ESPERANZA RISING

Esperanza Rising begins with six-year-old Esperanza Ortega walking with her father, whom she calls "Papa." The
Ortegas are wealthy landowners in Aguascalientes, Mexico. They grow several different kinds of fruits on their
large farm, el Rancho de las Rosas. As Esperanza and Papa walk through their vineyards, in which the grapes are
not quite ripe, Papa explains to his daughter that the land is alive. Esperanza and Papa lie down with their ears to
the ground in order to listen to the earth. Esperanza imagines that she hears three hearts beating – hers, Papa’s,
and the heart of the valley. Six years later, Esperanza is three weeks shy of turning thirteen. She is excited to
celebrate the day, which she anticipates will be as full of presents and merriment as her previous birthdays. It is
harvest time at the ranch, and Esperanza’s father allows her to cut the first grapes before the swarm of field-
workers and servants start picking. The three weeks pass by quickly and Esperanza continues daydreaming about
her birthday and all the fun things she will do with her best friend, Marisol Rodríguez. She looks forward two
years to her 15th birthday celebration (known as a Quinceañera) which is when Esperanza will be old enough to
marry. On the day before her birthday, Esperanza accidentally pricks her finger on a rose thorn, a sign of bad luck.
To distract herself from worrying, Esperanza spends time with her beloved Abuelita (grandmother). Abuelita
suggests that they crochet together, but Esperanza finds the practice tedious. Instead, she occupies her mind with
thoughts of Miguel. Esperanza reflects on the fact that the difference in their social status has caused a rift in hers
and Miguel’s relationship, even though she wishes that they were still close. When it is dark outside, Papa’s older
stepbrothers – Tío Luis, the bank president, and Tío Marco, the mayor of Aguascalientes - arrive at the farm.
Though they are family, neither Esperanza nor Mama likes Papa’s stepbrothers. she realizes that something
terrible has happened. Nobody knows where Papa is, but it is likely that bandits have attacked him.
Half-awake, Esperanza hears her Papa singing "Happy Birthday" to her from outside her window. For a moment
she believes that her father is still alive, but then she wakes up on her Papa’s side of the bed. Esperanza hears a
knock at the front door. It is Señor Rodríguez, Marisol’s father, who has come to deliver papayas. Señor
Rodríguez explains that Papa had ordered the fruits especially for Esperanza’s birthday party. Esperanza is then
forced to explain her father’s death to his dear friend; Marisol’s father is overcome with grief. Esperanza mimics
her Mama’s mannerisms while accepting condolences during the three day mourning rituals for Papa. She finally
lets her façade drop when she is alone with Marisol and starts crying openly. Late at night, Esperanza can hear
her mother crying softly. Esperanza ignores her birthday presents until Mama insists that she open them. Of all
her presents, Esperanza’s favorite is an exquisite doll from Papa. Following Papa’s death, Tío Luis and Tío Marco
slowly move their way into Papa’s office under the pretense of helping out with the family business. Both Mama
and Esperanza find the uncles’ presence to be unnerving. Esperanza is especially upset when she notices the mess
her uncles have created in her father’s usually organized office. Finally, a lawyer explains that Papa left the house
to Mama and Esperanza, but because it is not customary for women to own land, the land belongs to Tío Luis.
Tío Luis immediately tries to buy the house from Mama at a very low price and suggests that they get married
right after the mourning period. Mama refuses both offers, knowing that as their landlord or as a husband, Tío
Luis will make their lives miserable.While the adults discuss the state of affairs, Esperanza slips out to the rose
garden. Miguel joins her and they sit together, admiring the rose bushes Papa planted for each of them years
before. Miguel tells Esperanza that his family is planning to move to the United States as soon as they are no
longer needed by Esperanza’s family. Esperanza shifts away in surprise and Miguel repeats Esperanza’s past
words to her: in Mexico, they come from different worlds.
Esperanza dreams that she is being chased and smothered by a giant bear. She wakes up in a fright when
she hears her mother calling her name. Mama shakes her daughter, screaming that the house is on fire and
that they must find Abuelita. The house is ablaze, but Mama and Esperanza (clutching her doll from Papa)
are able to escape. Alfonso urges them to leave Abuelita behind, and Miguel dashes back into the house to
save the old woman from the fire. Abuelita survives, but she injures her ankle while escaping. Esperanza
watches her home, her land, and everything she loves burn to the ground - and she knows that one of her
uncles must be responsible. Mama, Abuelita, and Esperanza spend the night in the servants’ cabin. Later,
they search amongst the rubble for their possessions, but there is nothing there. Tío Luis once again offers
to marry Mama and promises to build her a bigger, more beautiful home. He threatens Mama and she
reluctantly relents, much to everyone’s surprise. However, Mama decides that she and Esperanza will
accompany Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel to the United States. She explains that she has only agreed to
marry Tío Luis in order to buy some time. Esperanza is torn – she does not want Mama to marry Tío Luis,
but she also does not want to leave her whole life, including Abuelita, behind. Finally, Esperanza comes
around and even suggests that she might do manual labor, the only work that will be available in
California. Everyone laughs at Esperanza for suggesting such a thing. The following day, Abuelita is
transported to a nunnery, which is where she will spend her recovery. Esperanza is sad to see her Abuelita
go, but she hopes that her grandmother will eventually join them in California. With their legal papers
arranged, Esperanza and Mama prepare to leave Mexico. In a poignant moment that reveals just how
much their lives have changed, Esperanza and her mother dress in donated clothes from the “poor box.” In
the middle of the night, Mama wakes Esperanza and they leave el Rancho de las Rosas for the last time.
To protect the women from bandits and from Tío Luis, Esperanza, Mama, and Hortensia all hide in the secret
compartment at the bottom of the wagon, covered with guavas, while Miguel and Alfonso ride on top. The family
has to steal away at night, and Esperanza is unable to say goodbye to her best friend, Marisol. The lack of space in
the compartment and the realization that she really is leaving her home behind causes Esperanza to panic and
breathe unevenly. Hortensia calms the young girl down by recounting another time when Esperanza had been
brave while in hiding. Once when she was younger, bandits had come into the house at el Rancho de las Rosas to
steal all of the family’s silver. Miguel warned Esperanza and Hortensia just before the bandits arrived so they
could all hide under the bed together. Esperanza accidentally made a sound, but in a moment of clarity, Miguel
released a field mouse from his pocket. He had intended to scare Esperanza with the mouse but instead it
surprised the bandits and they left. Miguel for his quick thinking by taking him on a train ride. They left from the
same station at Zacatecas that the wagon is headed towards now. Esperanza fondly remembers the first class train
and her fancy clothes - but that life is gone. She is shocked when she sees that she will be riding in second class.
Esperanza notices that Alfonso and Miguel are carrying something in an oilcloth. Every time the train stops, they
get out to wet the cloth again. She tries to see what it is but everyone refuses to tell her and urges her to wait until
they arrive at their destination. Miguel distracts and annoys Esperanza by talking about trains, but Esperanza is
filled with sadness whenever he mentions Papa. A few days later, a woman named Carmen offers Esperanza some
sweets. Carmen and Mama quickly become friends, exchanging life stories. Mama explains the family’s situation
to this total stranger, which Esperanza had always believed to be improper. When Carmen departs, she gives
Mama two of her chickens in exchange for three of the table coverings Mama had been knitting on the train.
Esperanza watches as Carmen exits the train and gives some money to a beggar woman. Miguel explains that
people without money have to take care of each other because the rich only help themselves. He also points out
that wealthy people in Mexico have fairer skin because of their Spanish ancestry – something Esperanza is
ashamed to admit she has never noticed.
After several days, the train ride comes to an end. Esperanza, Hortensia, Alfonso, Miguel, and Mama arrive at the
Mexican-American border. Esperanza and Mama get in line at the immigration office. Esperanza notices that the
first class passengers get preference and speed through the process. Esperanza is nervous when she sees that
some people are getting rejected from the border, but she and Mama pass through immigration without any
complications. They board another train to the United States. Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel board at the last
minute. Mama wakes Esperanza up when they arrive in Los Angeles, where Alfonso’s brother and his family are
waiting for them. Esperanza meets the whole family: Alfonso’s brother Juan, his wife Josefina, their twin babies,
Lupe and Pepe, and their daughter Isabel, who is about the same age as Esperanza. Isabel immediately questions
Esperanza about her family’s wealth in Mexico, which catches Esperanza off guard. She assumes that Miguel has
told his cousin that Esperanza is a spoiled brat. Everyone loads into Juan’s beat up truck; the adults sit in the cab
and the children climb into the flatbed. Isabel tells them about the past year. The family has been living in a tent
and working to afford their current residence on a larger estate. Now, Isabel hopes to start attending school so
that she can learn English. Esperanza explains that she is quite well-educated and plans to return to school once
Abuelita arrives. When they stop for lunch, Esperanza wanders off on her own. As she looks out at the valleys
below, she thinks about how Papa taught her to feel connected with the land. Esperanza tries to hear the
heartbeat of the earth but she cannot, which frustrates her. In a fit of tears, Esperanza falls back onto the ground
and suddenly feels as if she is floating above it without any anchor. Esperanza feels like she is floating higher -
but she is uncertain about whether or not she enjoys the sensation of being unmoored. Miguel brings her back to
reality by holding her hand and confessing that he, too, misses Papa. They keep driving until the mountains
disappear and all Esperanza can see are fields full of workers. Juan stops so that a girl, Marta, can get into the
car. Marta is about Miguel’s age and has a sharp tongue. Upon learning that Esperanza was once wealthy, Marta
begins to taunt her. Esperanza tries to explain that her father was a kind man and Isabel explains that Esperanza
lost everything in a fire, but Marta does not stop ridiculing the new arrival.
Everyone arrives at the camp and Esperanza sees her new home for the first time. She is horrified
- the cabin is more humble than the servants’ quarters at el Rancho de las Rosas. Additionally,
Esperanza and Mama will be sharing the tiny space with Hortensia, Alfonso, and Isabel. When
Mama expresses her gratitude for the cabin, Esperanza becomes frustrated. Mama explains
patiently that what matters is that they are together and far away from Tío Luis. Esperanza is
more cheerful the next morning when the adults all leave for field work and Miguel goes to
Bakersfield in search of a mechanic job. Esperanza and Isabel are left to supervise Pepe and Lupe
as well as sweep the camp’s platform. Isabel shows Esperanza around the camp and introduces
her to all their neighbors, all of whom seem to know that Esperanza was once a rich girl. Back in
their cabin, Isabel teaches Esperanza how to wash the babies’ diapers because Esperanza has
never washed clothes in her life. Esperanza is a bit embarrassed about her lack of household skills
but she is determined to learn how to do all the chores before Isabel returns to school. Esperanza
attempts to sweep the camp’s platform. She has only ever watched the servants at el Rancho de
las Rosas clean, so she struggles to complete the task. Marta witnesses Esperanza’s failure and
mocks her by calling her “Cinderella.” Esperanza runs back to the cabin in tears. For the first
time, she is ashamed about her privileged past. Miguel comforts Esperanza by showing her how
to sweep properly. He understands that she has never had to learn how to do chores. Thanks to
Miguel, Esperanza is able to sweep the platform successfully. Afterwards, Miguel jokes that
Esperanza could actually be a good servant one day. Isabel is impressed when Miguel calls
Esperanza “his queen” and demands to know more about Esperanza’s life as a wealthy
All the adults are tired when they return home from working in the fields, especially Mama because she is not used to
manual labor. As the women prepare dinner for the rest of the family, Esperanza notices that Miguel and Alfonso are
doing something secretive outside. Later, Miguel leads Mama, Esperanza, and the rest of the family behind the cabin.
Alfonso and Miguel have fashioned a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe with a small garden of roses around it - Papa’s
roses. Miguel confesses that he and Alfonso saved some of the roses after the fire and carried them to California in an
oilcloth. When she sees roses from both hers and Miguel’s old rose bushes, Esperanza is moved. The following day is
washday. The women set up tubs in one of the cabins and lug hot water inside to fill them. Esperanza quickly learns
that Hortensia will no longer be helping her bathe. She is initially embarrassed, but then pitches in to help everyone
clean themselves off before the party that will take place at the camp that evening. Esperanza expresses her
uncertainty about going to the party because she knows that Marta will be there. Isabel advises Esperanza to get it
over with and face her enemy. However, once Esperanza learns that the almonds they are shelling will be used in a
flan for the party, she decides to go. That night, the platform at the center of the camp is clean and decorated with
lights. People from nearby camps join the evening’s festivities. There is dancing and music, although Esperanza stays
beside her mother for most of the night. She misses Marisol and her other friends. Isabel distracts Esperanza by
showing her a bunch of newborn kittens. Josefina gives Esperanza permission to keep one of the tiny animals. Just
then, Marta and her crew arrive. Marta is clearly in no mind to party - she stands atop a truck and urges everyone to
join the strike that will take place in two weeks. Soon, an older man shouts for Marta to be quiet and leave the camp.
Esperanza does not fully understand what fuels Marta’s anger, so Isabel explains the tough working and living
conditions for some of the migrant workers. She cautions that if the Mexicans strike, the landowners will simply
replace them with migrant workers from Oklahoma. Isabel quickly changes the subject and asks about the parties that
Esperanza used to attend. At first, Esperanza gladly complies with the younger girl’s request, but when Isabel falls
asleep, Esperanza feels relieved to be able to stopThat night, Esperanza and Mama talk about what they will pray for
at church the next morning. Esperanza tells mama that she will pray for Papa, for Abuelita’s health, for Miguel to find
a mechanic job, and for herself to be able to complete all of the chores on her own when Isabel goes to school.
Isabel gives Esperanza some last minute advice for taking care of the Pepe and Lupe as she boards the bus for her
first day of school. For the first time, Esperanza is responsible for taking care of the babies as well as preparing
dinner for everyone who is working during the day. Esperanza starts making dinner and feeds the babies plums,
which makes them happy. Esperanza is feeling confident - that is, until the babies get sick from the plums and
she burns the food for everyone else. Even though Esperanza has made mistakes, Isabel compliments the older
girl for curing the children’s stomach troubles with rice. Nobody mentions the terrible dinner. Meanwhile, the
harvest season for the grapes is coming to a close. All of the adults must work seven days a week in order to
gather the last of the grapes before the autumn rains. Esperanza starts spending more time with her neighbors
Irene and Melina, who is appears young and naive but is actually a mature woman who takes care of her husband
and child. One afternoon, when the men are working in the fields and the women are working in the shed, a dust
storm descends on the valley. Melina and Irene instruct Esperanza to get inside and stay away from the windows.
Esperanza worries about her family and friends as the dust seeps into their cabin. Isabel returns from school
unscathed, frantic about her kitten, Chiquita. Luckily, Esperanza has brought Chiquita inside to keep her safe
from the dust storm. The women return shortly thereafter - they only had a few crates as shelter from the
whirling dust. The men return moments later, caked in dirt. When everyone is clean again, Alfonso explains that
the dust storm has derailed the plans for a strike. Esperanza knows that no one in her immediate circle is going
to strike because they need the money. She is glad when everyone returns to work the following day, as if the
storm had never happened. A month after the dust storm, Esperanza notices that Mama looks pale and
encourages her to lie down. Her mother, tired and worn down, breaks out into a fever. A young doctor explains
that Mama has contracted Valley Fever, a condition that results from dust spores growing in the lungs.
Esperanza is rocked by the news that Mama will take six months to recover - and she may not even live that long.
Esperanza throws herself into caring for Mama, refusing to leave the sick woman’s side. The doctor explains that
Mama is neither getting better nor worse and that she needs to rest. When Mama calls out for Abuelita, Esperanza
remembers the blanket that Abuelita had begun to knit the night of Papa’s death. In order to deal with her stress and
anxiety, Esperanza finds the unfinished blanket and picks up where Abuelita left off. She is able to procure different
pieces of yarn from her neighbors. Esperanza desperately wishes that Abuelita could come and help Mama, but that is
not possible. Esperanza therefore brings Mama to Kern General Hospital so that she can receive better care. Hortensia
explains that Mama is depressed in addition to being sick because of all of the terrible things that have happened to her
over the past few months. Esperanza prays to the Lady of Guadalupe statue regularly, hoping that she will be able to
keep her promise to Abuelita and take care of Mama. The day after taking Mama to the hospital, Esperanza approaches
Miguel to see if she can get a job in the fields. She is desperate for the money to help with the hospital bills, and even
offers to disguise herself as a boy. However, Miguel explains that winter is not the time for picking crops and the only
work available is removing the eyes from potatoes. Esperanza joins Hortensia and Josefina removing potato eyes. The
young girl does not complain about the cold as she might have in the past, and instead imitates Josefina and Hortensia
in order to become the best worker. Esperanza is always thinking about what Miguel has told her - the best workers
from the winter season will get jobs in the spring and summer. While the women work on the potatoes, Esperanza
overhears Marta’s aunt talking about the upcoming strike. The woman explains that Marta is planning the strike for
the spring, but she fears for the safety of her niece - as well as those who choose not to strike. Turmoil is brewing but
nobody in the camp seems to know how to deal with it. A few days before Christmas, Isabel asks Esperanza what her
family used to do for the holidays when they lived in Mexico. Esperanza describes the decorations her family used to
hang up and details all of their various traditions. She stops herself from talking about all the presents she used to
receive and instead asks Isabel what she wants for Christmas. Isabel would be happy to receive anything. Meanwhile,
Esperanza wishes for Abuelita to come to California and for Mama to recover. On Christmas Day, Esperanza visits
Mama in the hospital. Mama sleeps the entire time that Esperanza is there. After seeing her mother so weak,
Esperanza promises to take care of her family as the new head of her household.
The winter season gets colder, but Esperanza must spend more time outside because she has a job tying
grapevines. She works tirelessly, thinking only of how much more money she needs to save in order to bring
Abuelita to California. Meanwhile, she also worries about her grandmother but has no way of contacting her in
Mexico. One day, Esperanza is examining her rough and calloused hands and admits that she no longer
recognizes them as her own. Hortensia makes an avocado salve to soothe her injuries, but Esperanza knows that
no remedy will ever restore her hands to their former softness. At the end of the grape-tying season, Esperanza
and Miguel visit Mama in the hospital. The doctor explains that Mama has contracted pneumonia and cannot
have any visitors until she is better. Esperanza insists on seeing her mother for a few minutes, and then Miguel
brings her back to camp. Hortensia sees that Esperanza is feeling low, so she suggests that Esperanza and
Miguel go to the market on Saturday. Miguel and Esperanza must take a truck to travel the long distance to Mr.
Yakota’s store. There are other stores closer to camp, but Miguel explains to Esperanza that Mr. Yakota treats
the Mexican customers well, while all the other store owners classify them as dirty migrant workers. Esperanza
jokes about her ragged appearance and wonders if anyone can tell that she is better educated than most
Americans. At Mr. Yakota’s store, Esperanza picks up all of the essentials. She cannot resist buying a small
piñata, thinking that it will cheer Mama up. On the way back to camp, the truck stops for Marta and her
mother, Ada. The two women are traveling to a different camp, which is where many of the strikers live. It is
much dirtier than the place where Esperanza and Miguel live. Esperanza feels sorry for the hungry children in
the camp and gives them the piñata. Marta explains to Esperanza and Miguel that she is helping to organize a
strike that will take place during the asparagus harvest. She warns them that workers who do not strike could be
in danger. Esperanza listens to Marta without feeling any malice, but knows that she must keep working in
order to bring Abuelita to the United States. A few nights later, Esperanza hears the good news that Miguel had
gotten a job as a mechanic for the railroad. The families celebrate with good food. When Esperanza sees the
happiness in Miguel’s eyes, she has fond memories of her father.
Springtime means that is time for the asparagus to be harvested, but this year it also means the resurgence of the
strike, just as Marta had predicted. There are people holding signs all over the camp, urging everyone else to join
the strike. Esperanza is once again working with Josefina and Hortensia, this time packing asparagus. When
Esperanza and the other workers arrive at the packing shed, the strikers taunt them and throw stones at them.
Esperanza sees Marta among the strikers. There are guards at the entrance to the packing shed, protecting the
workers so they can package the asparagus according to schedule. That night, Miguel and Alfonso relay that there
is a similar situation unfolding in the fields - guards are protecting the field workers from the strikers as well.
Meanwhile, the whole family is worried about the new immigrants arriving in the valley because these workers
are agreeing to pick cotton at 5 cents per pound, which is far below a livable wage. One day, when Esperanza is
packing asparagus, she notices that the strikers have stopped chanting. Josefina sees a group of vehicles coming
from the immigration office. They are going to haul away the strikers and deport them as punishment for
disrupting the packers and growers. Esperanza and the others are safe because they have continued working
throughout the strike, but Esperanza shudders at the thought of being sent back to Mexico alone and therefore,
separated from Mama. After the strikers are gone, Esperanza goes to get more rubber bands for the asparagus
packaging. She is surprised to find Marta hiding beneath the crates. Marta begs Esperanza to help her remain
concealed. In an uncharacteristic display of empathy for her former rival, Esperanza does not reveal Marta’s
hiding spot. Esperanza understands Marta’s terror at the prospect of being separated from her mother.
Therefore, Esperanza gives Marta an apron and helps her disguise herself as a worker. Back at the camp,
Hortensia is relieved that the strike is over but Miguel warns that there will be another strike soon because more
people will rise up and organize. Esperanza remembers Marta and is determined to find out if she was able to
escape the immigration officials. Esperanza and Miguel return to the farm the next day in a jalopy. Immigration
officials have already raided the field and there is no one is in sight. Esperanza hopes that Marta is with her
mother. Then , she spots the piñata she gave to the small children earlier. It is blowing in the wind, its insides
destroyed.
At the beginning of May, Isabel announces that she is in the running for "Queen of the May" at her school. Esperanza
encourages Isabel’s aspirations because the younger girl has perfect grades. However, once Isabel is out of earshot,
Josefina explains that only American girls with blond hair and blue eyes win the title. Despite her academic
achievements, Isabel will never be elected because of her ethnicity. A week later, Isabel is still obsessed with becoming
the Queen of the May. She cheerfully announces that someone is building a new camp for the workers from Oklahoma
where there will be a pool. However, Mexican workers will only be allowed to swim one day per week. Hortensia adds
that the time for Mexicans too swim is on Friday afternoons, right before the pool is cleaned on Saturday mornings
(based on the stereotype that the Mexicans are dirtier than the other migrant workers). Miguel returns home, covered
in dirt, and explains that his job as a mechanic went to one of the inexperienced workers from Oklahoma simply
because the "Okie" was willing to accept a lower wage. Esperanza becomes outraged when Miguel tells them that he
has agreed to dig ditches instead. Miguel tries to reason with Esperanza, but she runs away from their cabin. Esperanza
is angry. She asks Miguel if he thinks life is better for him in the United States. Miguel defends their decision to move
to California because at least there is a possibility for upward mobility. Esperanza shouts at him, telling him that even
in the United States, he is a second-class citizen. Miguel retorts by telling Esperanza to stop thinking about herself the
"queen" she had been back in Mexico. The following morning, Miguel is gone. Hortensia says that he has gone to find
railroad work up in Northern California. However, Esperanza feels responsible for his departure. To keep herself from
thinking about Miguel, Esperanza throws herself into her work. Later, Isabel returns and tells Esperanza that she did
not win Queen of the May. She is devastated and complains that life is not fair. In order to cheer her up, Esperanza
gives Isabel her prized doll, explaining that Queen of the May title only lasts for a month but the doll will keep her
happy much longer. Then, Esperanza receives the good news that Mama is better and can return home within the
week. Everyone readies the house for Mama’s return and Esperanza is elated to have Mama back home after five
months in the hospital. She is especially excited to show Mama all of the money she has made from working. However,
when she looks in her valise, Esperanza discovers that all of her money orders are missing.
Esperanza is distraught by the disappearance of her money, especially since Miguel is the only
person who knew her hiding spot. Most of all, Esperanza is disappointed that she will not be able
to bring Abuelita to California. Then, one day, when Esperanza is sorting peaches, Alfonso comes
to take her to the bus station. Esperanza and Alfonso watch Miguel get off of the bus from Los
Angeles - with Abuelita. Esperanza is overjoyed to be reunited with her grandmother. Abuelita
explains that Miguel snuck her out from under the watchful eyes of Tío Luis and Tío Marco. When
they return to camp, Esperanza introduces Abuelita to the rest of the family. Shortly thereafter,
Mama and Abuelita have a happy, tearful reunion. Esperanza shows Abuelita the knit blanket,
which she has almost finished. Abuelita tells Esperanza the story of how Miguel was able to sneak
her away from Tío Luis and Tío Marco. Esperanza recounts the past year of her life, marking time
by growing seasons rather than months. Shortly before her 14th birthday, Esperanza begs Miguel
to drive with her to the foothills so that they can watch the sunrise. As she watches the sun come
up, Esperanza can feel herself rising again. She soars over everything she has known for the past
year, feeling revived and reborn like a phoenix emerging from the ashes. Once again, Miguel’s
hand brings her back down to earth. Together, they listen to the heartbeat of the earth and
Esperanza feels at peace. Esperanza wakes up on the morning of her birthday to the sound of
singing voices outside her window. Though the celebration is not as grand as the ones she used to
have, Esperanza feels elated. The novel closes with Esperanza teaching Isabel how to crochet,
giving the younger girl the same advice Abuelita had once given Esperanza when her stitches
came out crooked: “Don’t be afraid to start over.”