When our daughter’s 5th-grade teacher asked if any parent would like to read the assigned reading of the week, I jumped at the chance. My reason for doing so was not because I like to read, I do, but rather it was so that I would be semi-obligated to actually finish a book. Who else has a stack of lonely, unfinished books on their nightstand collecting dust? Just me…?
The opportunity to read Esperanza Rising, however, seemed special. I was going to read a book along with my daughter, and I felt the need to make the time. And I’m so glad that I did. Esperanza Rising is a book about heartache, hope, and resiliency. It tells the story of Esperanza, a wealthy teenage girl from Mexico, who, after incredible hardships, finds herself starting over in the United States during the Great Depression. She has to learn to adapt quickly to her new life as a farm worker to survive.
I must say that this book was not what I was expecting. What was I expecting? I suppose I was expecting something lighthearted, and I got a big reality check! My little girl is growing up, and is learning about the complexities of life. And what a gut-punch that is! Because who wants their kids to grow up?
Panic and worry aside, this book spoke to me in so many ways: its parallels to current events (ICE raids), my family’s history with farm and migrant work, and our identities as Mexican-Americans in a world that is sometimes hostile to people who are different. I’m grateful to Esperanza Rising for giving us a chance to discuss some real-world topics with intention and understanding.
If you get the chance to read a book with your son or daughter, do it! And let us know what books were meaningful to you and your kids.
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