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Angel Noriega
ENG 308-01
Suzanne Roszak
10 December 2015
Final Paper
Option 1
Letters From Rifka by Karen Hesse and Esperanza Rising by pam Munoz Ryan

both share the same thematic perspectives that young readers can socially gain from. It allows

readers to critically analyze about all the challenges Rifka and Esperanza undergo. Letters

From Rifka demonstrates a young Jewish girl and her gamily that moves from Russia and

travels to America to be with her older brothers that has never met before. She and her family

encounter many difficulties along the way: typhus, German soldiers, hunger, ringworm, and not

being permitted to the United States. The only way she feels comfort is when she writes in a

book called the Pushkin. In Esperanza Rising a young girl is forced to move to the t United

States from Mexico because of the destructive relationship between her mother and her uncle.

Esperanza moves to a foreign country and she experiences a lot of social pressures that many

immigrants living in the United States face daily. These two children novels are appropriate for

young children to read because they both address issues that many students who have similar

backgrounds can relate to. Letters From Rifka and Esperanza Rising inspire readers to not

be afraid to stat over. It gives the readers a sense that no matter what is going on in his or life, he

or she will be able to overcome anything that comes his or her way. The overall feeling from

these two novels are inspirational. Students who have read these books will be able to

understand that no one should ever loose hope for a better future. Both Rifka and Esperanza

grew up to know the unpleasant factors of being an immigrant. It also addresses the maturity

levels each of the girls face through out the novels. These two novels both convey similar

themes, messages and topics that their readers will be able to analyze and understand.
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The similarities between letter from Rifka and Esperanza Rising is that these two

novels depict how Rifka and Esperanza are perceived. They both rely on the importance of the

meaning in the story and the impact they have on the readers. Rifka and Esperanza both dealt

with being forced to move to the United States because of the situation they were both in.

Coming to America means different thing to different people, freedom or an opportunity to a

better life. Although, this was not the case for young Rifka and Esperanza when they recently

move to America. It helps readers understand how hard it was for immigrants to move to a new

country. Letters from Rifka shows readers the difficulties that many Jewish people face after

the World War. Rifka left Russia because she had no choice. She escaped from Russia to Poland

and eventually made it to the United States with many complications. When she first arrived to

Poland, they had to check her to see if she were healthy enough to continue her journey. The

doctor represented someone who did not care for anyone who was not like him. As Rifka said,

Before I could yell to them to bring our things back the doctor came. He growled at us The

doctor med me feel dirty (p.45). Another incident was when she first arrived in the United

States and did not let her enter because of how she looked. She did not have any hair and her

looks meant everything to the border culture. This depicts how inhumane medical examinations

were as she passed through the border. Esperanza Rising displays how a young girl is forced to

move and immediately needs to learn the culture. She also experienced that same journey as

Rifka did when traveling to California. When she first arrived to the camp her family was going

to stay in, this girl named Marta would always pick on her because of how different Esperanza

was from everyone there. Esperanza did not know any English and she definitely did not know

how to do anything besides giving orders. Marta once told Esperanza So youre a princess

whos come to be a peasant? Wheres all your finery? Marta remarks always made Esperanza
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feel worthless. Not only does this help readers understand how immigrants were treated but it

also shows how bullying can affect the person. Another example that showed how immigrants

were treated was when the police deported workers from the fields whether or not they were

citizens. If they looked like they came from Mexico they were taken from their families and

deport them. The law was unjust and shows how people were treated because of how they

looked.
Family plays an important role in these two novels. The material possessions are

unimportant compared to ones life and family. No matter what these girls faced, they were

always thinking about trying to make their family proud. For example when Rifka saved her

piece of bread for Saul so that he can see how much she appreciates everything that he has done

for the both of them. When Rifka was in containment due to her ringworm, she always thought to

never to give up because she had to keep striving for her Mama, Papa, Saul, and Nathan. She did

not want to let them down. To leave America without even having a chance at it, to leave

Mama and Papa and all my big brothers when I know how much they need me, I cant let myself

think of it I have lived too much I this bug world to go back to Berdichev (p. 128). She knew

that if she left and went back everything that she and her family went through would be for

nothing. It is very similar as to Esperanzas experience. When she lived in the camp, her mother

became very ill, which led Esperanza to work and pay for rent and her mothers treatment.

Everyday that she went to work, she had her mother in her mind. Esperanza did everything so

that her mother could be able to come back from the hospital and be reunited with her once

again. She also had her Abuelita in her mind so that she could have enough money to pay for her

abulitass travels to the United States. Esperanzas relationship to her family is what kept her

grounded. It helps readers illustrate the importance of family and that family will never give up

on one another.
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The socioeconomic status of Rifkas family and Esperanzas family affects the

factors that happened in their life. For the first twelve years of Esperanzas life, she lived a life of

luxury. She lived in a ranch with maids that did everything for her. Esperanza had different

opinions about the world because of her social class background. When she first came to

California she was in denial and still though that everything was going to be like how it was

before. When she was on the train she encountered a little girl who wanted to play with her doll.

Esperanza seeing how dirty the little girl was, she refused to let her play with it, which

demonstrates her immaturity and her denial about her new circumstances. Her mother had to

remind Esperanza that they were no longer living a life of luxury and that they were just like the

little girl. Another example was when Esperanza had to sweep the floor and Marta and her

friends laughed at her because she did not know how to sweep. It was not Esperanzas fault for

not knowing, she was raised differently that those who were living at the camp. By the end of he

novel Esperanza was working on the farm, picking fruit, taking care of babies and cooking for

everyone she lived with. The life of Rifka was the complete opposite. Rifka and her family came

from a low socioeconomic status. They did not have anything but in in a way had everything

they really needed. Because of their status, they had to move due to the complications of Rifkas

brother, Nathan. If it were not for her uncle who helped them escape then there would not be a

future for her family. Rifkas uncle and his family played an important role to the Germans. He

was someone that the German soldiers trusted. Rifka and her family had to work for everything

that they had. No short cuts were given to them. Although Rifka and Esperanza had different

backgrounds, they both represent the inequalities for immigrants. They both learn the connection

between class and race and the relationship between rich and poor.
Maturity depends more on a persons sense of wisdom, humility and responsibility which

all happened to Rifka and Esperanza. They both grew, not physically, but intellectually. They
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both showed the evolvement of becoming young women. For Esperanza that reader sees her

transform from the princess she was in Mexico to an ordinary young girl that must work in order

to survive. She is constantly reminded she must be clever and brave. She also learns how to

become passionate towards others. Esperanza was also fortunate enough to have many people

around her who can guide her progress and help her cope with certain situations. After papas

death, Mama and Abuelita encouraged Esperanza to stay positive and helped her adapt to her

changing life. Her mom was the one who shows Esperanza humility and how to be

compassionate to others regardless of social class. She became aware of the large issue, which is

how people treat field workers or immigrants in general. She takes on a role of a caretaker and

provider for her family. For Rifka, she was quite aware of the problems Jews faced everyday. She

learned how to speak many different languages, took on new cultural aspects, and knew that she

could achieve anything no matter how she looked. Esperanza and Rifka had to grow up a little

quicker than most teenage girls.

These topics/ themes are important for young children to read and learn about because it

can help them cope with situations that they might be experiencing. It helps children understand

that life is not always simple and bad thing happen to people and it is up to them to continue and

never give up. Everyone has happy day and others have bad days, which in the end it makes

them stronger. The two novels are a great way for children to learn new cultural aspects. It helps

students embrace the challenges or changes that they are going through.