Read by Ruth Livier

Esperanza Ortega possesses all the treasures a young girl could want: fancy dresses; a beautiful home filled with servants in Aguascalientes, Mexico; and the promise of one day rising to Mama's position and presiding over all of Rancho de las Rosas. But a sudden tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. There, Esperanza must relinquish her hold on the past as she confronts the challenges of hard labor, acceptance by her own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression, and ultitmately discovers the riches of family and community. Pam Munoz Ryan eloquently portrays the Mexican workers' plight in this abundant and passionate novel that gives voice to those who have historically been denied one. Esperanza Ortega tiene todos los tesoros que una chica pueda desear: hermosos vestidos, una linda casa llena de sirvientes en M̌xico, y la promesa de que un d̕a llegar̀ a presidir el Rancho como su mam̀. Pero una tragedia inesperada destruye ese sue̜o, obligando a Esperanza y a su madre a escapar a California d̤nde tendrǹ que trabajar en una finca junto a otros mexicanos. All̕ tendr̀ que olvidar su pasado y enfrentarse a las nuevas realidades de su vida: trabajo duro, aceptaci̤n y dificultades econ̤micas. Esperanza descubrir̀ que la verdadera riqueza est̀ en la familia y la comunidad

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