JuanĪlfonso's brother (and Josefina's husband) who welcomes everyone into their home in California. She loves hearing stories about Esperanza's privileged life in Mexico. Isabel's dream is to go to school so she can learn English. She is younger than Esperanza but has a great deal of maturity and knowledge about living in the camp. Juan and Josefina's daughter teaches Esperanza how to take care of the babies and do chores. He is just as vindictive and corrupt as his brother, Tío Luis. Papa’s crooked, older stepbrother and the mayor of Aguascalientes. He later has a hand in burning down her house, thus forcing Mama and Esperanza to flee to America. After Papa's death, Tío Luis tries to marry Mama in order to gain traction for his political campaign, but she refuses. Papa’s malicious and eldest stepbrother who is president of the bank in Aguascalientes. Miguel and Esperanza sometimes clash because of their class differences, but deep down, they care about one another. He loves trains and dreams of becoming a mechanic on the railroad. Miguel shares many of Papa's qualities - he is patient, strong, and kind.

MiguelĪlfonso and Hortensia's son was once Esperanza's childhood companion. He makes the arrangements for his family, Esperanza, and Mama to travel to California. He is also Hortensia’s husband, Jose's brother, and Miguel's father.

Papa’s close friend and boss of the field-workers at el Rancho de las Rosas. She is married to Alfonso, and is Miguel's mother. HortensiaĪ Zapotec Indian from Oaxaca who works as the housekeeper at el Rancho de las Rosas. Eventually, Miguel is able to bring Abuelita to the U.S.A. Due to an injury, she must stay behind in Mexico when Esperanza and Mama move to California. She teaches Esperanza the importance of perseverance. AbuelitaĪbuelita is what Esperanza calls her maternal grandmother.

Marisol RodríguezĮsperanza's best friend in Mexico - they are permanently separated when Esperanza and her mother move to California. In the beginning of the novel, Papa is killed by bandits while repairing a fence on the ranch. He feels deeply connected to the land and teaches Esperanza to trust the cycles of nature. PapaĮsperanza's father, Sixto, the kind proprietor of el Rancho de las Rosas. Mama is Esperanza's support system in California until she falls ill - after which Esperanza must take on the responsibility of keeping their family together. MamaĮsperanza's mother, Ramona, who teaches Esperanza how to be strong after Papa's death. The novel chronicles Esperanza's struggles to adapt to her new circumstances. Esperanza and her mother must move to America and begin their life anew as migrant workers in California. When her father dies, her life turns upside down. She is the daughter of a wealthy landowner growing up in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Esperanza is the pre-teen protagonist of the novel.

Esperanza rising by pam muñoz ryan