notes from meeting 3.25.11

Today we discussed the end of the book, Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan.  We used the reading guide provided by Scholastic to facilitate our discussion.

On page 133, Esperanza asks why Marta is so angry and Josefina offers one explanation.  Do you agree with her answer?  Why?  What other possible reasons are there for Marta's anger?

• jealousy
• maybe wanting to find a better place

Imagine you were taken out of your life right now and put in a work camp like Esperanza's.  How would you react?  What would be hard for you?  What would be easy? 

• It would be hard to let go of my family, but it might be easy for me to take care of babies since I take care of my sister
• I would try to go with the flow, but inside I would be pretty angry
• Mixed emotions
• Her hands were a metaphor for her life; as she worked more her hands got rough and scaly, and her life was getting rougher as well.

Imagine you could write a letter to Esperanza.  What would you say to her, and what would you ask her?

• I would say that I'm sorry about what happened to your papa and Abuelita, but look on the bright side that you didn't have to stay with your mean uncles - maybe something good can still come out of this...
• I would ask her what she thinks will happen after the story concludes; where will they live, what will their life be like...?
• I'd ask her if she is getting better at working; is she earning more money to help out her family?
• I would tell her not to give up because Abuelita will come.
• I would ask her if she would have rather lived with her uncles than take this journey. 

Explain the title of the book.  How does it relate to the story?  Use details from the story to support your point of view.

• When Esperanza's mom is in the hospital and Abuelita is still far away, she is rising above her situation to pay the bills and save to get her grandmother back.
• Esperanza starts out in a rough situation but is rising out of the situation with Isabel's help

Next time (April 8th) we will be reading to page 99 in When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.