ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pam Munoz Ryan

Pam Munoz Ryan grew up in California's San Joaquin Valley. She is the oldest of three sisters.She grew up with many of her aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents nearby. She is Spanish,Mexican, Basque, Italian, and Oklahoman. She received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees atSan Diego State University. She now lives in north San Diego County with her husband and four children.

She based Esperanza Rising on the experiences of her maternal grandmother who immigrated to the United States and worked in a farm labor camp. Relatives on both sides of her family, from both Mexico and Oklahoma, also worked in the fields.

Back