Which of the following is an example of Reyna experiencing hometown pride and excitement for her future on her first day of first grade?Which of the following is an example of Reyna experiencing hometown pride and excitement for her future on her first day of first grade?

Soon, it is Reyna’s first day of first grade. She is excited to finally be in school with her older siblings, and happy to have a special uniform and shiny new shoes to wear. On her first morning of school, she gathers with Mago and Carlos in the courtyard to salute the flag and watch the color guard perform a march. Mago stares longingly at the team, dreaming of the day when she will get to join the color guard, too. As Reyna watches the march, she feels full of hometown pride and excitement for her future.Soon, it is Reyna’s first day of first grade. She is excited to finally be in school with her older siblings, and happy to have a special uniform and shiny new shoes to wear. On her first morning of school, she gathers with Mago and Carlos in the courtyard to salute the flag and watch the color guard perform a march. Mago stares longingly at the team, dreaming of the day when she will get to join the color guard, too. As Reyna watches the march, she feels full of hometown pride and excitement for her future.

What is an example of how school provides a safe place for Reyna and her siblings to dream of their future?

Reyna, the youngest of her siblings, sees school as the one place where she, Mago, and Carlos can just be normal kids and dream normal dreams. At school, no one is there to abuse or degrade them, and they can feel free to imagine what their futures will hold.

According to the text, why does Reyna begin to hate her name?

In class, Reyna learns to write her name. When she uses her left hand to write, though, she is beaten by her teacher. Abuela Evila, too, has beaten her for using her left hand to do tasks around the house, calling it “the side of evil” and warning her that if she continues using it, it will shrivel up and die. Reyna looks at the letters of her name and begins to hate it.

What psychological concept is Reyna experiencing when she begins to wonder if she is the problem and whether she deserves the abuse and pain that come her way?

Reyna is given a nasty shock, however, when she realizes that there is pain and suffering even at school—she begins to wonder if perhaps she is the problem, and whether she is deserving of all the abuse and pain that come her way. 

Which of the following statements best describes Reyna's critical thinking skills in the given scenario?

At lunchtime, Reynameets up with Mago and Carlos. They watch as their classmates buy food from women selling enchiladas and taquitos at the school entrance, but they don’t have enough money to buy food themselves. Mago, Carlos, and Reyna see one of their classmates drop his mango on the ground. Mago urges Carlos to go over and pick it up so that they can share it. When he refuses, she asks Reyna to do it, but Reyna, too, refuses. After the bell rings, and everyone goes back to their classrooms, Reyna lingers in the courtyard. Once it’s empty, she goes over and picks up the mango, brushes the dirt off of it, and bites into it.

Based on the passage, which of the following is an example of Reyna's behavior that illustrates the extent of her hunger and malnourishment?

Reyna and her siblings are so poor—and so uncared for by their grandmother—that they cannot even afford lunch at school and are reduced to eating scraps. Reyna doesn’t want to stoop to such a level, but as soon as no one is looking, she knows that she cannot control her hunger. This passage shows just how malnourished and desperate Reyna really is. 

What is Élida's reaction when the mailman hands the large box to Mago instead of to her?

Every afternoon, Magoand Élida stand at the gate, waiting for the mail carrier, hoping that there will be letters from El Otro Lado. One day, the mailman brings a large box, and Élida assumes it is for her. When the mailman hands Mago the box, Élida is surprised and disgruntled. Christmas is only two days away, and Élida is expecting presents.

What can be inferred about Élida from her reaction to her cousins receiving something she did not?

Despite the fact that Élida was not so long ago humbled in front of her cousins, she still has a hard time coping when they receive something and she does not—it is such an extraordinary event that she can barely get her head around it.

What is Reyna's concern when she realizes that the clothes and shoes in the box are too small for her, Carlos, and Mago?

Mago brings the box inside and she, Carlos, and Reyna tear it open. It is filled with clothes and shoes for all three of them, and they hurry to put the pretty garments on. All three are saddened when they realize that the clothes and shoes are several sizes too small—their parents don’t realize how much they’ve grown. Reyna wonders, if her parents don’t know “something as basic” as the size of their clothes and shoes, what else they don’t know about their children—and, more frighteningly, what they don’t know about their parents.

What can be inferred about the relationship between the children and their parents from the passage?

Mago, Carlos, and Reyna’s joy and excitement when they realize they’ve received gifts from their parents is quickly tempered when they try the clothes on and see that everything is too small for them. This painful moment shows that their parents no longer truly know much about them—every day they spend apart from their parents, the physical distance remains the same, but distances of other kinds grow. 

What is the consequence of Mago, Carlos, and Reyna wearing the ill-fitting clothes and shoes?

Mago, Carlos, and Reynadecide to wear the ill-fitting clothes and shoes anyway, and they set off to run through the town and show them off. Their neighbors admire their clothes, and no one calls them “orphans” anymore. As the children run through town, however, their new shoes give them horrible blisters.

What is the contrast between how Reyna and her siblings appear to others and how they actually feel on the inside?

Reyna and her siblings cast their worries aside quickly and parade their gifts through town. To the others, they appear lucky and loved; on the inside, though, they are growing pained, worried, and blistered.

What is the reason behind the construction of the family's "dream house"?

Four years after Reyna’s Papi left for the United States—and two years after her Mami left, too—construction at last begins on their family’s “dream house.” Evila gives Papi a piece of her property, and workers begin building the house right next to Evila’s. Though Reyna doesn’t want to live next to Evila, she knows it is her parents’ only option. The workers tear down both the outhouse and the shack where Reyna was born, and though Reyna is sad, Mago urges her to imagine the beautiful home that will take its place.

How do Mago and her siblings feel about the "dream house" now that it is becoming a reality?

As ground breaks on the dream house, Mago and her siblings begin, for the first time, to see the place’s potential. Before their parents left, they were so desperate to keep them that they insisted none of them needed the dream house—now that it is about to become a reality, though, the children are getting excited about the idea of having a real home of their own.

What happens to the construction of the "dream house" in the passage?

As construction continues, Reyna and her siblings pitch in and help the bricklayers. They are tired and sore at the end of each day, but the thought of living together with their parents again gives them strength. Soon, though, the workers stop coming—the money has run out, and the house will have to wait. Magobecomes angry, and tells her siblings that the house will never be finished—and neither will their parents return to them.

What effect does the halting of the dream house's construction have on the children's mood?

Just as the children begin to get into the spirit and even lend their efforts towards the dream house’s completion, the project is stopped in its tracks—the children’s high spirits are dashed as they begin to worry that their dreams will never come true, and that their parents will work forever for nothing.

What is the reason why Evila says there is no money for a doctor when Mago insists that Reyna needs to see one after being bitten by a scorpion?

One night, Reyna wakes up screaming and in pain—she recognizes the feeling as a scorpion bite. Mago runs to get help, but their grandfathercontinues dozing. Tía Emperatriz comes into the room and brushes the scorpion off of Reyna, then sends Mago to go slice an onion and get some rubbing alcohol. Evila comes to the door and asks what all the fuss is about as Emperatriz tends to Reyna’s bites with homeopathic remedies. Mago insists that Reyna needs to go to the doctor, but Evila replies that there’s no money for a doctor.

Who is the only person in the passage who seems to care about Reyna's scorpion bites?

As a terrible malady befalls Reyna in the form of a dangerous scorpion bite, her grandparents are completely unfazed, and uninterested in helping her recover. Only Emperatriz seems to care about Reyna’s bites—Evila is unmotivated to help Reyna even though she knows that Reyna could die.

Analyze Emperatriz's role in the family dynamics portrayed in the passage. Which of the following statements best describes her position?

In the morning, Reyna is worse. She is dizzy and nauseous, and Emperatrizbegs Evila to take Reyna to the doctor. Evila insists that Reyna isn’t her responsibility—she never asked to be caretaker to her son’s children. Emperatriz takes Reyna to the hospital, and after receiving a shot, Reyna feels better. That evening, Emperatriz insists Reyna sleep with her, just in case she falls ill again. As she falls asleep beside her aunt, Reyna thinks of Mami. Over the next few weeks, Reyna notices that Mago treats Emperatriz much like a mother, and looks at her with love and admiration. When Emperatriz gets a boyfriend, Mago worries that she will leave them

What does the author imply about the impact of empathy on breaking the cycle of denial of medical care?

The denial of medical care in times of need will become a circular motif throughout the book. Medical care is denied to Reyna and her siblings throughout the years both out of desperation and out of spite, or a desire for control. This instance is certainly the latter, as Abuela Evila attempts to exert control over Reyna by denying her medical attention. Only Emperatriz breaks the cycle, her genuine empathy winning out over her mother’s cruelty.

How does the act of giving arts and crafts as gifts to Emperatriz illustrate the themes of family and sacrifice in the passage?

On mother’s day, Reyna’s class makes arts and crafts to give as gifts to their mothers. On the walk home from school, Carlos, Reyna, and Mago compare the crafts they made in each of their classes, and Mago suggests they give them all to Emperatriz. That evening, Mago, Carlos, and Reyna present Emperatriz with their projects. Reyna is the reluctant to give over her present, but nonetheless, Emperatriz is touched.

Analyze the conflicting emotions that Reyna experiences toward Emperatriz in the passage. How does her hesitation to accept Emperatriz as a de facto mother reflect her complex feelings about her own mother?

Because Emperatriz is the only kind person in Reyna and her siblings’ lives, their feelings for her are enormously outsized. Mago is ready to make Emperatriz their de facto mother, so grateful is she for Emperatriz’s kindness. Reyna, on the other hand, is not so sure—she is wary of trying to replace Mami.

Analyze the significance of the encounter with their mother in the passage. How does this event highlight the theme of identity and belonging in the story?

One afternoon, Mago, Carlos, and Reyna hurry to carry water home from the town well—Emperatrizhas promised to take them to the movies later once all their chores are finished. As they arrive back at Evila’s house, they see a woman on the patio holding a chubby baby girl in her arms. They approach her, and she smiles at them, asking if they are ever going to say hello to their mother. Reyna and her siblings are frozen, though, unable to believe that the woman standing in front of them is truly their mother.

Evaluate the significance of the reunion between Reyna and her mother in the passage. How does this event contribute to the development of the novel's major themes?

Reyna, Magos, and Carlos are shocked to find that their mother has returned. This event is one of the novel’s major plot points, and the heart of its major themes. Now that the physical distance between Reyna and her siblings and their mother has closed, it remains to be seen whether the emotional distance which has opened up between them can be traversed as well.

Analyze the significance of Reyna's retrieval of the framed photo of her father in the passage. How does this action reflect the novel's themes of memory and loss?

Evila urges the children to get their things right away—they are leaving her house. Mami hugs each of them first, and as they reluctantly greet her and the baby, Betty, Evila loudly gives thanks that she has three fewer mouths to feed at last. The children gather their things and say goodbye to Emperatriz—Reynaalmost forgets her framed photo of Papi, and runs inside to retrieve “the Man Behind the Glass.”

Analyze the conflicting perspectives between Evila and the children in the passage. How does the author use this conflict to illustrate the theme of family dynamics?

It is hard to say who is happier about the fact that Reyna, Magos, and Carlos are leaving Evila’s house: Evila herself, or the children. They are all ready to be rid of one another—the children see Evila as their tormentor, and Evila sees them as her life’s great burden.

Evaluate the effect of Mami's behavior on her children in the passage. How does the author use this situation to illustrate the theme of family relationships?

Reyna, Mago, and Carlos travel by taxi with their mother to Abuelita Chinta’s house, a bamboo shack covered with tar-soaked cardboard and a corrugated metal roof. As they approach the house, Chinta’s neighbor, the wealthy Doña Caro, greets Mami excitedly. Once inside, Reyna, Mago, and Carlos begin asking their mother questions about the United States, and about Papi. She brushes them off, though, and tells them to run and play. Only Carlos follows her orders, and when Reyna and Mago stay behind, she asks them to look after Betty. Mago refuses to hold the baby, though, and runs out of the house.

Analyze the portrayal of Mago in the passage. How does the author use Mago's character to illustrate the theme of family dynamics and the effects of past traumas?

As the family reunites, there are many unresolved tensions between them. Reyna and Carlos are delighted and want to hear all about El Otro Lado—Mago, however, still harbors deep resentments, and takes her feelings out on her new younger sister, whom no one really seems to know what to do with. 

Analyze the impact of Mami's behavior on Reyna in the passage. How does the author use this situation to explore the theme of the effects of family conflict on individual identity?

Reyna cares for her little sister while she watches her mother and Abuelitamake dinner. She looks forward to the idea of eating real meals again every night rather than scraps and bland bean tortillas. As the women cook, Reyna overhears their conversation: her mother is telling Abuelita Chinta something about Papi and another woman. Mami proclaims that she hates her husband, and will never see him again. When Reyna asks Mami what’s going on, Mami orders Reyna out of the house and chastises her for eavesdropping.

Analyze Reyna's emotional response to the news about her parents in the passage. How does the author use this situation to explore the theme of the impact of parental conflicts on children?

As Reyna overhears something she shouldn’t have, her happiness is thrown into a tailspin. She realizes that whatever reasons Mami had for coming back, they are not rooted in her having missed her children: they are tied to a rift between her and Papi. This news is more than the already-overwhelmed Reyna can handle.

Analyze Reyna's conflicting emotions in the passage. How does the author use this situation to explore the theme of the complexity of family relationships and the challenges of reconciling conflicting emotions?

Reyna brings Bettyoutside and sits down with Mago. She begins crying, unsure of why she still feels empty inside when her mother has returned. Carlos comes over and expresses excitement that everything will soon go back to normal, but Reyna knows that Carlos is wrong: the woman inside Abuelita Chinta’s house is not the same woman who had left.

Compare and contrast Carlos's attitude towards his mother's return with that of Reyna and Mago in the passage. How does the author use this situation to explore the theme of the impact of past experiences on individual perspectives and attitudes?

Carlos seems to be the only one of his three siblings who is genuinely excited and optimistic about his mother’s return. Reyna and Mago, for different reasons, remain skeptical, and know that something about their beloved Mami has changed.

Evaluate the different attitudes of Reyna, Mago, and Carlos towards their parents' separation and its impact on their family. How does the author use this situation to explore the theme of the complexity of family relationships and the challenges of reconciling conflicting emotions and loyalties?

As Reyna and her siblings struggle to understand why their mother has come back, they learn of their father’s infidelity. Mami tells the children that Papi is “washing his hands of [them]” while he tends his “new woman.” Mago continues harboring hope that Papi will not forsake them—she is still angry at Mami for leaving and breaking her promise to return soon, whereas Papi, in his absence, has become “bigger than life” in Mago’s eyes. Reyna, meanwhile, harbors bad feelings towards Papi—she is angry with him for having betrayed Mami and sent back a “bitter, heartbroken” version of their mother.

Analyze the conflicting emotions of Reyna and Mago towards their parents and how they are influenced by their individual experiences and perspectives. How does the author use this situation to explore the theme of the complexity of family relationships and the difficulty of reconciling personal emotions with familial obligations?

The happiness and excitement surrounding Mami’s return is quickly replaced with resentment, confusion, and fear as Mami tells her children that their father is abandoning them forever. The children’s conflicting feelings about their father are inextricably entwined with their already-complicated feelings about Mami—to Reyna, Papi is the villain, but to Mago, Mami is the one who has done the most damage to their family.

Evaluate the impact of Mami's decision to work at La Quinta Castrejón on her relationship with her children and the family's financial situation. How does the author use this situation to explore the themes of sacrifice, desperation, and the lengths to which individuals will go to provide for their families?

Mami, unable to find a job and unwilling to return to her job as an Avon lady, begins selling things at a resort called La Quinta Castrejón, the only place in town “immune to the recession.” Mago, Carlos, and Reyna accompany their mother there most nights, waiting outside in the cold with cigarettes, gum, and snacks while lavish parties rage inside. No matter the weather, Mami drags the children with her each and every night, desperate to earn some money. One night, Mami points out the beautiful, lavish pool, and remarks that Papi helped to build it. She recalls swimming in the pool once it was done, on a day when the owner allowed the workers to come and bring their families. She didn’t know how to swim, but Papi helped her and never let her go.

How does the pool at La Quinta Castrejón symbolize Mami's conflicting emotions and experiences of beauty and fear?

Once the party is over that night, Mami announces that she never wants to come back to La Quinta Castrejón again. Reynaknows that her mother is fleeing from the glittering pool and the memories associated with it. Though Papi had held onto her there, he had let her go “in a place just as beautiful and frightening”—El Otro Lado.

How does Reyna's realization about her mother's abandonment relate to her understanding of broken promises?

Reyna’s recognition that her mother has actually learned the tactic of abandonment from Papi is shocking and disturbing. Papi broke his promise, and then years later Mami broke hers to her children—Reyna wonders what other broken promises lie in store.