Independent Reading Level: Ages 9-13
Awards: Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature (Honorable Mention – 2000)
Azia Books Diversity Award (Listed)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee – Middle School/Junior High, Grades 6-8 – 2003)
Cardinal Cup (Noteworthy – 2001)
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Nominee – 2003)
Colorado Children's Book Award (Nominee – 2003)
FOCAL Award (2008)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee – Teen – 2003)
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee – 2002)
Jane Addams Children's Book Award (Winner – Book for Older Children – 2001)
Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (Medalist – 2001)
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee – 2003)
Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee – Division I - Grades 3-5 – 2004)
Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee – Division II - Grades 6-8 – 2004)
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Nominee – Meadowlark (Novel) – 2003)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee – Intermediate – 2004)
Pura Belpré Award (Winner – Narrative – 2002)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee – 2004)
Soaring Eagle Book Award (Nominee – 2006)
South Carolina Book Awards (Nominee – Junior Book Award – 2003)
South Dakota Children's Book Awards (Nominee – Prairie Pasque – 2003)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee – 2005)
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee – 2003)
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist – Young Adult Literature – 2000)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee – Young Adult – 2003)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee – Middle School – 2003)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee – Young Adult – 2003)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee – Grades 6-8 – 2002-2003)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee – Middle Grade – 2003)

This book is a phenomenal book that connects children of a difficult culture and the hardships they go through, while being young. It would be a great history book to read during a lesson about the Great Depression or can be used within a read-aloud for class. It is a book that is very flexible and veristile to fitting into to various lessons and contents. ( )

Multicultural age of 9+
Independent reading level grades fourth through sixth.

Another memorable book from my own childhood. This book is about a Mexican girl named Esperanza who came from a wealthy family, when her father dies her and her mother fled to California. This is during the great depression and they are forced to live on a farm and her life completely changes. They are living in poverty and she has to adjust to her new life, she often dreams about being saved to go back to her old life. ( )

Is it possible to fall in love with a book? This book made me smile, cry, become angry, had me remember, and just so much more. We travel the pages of this book with Esperanza and become part of the tale with her. As a Mexican American whose own family immigrated here, I can understand some of her story as it was that of my own parents. I think the author painted the story with just enough color to capture the reader's attention. This is a must-read. ( )