El Rancho de las Rosas

El Rancho de las Rosas is the large vineyard owned by Sixto and Ramona Ortega in Aguascalientes, Mexico. It has thousands of acres and many servants, vaqueros, and campesinos. The chief crop is grapes, but they also have horses and some cattle. It has been in the Ortega family for generations.

Abuelita's Blanket

The night her father is killed, Esperanza begins to crochet a blanket for Abuelita. It eventually contains Abuelita's hair, her own hair, and that of her mother. The life of the blanket closely parallels that of Esperanza, her mother, and grandmother.

Porcelain Doll

Each year for her birthday, Esperanza gets a beautiful new doll. This one, the last gift Papa was to give her, is dressed in white lace and looks like an angel. It is much more valuable than most of the dolls Mexican girls have.

Train to Mexicali