Esperanza Rising Las Guayabas

​Esperanza Rising: Las Guayabas (Guavas)

By LEANDRA GARDNER

​journey (noun): a long trip

Multiple Choice

Which picture shows a journey?

train (noun): a group of vehicles that travel on a track and are connected to each other and usually to an engine : a connected group of railroad cars

secret (adjective): kept hidden; known to only a few

​It was still night. Esperanza, Mama, Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel were walking away from the ranch through the field of burned grapevines. Esperanza hugged her doll from Papa. “Goodbye, old home,” she said. “Goodbye, house. Goodbye, grapes. Goodbye, Papa.” It would be a long journey to their new home in the United States.

Drag and Drop

They are ​

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in the middle of the ​

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because they want to keep their ​

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a ​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

leaving

night

trip

secret

​Señor Rodriguez was waiting for them at his ranch. He had a wagon and horses to help them get away. “We must leave now,” said Señor Rodriguez. “In the morning, Luis will see that you are gone. He will try to stop you.”
“Are we going in the wagon?” said Esperanza. “To the United States?” “We will ride in the wagon to the train station,” said Alfonso. “Then the train will take us closer to the United States.”

Multiple Choice

Which picture shows where they are taking the wagon?

​“You women need to hide in the wagon,” said Señor Rodriguez to Mama. “Nobody should see you. There is a hole in the floor of the wagon that goes to a secret space underneath.” Esperanza, Mama, and Hortensia squeezed into the hole. Miguel closed the hole with a piece of wood. Alfonso and Señor Rodriguez put boxes of green guavas on top.

Multiple Choice

Who will hide in the secret hole in the wagon?

• Miguel, Hortensia, Alfonso

• Mama, Esperanza, Alfonso

• Alfonso, Hortensia, Esperanza

• Mama, Hortensia, Esperanza

​For two days, Alfonso, Miguel, and Senor Rodriguez drove the horses. They were pretending to be farmers going to sell guavas at the train station. Esperanza, Mama and Hortensia stayed hidden under the floor of the wagon. Esperanza hated hiding. It was dark in the space, and hot, and she could not breathe much. “It will be a long journey to the United States,” said Mama. “Be brave.”

Draw

Highlight how long they traveled.

Open Ended

Have you ever traveled a long way? How was the journey?

​They came to the train station. The train had cars for rich people and cars for poor people. “Look, Mama!” said Esperanza. “We can go in that beautiful train car! I remember going with Papa! The seats will be so soft!” Miguel laughed. “Esperanza,” he said. “How will you pay for the rich people’s train car?” Esperanza’s face turned red. “Of course we can pay for it!” she said. Alfonso said to Miguel. “Mijo, my son, be kind to Esperanza. It is not easy for her.”

​But Miguel was right. They only had enough money for the poor people’s train car. It was loud and dirty. There were hard benches and too many people. Many of them had animals with them. They smelled dirty. Esperanza hated the train car.

Draw

Highlight WHY Esperanza hated the train car.

​“Be brave, Esperanza,” said Mama. “It is a long journey to America. Remember what Abuelita said? You will feel high and low many times. You can crochet with me.” Esperanza shook her head no. She took out her doll from Papa and hugged it. It was the only thing left of her old life.

Multiple Choice

Which picture shows how Esperanza is feeling about riding on the train?

​A girl with a dirty face looked at the doll with wide eyes. She reached out to touch it. “Don’t touch my doll!” Esperanza shouted. She pulled it away. The girl started to cry. “Esperanza, be kind,” said Mama. “That little girl has never seen a nice doll.” “But she is dirty, Mama. And poor people steal things.” Mama said, “Esperanza, you are being rude. Alfonso, Hortensia, and Miguel are poor people too. But they are good. Being poor does not mean you are bad.”

Mama crocheted the girl a yarn doll to make her smile.

Audio Response

How was Esperanza rude?

Open Audio Recorder

​Esperanza watched the girl’s mother take out a piece of bread. It was the only food the mother had. The girl’s mother broke the bread in two pieces. She gave the bigger piece to her daughter. Now, Esperanza felt sorry that she was rude.

Miguel was having a good time. “In the United States, I can be free,”  he said to Esperanza. “In America, I can do anything if I work hard.”

Work hard? Esperanza thought. Will I have to work hard in America?

Audio Response

How are Miguel and Esperanza different right now?

Do you think Miguel is right to be excited? Why or why not?

Open Audio Recorder