Esperanza RisingEsperanza Rising
Score Modern
What it's about
Esperanza and her mother lose their life of wealth in Mexico and must work in the labor camps of Southern California, adapting to the harsh lives of Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It's a moving story of resilience for younger readers.
You'll love it if you liked
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Number the Stars
The GiverGood to know
It's written for middle-grade readers and works well read aloud.
By the numbers
- Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller11 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #187 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #1273 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #2417 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
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The Coldest Winter Ever
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Quick answers
Is Esperanza Rising worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It ranks #2,417 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 61.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Esperanza Rising about?
Esperanza and her mother lose their life of wealth in Mexico and must work in the labor camps of Southern California, adapting to the harsh lives of Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
How long does it take to read Esperanza Rising?
About 8 hours (312 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Esperanza Rising?
If you liked it, try Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry or The Giver by Lois Lowry.