Cathy over at 746 Books has been hosting her fun 20 Books of Summer event for ten years now, but I only heard about it last year. Even though it's about the chillest reading challenge ever, I didn't *quite* finish it on my first go 'round. I'll do better this year!

The challenge runs from June 1 - September 1 and the aim is simple: cross books off your TBR list. You can choose to read the full 20 books or do a 15 or 10 book version or whatever you want. You can even change your challenge list at any time. The point is to perk up your summer reading with a fun, no-pressure challenge. I'm in. How about you?

Here's my tentative list of books I want to read for the challenge. Once if officially begins, I'll update my progress on this post.

1. The Women by Kristin Hannah

2. Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon finished 07.20.24

3. Trouble at the Tangerine by Gillian McDunn finished June 23, 2024

4. Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green

5. Middle of the Night by Riley Sager (available June 18, 2024) finished 07.05.24

6. Weather Girl by Rachel Solomon

7. Homecoming by Kate Morton finished July 3, 2024

8. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

9. The Maid by Nita Prose (re-read)

10. Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus

11. A Deadly Endeavor by Jenny Adams finished 07.08.24

12. The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan finished June 6, 2024

13. Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings

14. Light and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell finished 06.21.24

15. Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris finished 07.16.24

16. The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King finished 07.04.24

17. Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed

18. The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie finished June 9, 2024

19. Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales by Wendy S. Swore

20. The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese

I'm hoping this is a good mix of serious stuff and more lighthearted stories. We'll see. Wish me luck!

Esperanza Ortega lives a luxurious life in Mexico.  Her father is a wealthy landowner, which allows her to live in a spacious home with servants to tend to her every need.  On the eve of her 13th birthday, Esperanza is thinking only about her upcoming fiesta and all the fine presents she will receive from her loving family and friends.  When her beloved father is killed by bandits, however, everything changes.  Grief settles like a pall over the family's ranch.  With their brother out of the way, Esperanza's greedy uncles threaten to kick Esperanza and her mother off the property.  Before she knows it, they are being smuggled out of the country, headed to the United States to find their own way as migrant farm workers.  

Her shocking reversal of fortune makes Esperanza's head spin.  Once, she had her own bedroom filled with expensive toys and fancy dresses.  Now, she shares a cramped shanty with two other families.  Once, servants cleaned up after her.  Now, she does her own sweeping and washing.  Once, her father paid serfs to work in his fields.  Now, Esperanza and her mother are competing with other desperate workers to labor for pennies on someone else's farm.  As she becomes used to her shabby new life in California, Esperanza's eyes are opened to the harsh realities of life as a poverty-stricken immigrant struggling to get ahead in a foreign country already devastated by the Great Depression.  When Esperanza's mother falls desperately ill and rumors of a massive workers' strike threaten the family's only source of income, Esperanza is ready to give up.  She's already overcome so many hardships and struggles.  How can she rise above them?  Will she ever be happy again?

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan tells an unforgettable riches-to-rags story set against a memorable Great Depression backdrop.  With its focus on Mexican immigrants, the book has a unique angle that feels timely even though it's set in the past.  An atmospheric setting coupled with a cast of sympathetic characters and an engaging storytelling style make the novel an engrossing, empathy-inducing read that is as affecting as it is heartfelt.  Esperanza's growth as a character is the best part of the story as it shows her realistic progression from spoiled princess to pragmatic peasant.  While Ryan's depiction of Mexican migrant life during the Depression might not be entirely realistic (Esperanza's ability to save a large chunk of money in a short amount of time with her meager earnings seems inauthentic, for instance), it's grim enough to get her point across while remaining upbeat enough for a children's book.  Overall, Esperanza Rising is a story about hope, hard work, and finding joy in the things that really matter—family, friendship, traditions, etc.—even in the bleakest of circumstances.  It's a beautiful novel that I very much enjoyed.

A note:  I listened to Esperanza Rising on audio, with Trini Alvarado reading the book.  Her voice is smooth, soothing, and authentic as she seamlessly narrates using both Spanish and English to bring the characters and story to life.  If you're looking for a new book to listen to an audio, I would absolutely recommend this one.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, although it's an adult book and much bleaker than Esperanza Rising.  The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar and Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros are also great middle-grade reads about the plight of Mexican immigrants in modern America)