Esperanza Rising Quotes

“We are like the phoenix," said Abuelita. "Rising again, with a new life ahead of us.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“The needle rocked awkwardly and at the end of her beginning rows, Isabel held up her work to show Esperanza. "Mine is all crooked!"

Esperanza smiled and reached over and gently pulled the yarn, unraveling the uneven stitches. Then she looked into Isabel's trusting eyes and said, "Do not ever be afraid to start over.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Wait for the fruit to fall into your hand.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Our Land is alive, Esperanza...This whole valley breathes and lives...He picked up a handful of earth and studied it. Did you know that when you lie down on the land, you can feel it breathe? That you can feel its heart beating.”
― Pam Munoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“I am poor, but I am rich. I have my children, I have a garden with roses, and I have my faith and the memories of those who have gone before me. What more is there?”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Oh Esperanza!' said Isabel, jumping up and down and clapping.'I think my heart is dancing.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Es más rico el rico cuando empobrece que el pobre cuando enriquece. The rich person is richer when he becomes poor, than the poor person when he becomes rich.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Esperanza leaned around the side of the truck. As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulled away from each other, like a curtain opening on stage, revealing the San Joaquin Valley beyond. Flat and spacious, it spread out like a blanket of patchwork fields. Esperanza could see no end to the plots of yellow, brown, and shades of green. The road finally leveled out on the valley floor, and she gazed back at the mountains from where they'd come. They looked like monstrous lions' paws resting at the edge of ridge. ”
― Pam Munoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Those with Spanish blood, who have the fairest complexions in the land, are the wealthiest.” Esperanza”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Mama marry Tío Luis? Marry a goat?”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Do not ever be afraid to start over”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Esperanza means hope in Spanish.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“His touch was warm and Esperanza's heart skipped. She looked at her hand in his and felt the color rushing to her face. Surprised at her own blush, she pulled away from him. She stood and stared at the roses.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“We have little money and Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel are no longer our servants. We are indebted to them for our finances and our future. And that trunk of clothes for the poor? Esperanza, it is for us.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“You can only feel the earth's heartbeat when you are still and quiet.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“The rich take care of the rich and the poor take care of those who have less than they have.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“As bad as things are , we have to keep trying .”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“We are like the phoenix,” said Abuelita.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Hortensia set the tray down and brought a shawl and wrapped it protectively around Mama’s shoulders. Esperanza couldn’t remember a time when Hortensia had not taken care of them. She was a Zapotec Indian from Oaxaca, with a short, solid figure and blue-black hair in a braid down her back. Esperanza watched the two women look out into the dark and couldn’t help but think that Hortensia was almost the opposite of Mama.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“During grapes, you hate grapes. During potatoes, you hate potatoes. And during asparagus, you hate asparagus. I suppose that during peaches, you will hate peaches.” Isabel laughed. “No, I love peaches.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Esperanza lay in bed that night and listened to the others in the front room talk about the sweeps and the deportations.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Isabel never tired of Esperanza’s stories about her previous life. Esperanza”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Esperanza stared back at her in silence. The one thing she did understand was that she did not like Marta.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“It is something the poor say.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“The house is on fire!” Smoke”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Esperanza! Wake up!” screamed Mama.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“My husband meant for us to live here.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Tío Luis sat in Papa’s chair as if it were his own. And”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“The talk began about bank loans and investments.”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

“Finally, the lawyer came to settle the estate. Mama,”
― Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising