the Prairie...........S0263
A Long Way From Chicago..........S2379
Loser............................................S3642
Maggie Marmelstein for
President...................................S006
The Midnight Fox.........................S0155
The Miraculous Journey of
Edward Tulane.........................S3799
Mississippi Bridge.......................S2736
Misty of Chincoteague.................S0068
Mr. Popper’s Penguins................S0560.
My Brother Stevie........................S0122
Nightjohn.....................................S2675
Nory Ryan’s Song........................S3643
Our Only May Amelia...................S2720
The Penderwicks..........................S3795
Pippi Longstocking......................S0563
Poppy...........................................S2603
Robin Hood/Sherwood Forest......S1233
Sadako/Thousand Paper Cranes..S0091
Sarah, Plain and Tall....................S0401
Search for Delicious.....................S0277
Shiloh...........................................S1372
Shiloh Season..............................S3120
Skinnybones................................S0939
Skylark . ......................................S2551
Socks...........................................S0100
Soup............................................S0406
Stone Fox.....................................S0569
Strider..........................................S2453
Stuart Little..................................S2737
Superfudge..................................S0416
The Tale of Despereaux...............S3640
Tales/Fourth-Grade Nothing.........S1067
There’s a Boy in the
Girl’s Bathroom.......................S3614
The Tiger Rising...........................S3764
Trouble River...............................S0205
Trumpet of the Swan...................S0755
The Velveteen Rabbit...................S0288
The Witch of Fourth Street...........S0117
Yang the Youngest/ Terrible Ear..S0242
A Year Down Yonder...................S3615
Learning Links Inc.
Dept. P28
•
(516) 437-9071
•
Fax (516) 437-5392
•
Toll Free 800-724-2616
•
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Novel •Ties Study Guides
®
GRADE 5
Adam of the Road........................S1248
Al Capone Does My Shirts...........S3762
Among the Hidden.......................S1127
Amos Fortune, Free Man..............S2501
Babe the Gallant Pig.....................S2206
The Bad Beginning.......................S3522
Baseball Fever..............................S0365
Bloomability.................................S0979
The Borrowers.............................S0519
Bridge to Terabithia.....................S0017
Bud, Not Buddy............................S3309
Burning Questions/Bingo Brown.. S1406
The Cabin Faced West.................S0986
Caddie Woodlawn........................S0019
Call It Courage...............................S18A
Castle in the Attic.........................S1249
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit..............S0020
The Cay........................................S0022
Charley Skedaddle.......................S1159
Crash...........................................S3001
Crispin: The Cross of Lead..........S3619
Daniel’s Story...............................S2514
Danny/Champion of the World.....S0139
Daphne’s Book.............................S0962
Dectectives in Togas....................S1242
Dragonwings................................S0234
Edgar Allan...................................S0031
Ella Enchanted.............................S3121
Esperanza Rising.........................S3616
Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff..S1089
Fever 1793...................................S3746
The Fighting Ground....................S0355
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule....S3492
Freaky Friday................................S0034
Freedom Crossing........................S1162
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs.
Basil E.Frankweiler.................S0243
A Gathering of Days.....................S0629
George Washington’s Socks........S3618
The Girl Who Owned a City..........S0036
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!......S3800
The Great Gilly Hopkins...............S0039
The Gypsy Game..........................S0860
Harriet the Spy.............................S0276
Harry Potter/Chamber of Secrets.. S2696
Harry Potter/Sorcerer’s Stone......S0346
The Higher Power of Lucky.........S3763
Homeless Bird.............................S1013
Ida Early Comes Over/Mountain..S1082
The Incredible Journey................S0048
In the Year of the Boar and
Jackie Robinson.......................S0434
Island of the Blue Dolphins..........S0050
Jacob Two-Two/Hooded Fang ....S0752
A Jar of Dreams...........................S1625
Jip:His Story................................S3156
Journey to America......................S1103
Julie.............................................S1513
Julie of the Wolves......................S0053
The Land I Lost............................S0261
Letters from Rifka........................S2066
Lily’s Crossing.............................S0508
Lizzie Bright/Buckminster Boy.....S3758
Luke Was There...........................S0927
The Maldonado Miracle ..............S1350
Matilda.........................................S0375
Missing ‘Gator/Gumbo Limbo......S2303
Missing May................................S0327
My Louisiana Sky.........................S1007
My Side of the Mountain.............S0070
Olive’s Ocean...............................S3556
On My Honor...............................S0997
The Perilous Road.......................S1160
The Phantom Tollbooth...............S0184
Philip Hall likes me .....................S1408
Pictures of Hollis Woods.............S3747
The Pinballs.................................S0084
Prairie Songs...............................S0846
Queenie Peavy.............................S1474
Return of the Indian.....................S2204
Seedfolks.....................................S3310
Shades of Gray............................S0339
Sign of the Beaver.......................S0125
The Silver Coach..........................S1068
Sing Down the Moon...................S0193
Slake’s Limbo..............................S0098
Summer of the Monkeys.............S1123
Summer of the Swans.................S0103
Surviving the Applewhites...........S3748
The Talking Earth.........................S0626
The Thief Lord.............................S3645
Timothy of the Cay.......................S2473
Toliver’s Secret............................S0837
Touching Spirit Bear..................... S3646
True Confessions/Charlotte Doyle.S0428
Tuck Everlasting...........................S0107
The Twenty-one Balloons.............S0573
The Upstairs Room......................S2532
War Comes to Willy Freeman......S1899
The War with Grandpa.................S0574
Weasel.........................................S0524
Welcome Home, Jellybean...........S0112
When Zachary Beaver Came
to Town....................................S2218
The Whipping Boy.......................S0576
Who Really Killed Cock Robin?...S0934
The Wish-Giver............................S0579
GRADE 6
Abel’s Island................................S2933
The Acorn People.........................S0001
Alan and Naomi...........................S0520
Alice in Wonderland . ..................S0218
Anne of Green Gables..................S0521
Artemis Fowl................................S3617
Belle Prater’s Boy.........................S3122
The Black Pearl............................S0013
Blue Willow..................................S1499
Brian’s Winter..............................S1411
The Bronze Bow...........................S2339
Catherine, Called Birdy ...............S2552
Chasing Redbird..........................S3123
Chasing Vermeer.........................S3750
City of Ember...............................S3759
The Crossing ..............................S1348
The Devil’s Arithmetic..................S1407
Dogsong......................................S0923
The Door in the Wall....................S0233
Down a Dark Hall.........................S0144
The Egypt Game...........................S1399.
The Endless Steppe.....................S1271
A Family Apart.............................S0841
Follow My Leader.........................S0989
Flush............................................S3797
Freak, the Mighty.........................S0419
Gathering Blue.............................S3749
Gentlehands.................................S0395
The Giver.....................................S0436
The Goats.....................................S0562
The Golden Goblet.......................S2148
Hatchet.........................................S0990
The High King..............................S0371
Holes............................................S0838
Homer Price.................................S0692
Homesick.....................................S0253
Hoot.............................................S2365
The House of Dies Drear..............S1855
Interstellar Pig.............................S0545
Island on Bird Street....................S2515
Jacob Have I Loved ....................S0169
Journey Home ............................S1626
Kira, Kira......................................S2712
Lyddie..........................................S0718
Maniac Magee..............................S1409
The Master Puppeteer..................S0175
M.C. Higgins, the Great................S0630
The Midwife’s Apprentice.............S2738
Mrs. Frisby and the
Rats of NIMH...........................S0071
Nothing But the Truth..................S0415
Number the Stars.........................S1069
Old Yeller.....................................S0077
One-Eyed Cat...............................S1070
Out of the Dust............................S3124
Park’s Quest.................................S1071
Parrot in the Oven........................S3158
The Planet of Jr. Brown...............S1094
The Pushcart War........................S0086
Rascal..........................................S0088
Red Scarf Girl..............................S3275
The River.....................................S2467
Sarah Bishop...............................S0191
The Secret Garden.......................S0278
Shadow of a Bull..........................S0634.
A Single Shard.............................S1043
The Slave Dancer.........................S0631
A Soldier’s Heart..........................S1161
Snow Treasure.............................S1072
So Far From the Bamboo Grove..S0404
The View from Saturday..............S2934
Waiting For the Rain....................S0425
Walk Two Moons.........................S2553
The Watsons Go to Birmingham.. S2935
The Westing Game.......................S0113
When My Name Was Keoko........S3796
The White Mountains...................S0210
The Wind in the Willows..............S0291
The Witch of Blackbird Pond.......S0116
Words By Heart...........................S0963
Wringer........................................S0762
Year of Impossible Goodbyes......S2170
Zlata’s Diary.................................S0424
GRADEs 7-8
Across Five Aprils........................S0984
Adventures of Tom Sawyer..........S0003
Animal Farm.................................S0007
Anne Frank: Diary of a
Young Girl................................S0008
April Morning...............................S0009
Banner in the Sky.........................S1460
Bless the Beasts and Children.....S0014
A Boat to Nowhere.......................S0015
The Call of the Wild.....................S0987
Cheaper By the Dozen..................S0024
Children of the River....................S1624
Chinese Cinderella.......................S3756
The Chocolate War.......................S0226
A Christmas Carol........................S3125
Come Sing, Jimmy Jo..................S0343
The Contender.............................S0510
Criss Cross..................................S3399
The Dark is Rising.......................S0348
A Day No Pigs Would Die............S0230
Deathwatch..................................S0030.
Dicey’s Song................................S0231
El Bronx Remembered.................S2190
Farewell to Manzanar...................S0150
The Golden Compass...................S3169
The Hobbit...................................S0042
Homecoming...............................S0668
Hoops..........................................S0372
The House on Mango Street........S2188
I Am the Cheese...........................S0046
I Heard the Owl Call My Name.....S0047
Johnny Tremain...........................S0051
Killing Mr. Griffin.........................S0507
A Lantern in Her Hand.................S0055
Let the Circle Be Unbroken..........S1342
The Light in the Forest.................S0058
The Little Prince...........................S0063
The Lottery Rose.........................S0066
Milkweed......................................S3757
The Miracle Worker.....................S0891
Monster.......................................S1617
My Brother Sam is Dead..............S0069
No Promises in the Wind.............S0387
The Old Man and the Sea.............S0076
Our Town.....................................S0893
The Outsiders...............................S0080
The Pearl......................................S0081
The Pigman..................................S0083
The Red Pony..............................S0089
Redwall........................................S2851
Rifles for Watie............................S0637
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry......S0124
Romeo and Juliet.........................S0190
Rumble Fish.................................S0090
Scorpions.....................................S1618
Shabanu.......................................S1280
Sounder.......................................S0198
Stargirl.........................................S3602
Streams to/River, River to//Sea...S0675
Summer of My German Soldier...S0102
Tangerine.....................................S3311
Tears of a Tiger............................S3766
That Was Then, This is Now........S0966
Treasure Island............................S0287
Watership Down..........................S0111
When the Legends Die.................S0209
Where the Lilies Bloom................S0995
Where the Red Fern Grows..........S0114
A Wrinkle in Time........................S0119
The Yearling.................................S0120
Z for Zachariah.............................S0582
GRADEs 9-12
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn...S0002
All Quiet on the Western Front.....S0006
Angela’s Ashes.............................S3312
The Bean Trees............................S3270
Beloved........................................S3126
Black Boy.....................................S0012
The Book Thief.............................S3798
Catcher in the Rye.......................S0021
The Crucible.................................S0894
Death of a Salesman....................S0029
Fahrenheit 451.............................S0032
Flowers for Algernon...................S0151
Great Expectations.......................S0295
The Great Gatsby.........................S0038
Hamlet.........................................S0929
I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings.....................S3256
The Joy Luck Club.......................S3127
Julius Caesar...............................S0502
The Lilies of the Field...................S1073
Lord of the Flies...........................S0065
Macbeth.......................................S2682
A Midsummer Night’s Dream......S2684
Murder on the Orient Express......S0072
My Ántonia...................................S2554.
Night............................................S0073
1984............................................S0074
Of Mice and Men.........................S0075
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest..........................S0183
Ordinary People...........................S0078
Picture of Dorian Gray.................S0082
Raisin in the Sun.........................S0087
The Red Badge of Courage..........S0996.
The Scarlet Letter.........................S0093
A Separate Peace.........................S0096
Shane...........................................S0097
Things Fall Apart..........................S0759
To Kill a Mockingbird...................S0106
Twelfth Night...............................S2687
Up a Road Slowly........................S0632
The War Between the Classes......S1074
The Wave.....................................S0300
Learning Links Inc.
Dept. P28
•
(516) 437-9071
•
Fax (516) 437-5392
•
Toll Free 800-724-2616
•
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