Madonna abdalla

English 308
Essay
Rifka and Esperanza

During English 308 class for childrens literature, we have read many great novels but as
a future teacher I feel most inspired by Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse and Esperanza Rising
by Pam Ryan. Letters from Rifka is one of the texts that are recommended for upper elementary,
middle, and high school readers, and on the other hand the novel Esperanza rising can be taught
to fourth grade. I would definitely use those two novels in the same course. The genre of both
novels is history because they both set in the past and the time period is particularly important. In
those specific novels history is emphasized and the characters are part of the past. Rifka is a
young girl who is Russian and Jewish, a fact which has been hard for her family and which has
subjected them to much persecution. Esperanza is a thirteen years old girl that experiences so
many devastating events in just one year. I can use those two novels to teach students social/
emotional lesson, literacy and academic elements, and historical facts.
For social/ emotional lesson, Esperanza rising novel there are many quotes that teach
students many lessons. Esperanzas father teacher her patience when he said wait a little while
and the fruit will fall into your hand, you must be patient, Esperanza page (10). This lesson will
teach students that patience will come handy when they face struggles in their lives. Another
social lesson that can be taught to students through this novel is having good manners towards all
people. Esperanzas mother apologized to a peasant and said Im sorry for my daughters bad
manners page (55). Reading this specific moment in this novel van teach students that social
class doesnt indicate anything about a persons character. Esperanzas mother also showing that

is not appropriate to be mean to other people. Mama said to Esperanza when you scorn these
people, you scorn Miguel, Hortensia, and Alfonso and you embarrass e and yourself page (56).
This quote is to show that we are all equal and when you discriminate against people you may
also discriminate against friends too. There is also an important social lesson that can be taught
to students which is valuable things in life. When reading this quote from Carmen Im poor but
Im rich. I have my children, l have a garden with roses, and I have faith and the memories of
those who gone before me what more is there page (84). Students can learn that family and
memories of loved ones are more important than money. One more social /emotional lesson that
can be taught to students is that lifes ethical choices are often challenging and murky,
demanding that you balance family responsibilities with concern for what is right. When
Esperanzas mother said do you know how lucky we are, Esperanza? Many people come to this
valley and wait mothers for a job please be grateful for the favors bestowed upon us. This quote
can be used to teach students how to be optimistic and grateful for the things they have.
Social and emotional lessons that children can learn from reading the novel Letters
from Rifka are quite many. one important lesson is that materials possessions are eventually
insignificant compared to ones life and family, although sometimes it is important to stand up
for your right to property on principle. Students can learn about familys relationships such as
Rifka and the whole family had to leave Russia for the safety of the whole family. Rifka said
how can I live without mama and papa to care for me, to protect me page (44). Rifka wanted to
be reunited again with her family in the United States of America. Family relationships also can
be taught through reading Esperanza rising. Esperanza had to grow up and be mature in order
to be with her mom, she started working and saving money to bring her grandmother Abulita in
order for her mother feel better

Students can also learn about gender roles. This idea is good to teach students historical
facts while having social development. Women were supposed to find a husband and get married.
The lady from HIAS warned Rifka that if her hair didnt grow they wont let her inside the
United States since she wont be able to find a husband and get married. HIAS lad said its not
the ringworm that concern them, its your hair page (95). Women were not expected to do
anything besides getting married, having children and raise them. Gender roles can be taught
through reading Esperanza rising as well by teaching students the historical facts such as women
couldnt inherit land or even own land in Mexico at the 20 th century. Womens role was cleaning,
cooking and taking care of children.
Students can learn many important elements of style from the novel Esperanza Rising
such as the use of epigraphs, and the use the multiple languages. The epigraphs illuminate
important aspects of the story such as using Mexican proverb The rich person is richer when he
become poor, than the poor when he becomes rich to identify the Mexican culture and history.
The use of Spanish language in this novel can teach students the use of multiple languages in
creative writing. Esperanza rising is considered a historical novel for the many history lessons
that can be taught to students. The novel was mainly to show that Mexican immigrants in the
U.S. historically faced prejudice and intolerance, unfair reactions that are not unlike those
currently being directed at more recent immigrants from Mexico.
The literary elements that students can learn from reading letters from Rifka are many
such as the use of epigraphs and the use of epistolary narrative. Letters from Rifka is an
epistolary novel is written in series of letters. Students can learn elements of a letter, and
structure of dialogue. For the academic concepts, students can learn intersexuality which means

when a novel refers to another text or novel. For instance, when Rifka reads Pushkin and use
examples from it in her letters. Students can also learn dialect, and personification.
Esperanza rising novel can be used to teach students about American history such as the
dust bowl. This novel shows what was going on in America during this time. In 1930 dust storms
in the Midwest forced ton of farmers out of their homes and come to California competing for
jobs. Esperanza rising book mentioned the dust bowl in this quote Esperanza looked out the
window. Thousands of acres of tilled soil were becoming food and the sky was turning into a
brown swirling fog page (43). The novel talked about what happened to workers who went on a
strike for justice back then in united states of America And now, more people are coming to the
valley to look for work, especially from places like Oklahoma, where there is little work, little
rain, and little hope. If the Mexicans strike, the big farms will simply hire others. Many scenes in
the novel showed the injustice of the history back in 1930. The author said that Americana!
Americana!" yelled one woman and she began to unfold some papers. One of the officials took
the papers from her hand and tore them into pieces. "Get on the bus," he ordered. This showed
that immigration officials didnt care if the woman is an American citizen as long that she is
Mexican and making trouble then he has the right to kick her out. The way that immigrants and
migrants were forced to compete for jobs, as an oversupply of labor in the 1930s made
agricultural work in California more difficult to obtain. This shows to students the unjust and
unfair rules in the history of the United States and give them hope that this unjust and racist rules
doesnt happen in the United States anymore. Historical racism also has been shown through this
quote Nothing is right here! Isabel will certainly not be queen no matter how badly she wants it
because she is Mexican. You cannot work on engines because you are Mexican. We have gone to
work through angry crowds of our own people who threw rocks at us, and I'm afraid they might

have been right! this scene shows that because of racial discrimination back then in U.S.A,
many people didnt accomplished their goals. I can definitely use Esperanza rising novel to talk
about the national relationship between Mexico and United States of America. This novel can
also be used to access areas of history that are not normally talked about such as discussing
immigration and migration to California between 1850 and 1900. Also students can learn about
the growth of towns and cities because of the immigration.
Letters from Rifka can be used to teach students historical facts. The racial discrimination
in Russian history is shown in this novel. Rifka said why is it Tovah that in Russia, no matter
what the trouble, the blame always falls upon the Jews page (6). Students an also learn about
the dangerous of immigration by boat in the early twentieth century. Rifka said I cried until I
was empty of tears. Then I was still. As still as the sea after the storm page (86). Rifka said this
when her friend Pieter died due to the dangerous storm.
To make sure students comprehend these two great novels, I would have many in class
activities. I believe one of the most interesting in class activity is lead the class in a discussion of
historical fiction. Divide the class in small groups and have them research the reason of why
people wanted to emigrate from Russia and Mexico in the 20th century. Another in class activity
would be dividing the class into small groups and have then research the concept of historical
novels. For home work, students can do a research paper on Judaism in Russia in the 20 th
century to understand the experiences of Rifka and her family. Students can also do another
research paper on the rail road agriculture in the United States of America in the 20th century.
To conclude, I believe Karen Hesse, and Pam Ryan did a great job on those two novels
Esperanza rising and letters from Rifka. They provide future teachers with great materials to

teach students such as the historical events globally and locally. I encourage future teachers to
consider teaching those two novels in their classrooms. Letters from Rifka and Esperanza rising
are great choice to teach students literacy elements as well as having social development ideas.
Those novels can help open the students minds to research the history of those eras and what
happened exactly to the immigrants in the United States of America at this specific time. I
believe that both novels are very relevant to students because the main character of both novels
(Rifka) and (Esperanza)s age is close to students age. Those are also inspirational stories on a
certain level.

Many of students are struggling through the many changes that come with

adolescence. Rifka and Esperanza are enduring unimaginable tragedy and let down. Students
can connect to those characters. I do believe that Rifka in specific can be seen as a hero in most
sixth graders eyes.

Citation Page
1. Hesse, Karen, Letter from Rifka , July 15 1992
2. Pam Ryan , Esperanza Rising , 2000