Yes, Esperanza Rising is considered historical fiction. It's set during a specific historical period and incorporates real-life events and circumstances.
The leopard spirit in Journey to the West was a fictional character that did not exist in the real world. In the novel, the leopard spirit was an evil monster who once wanted to eat Tang Sanzang's flesh to live forever. However, due to Tang Sanzang's compassion, the leopard spirit was not eaten in the end. Instead, it was subdued by Tang Sanzang and became his disciple. The leopard spirit's image in the novel was a cunning, evil, and somewhat pitiful character.
In 'Esperanza Rising', the story is told from Esperanza's point of view. So, Esperanza is, in a sense, the one telling the story. We experience the events, the joys, and the sorrows through her eyes.
In Esperanza Rising, the narrator is primarily Esperanza herself. This allows us to have an intimate understanding of her thoughts and feelings as she navigates through difficult situations.
It can be said that Esperanza Rising has elements of truth in it. The story is crafted to give a sense of authenticity while still being a work of fiction.
Esperanza Rising qualifies as a survival novel as it depicts Esperanza's journey through adversity. She has to confront economic struggles, cultural differences, and personal losses. But she perseveres and finds ways to survive and grow, which is the core of a survival story.