Joe Armstrong

(SPOILER WARNING) I am very disappointed with this story. It never resolved the exploitation of the Mexican workers! Esperanza was beginning to feel like the strikers/union were right, while Miguel still believed thats “hard work” would solve all their problems. It seems cowardly of the author to bring up a complicated issue such as labor exploitation of immigrants and not clearly pick a side. If anything, the author seems to be anti-union, which in my opinion is the exact opposite of what someone who is sympathetic to immigrant workers ought to be. Marta, who was pro-union, was portrayed as somewhat of a bully, making fun of Esperanza at the beginning the book; The strikers were sent away to Mexico and never got to return / were never mentioned again; Miguel, who was clearly against the union / strike, was rewarded and was hopeful at the end of the novel. If the story had additional chapters, I don’t think it would end well for Esperanza and company. Now that everyone has agreed to work for less and less wages, they will continue to be exploited or be sent off to Mexico. The only end to this cycle would have been strong unions of the workers, but the author chooses to allow that issue to go unresolved. At the end of the book Esperanza, “soared with anticipation of dreams… of supporting her family, of someday buying a tiny house.” I do not think these are realistic dreams for her in her current situation; the workers will continue to work for less and less money, and unless every worker agrees to unionize at the same time, they will be sent back to Mexico. No amount of “hard work” will change the fact that they are being exploited for cheap labor. I think it is dangerous to teach people that “if you just work hard, everything will work out,” which appears to be the message if this book. People should fight (unionize), for better wages if they are being exploited! People with Miguels mindset are destined to work for peanuts. One must value themselves and their labor and demand fair wages, lest payment and poverty continue to get worse. This book honestly feels like anti-union propaganda (which makes it even worse that this is read in schools!). The strikers lost and were demonized (hiding razorblades), and the people who chose to work for close to nothing got a happy ending. The message of this story should not be “Work will set you free”. What a terrible message to give to people being exploited for labor. 2/5 stars.