Esperanza Rising: Los Aguacates–Las Uvas

by Pam Muñoz Ryan
When tragedy strikes, Esperanza's family has to leave their ranch in Mexico and move to a farmworkers' camp during the Great Depression.

Learn these word lists for the novel: 1924–Los Higos, Las Guayabas–Las Cebollas, Las Almendras–Las Papas, Los Aguacates–Las Uvas
15 words 5107 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. susceptible
    yielding readily to or capable of undergoing a process
    This disease, Valley Fever, makes the body tired and susceptible to other infections.
  2. squalor
    sordid dirtiness
    She felt hypnotized by the squalor but Marta and her mother didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed.
  3. animated
    having life or vigor or spirit
    She watched Miguel’s animated face, thinking that at last, his dream was coming true.
  4. efficient
    being effective without wasting time, effort, or expense
    They found razor blades and shards of glass in the field bins and the women, usually efficient and quick to unpack the asparagus, slowed down and were hesitant to grab the vegetables from their boxes.
  5. despondent
    without or almost without hope
    Esperanza and the other women watched the despondent faces in the windows disappear.
  6. desolate
    having few or no inhabitants
    It was quiet and desolate, except for the goat still tied to the tree, bleating for freedom.
  7. confront
    deal with head on
    You are still a second-class citizen because you act like one, letting them take advantage of you like that. Why don’t you go to your boss and confront him? Why don’t you speak up for yourself and your talents?
  8. relapse
    a failure to maintain a higher state
    Please remember, though, that once she goes home, she will have to rest to build up her strength. There is still a chance of a relapse.
  9. antiseptic
    thoroughly clean and free of disease-causing organisms
    Hortensia and Josefina scrubbed the little cabin until it was almost antiseptic.
  10. makeshift
    done or made using whatever is available
    Esperanza watched Abuelita walk to where Mama slept, resting on the makeshift lounge.
  11. utter
    express audibly
    Abuelita and Mama uttered no words that anyone could understand.
  12. infuriated
    marked by extreme anger
    Esperanza listened to Abuelita tell Mama about how infuriated Tio Luis had been when he found out they were gone.
  13. obsessed
    having excessive or compulsive concern with something
    He’d become obsessed with finding them and questioned all of their neighbors, including Senor Rodriguez.
  14. premonition
    an early warning about a future event
    A few months after they left, she’d had a premonition that something was wrong with Mama.
  15. infinite
    having no limits or boundaries in time or space
    Esperanza reached for Miguel’s hand and found it, and even though her mind was soaring to infinite possibilities, his touch held her heart to the earth.
Created on Wed Jan 29 14:07:06 EST 2014 (updated Thu Jun 12 14:33:55 EDT 2025)

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