Costa Rica Adventure - Chapter 1

Vocabulary

• asientos: seats
• edificios: buildings
• actividad sísmica: seismic earthquakes
• árboles: trees
• cama: bed
• sala: living room
• gallo pinto: rice and beans
• jaulas: cages
• volar: to fly
• plumas: feathers
• selva: jungle
• el aviario: aviary
• los ticos: people from Costa Rica
• cuidar: to care for
• contar chistes: to tell jokes
• enojada: angry
• cortaron: they cut
• pico: beak

Key Plot Points

• Chapter 1: Makenna, 15, travels to San Jose with her dad, Dr. David Parker, an ecologist. She feels lonely after losing her mother in a car accident and leaving her friends and horse in Michigan.
• Chapter 2: Costa Rica is portrayed as peaceful with great jungles, high literacy rates (96% of "ticos"), and no dictatorship. Makenna adjusts to a small house on a ranch.
• Chapter 3: Breakfast consists of rice and beans, a strange introduction for Makenna. Inés reveals her family history, including past loss.
• Chapter 4: Makenna learns about the importance of family and wildlife protection. Cecilio, the ranch guard, emphasizes the need for security against thieves.
• Chapter 5: Makenna connects emotionally with Inés, relating their lost parents. She adopts a baby bird named Mimi. Tension rises with Inés' boyfriend, Juan Carlos.
• Chapter 6: Breakfast conversation reveals the challenges of bird theft in Costa Rica, highlighting MINAE’s role in bird protection.
• Chapter 7: Makenna suspects Juan Carlos of infidelity and discovers the baby bird house is disorganized, foreshadowing trouble.
• Chapter 8: The family plans a trip to Curu to release birds. Makenna recalls Juan Carlos mentioning Nicoya, raising her suspicions.
• Chapter 9: Makenna enjoys a traditional meal, while conversation with Inés reveals age differences and discomfort about Juan Carlos.
• Chapter 10: A jungle walk leads to discovery of a rope used for bird egg theft, escalating the urgency of protecting wildlife.
• Chapter 11: Inés and Makenna investigate Juan Carlos’ whereabouts, but encounter danger from unknown men.
• Chapter 12: After being captured, Inés helps Makenna escape by biting through her ropes. The conflict escalates with Cecilio’s betrayal.
• Chapter 13: Juan Carlos proves to be an ally from MINAE, aiding in rescue efforts. Legal repercussions follow for the thieves.
• Chapter 14: Mimi, the bird, is successfully rehabilitated and released, symbolizing a positive outcome amidst challenges.
• Chapter 15: The trial results in jail time for the thieves. Makenna embraces modern communication with her friends. A family moment unfolds as Inés and Dr. Parker share a kiss, marking a new beginning.

Character Profiles

• Makenna Parker: A 15-year-old girl navigating loss and adjusting to life in Costa Rica.
• Dr. David Parker: Makenna's father, an ecologist mourning his deceased wife while attempting a new start in Costa Rica.
• Inés: A supportive figure with a complex family background, connecting with Makenna through shared loss.
• Cecilio: Security guard on the ranch, provides logistical support but faces moral dilemmas.
• Juan Carlos: Inés' boyfriend with questionable motives, initially seen as an antagonist.
• Mimi: A baby bird cared for by Makenna, representing hope and healing.
• Alex Parker: Makenna's older sister, furthering a sense of family in Michigan.