Podcast
Questions and Answers
Describe Perfecto.
Describe Perfecto.
He is old, wears bifocals, balding with sparse silver hair.
Who is in the peach tree and what are they doing?
Who is in the peach tree and what are they doing?
Gumicindo and Alejo are in the peach tree stealing peaches.
What does Petra first consider upon arriving at the migrant camp?
What does Petra first consider upon arriving at the migrant camp?
She thinks about cooking and preparing to live there. She also wants to protect her family from scorpions by etching a circle in the dirt around the bungalow.
What does Estrella remember most about her father?
What does Estrella remember most about her father?
What does Estrella do to take the twins' minds off their hunger?
What does Estrella do to take the twins' minds off their hunger?
What does Alejo do to keep the young boy from entering the barn?
What does Alejo do to keep the young boy from entering the barn?
What does Estrella remember about Mrs. Horn?
What does Estrella remember about Mrs. Horn?
What did Perfecto teach Estrella and what effect did this have on her?
What did Perfecto teach Estrella and what effect did this have on her?
Describe Maxine Devridge.
Describe Maxine Devridge.
What is most appealing about Maxine for Estrella?
What is most appealing about Maxine for Estrella?
What was floating in the canal and what is the most likely explanation?
What was floating in the canal and what is the most likely explanation?
What does Estrella fear would happen after her fight with Maxine?
What does Estrella fear would happen after her fight with Maxine?
Why does Estrella make a circle with a stick around the bungalow?
Why does Estrella make a circle with a stick around the bungalow?
What gift does Alejo bring to Estrella and Petra and why does he do this?
What gift does Alejo bring to Estrella and Petra and why does he do this?
How did Perfecto pay for the beans?
How did Perfecto pay for the beans?
What comparison does Estrella draw between herself and the woman on the raisin box?
What comparison does Estrella draw between herself and the woman on the raisin box?
Why is Alejo working in the fields? What is his dream?
Why is Alejo working in the fields? What is his dream?
Why does Estrella repeatedly have to try not to cry?
Why does Estrella repeatedly have to try not to cry?
Why does Estrella stay outside the fence at the baseball field?
Why does Estrella stay outside the fence at the baseball field?
Where does Petra keep the birth certificates?
Where does Petra keep the birth certificates?
What questions does Alejo ask Estrella in the truck that upset her?
What questions does Alejo ask Estrella in the truck that upset her?
What do Alejo and Estrella share in the evening?
What do Alejo and Estrella share in the evening?
What two things does Petra fear at this point?
What two things does Petra fear at this point?
What does Perfecto ask Estrella to help him with?
What does Perfecto ask Estrella to help him with?
What happens to Alejo while Estrella is talking to Perfecto?
What happens to Alejo while Estrella is talking to Perfecto?
Why does he think of the tar pits?
Why does he think of the tar pits?
Who was Mercedes?
Who was Mercedes?
Why does Mercedes believe the baby died?
Why does Mercedes believe the baby died?
Why does Perfecto want to tear the barn down?
Why does Perfecto want to tear the barn down?
What do Alejo and Estrella discuss while taking shelter under the truck?
What do Alejo and Estrella discuss while taking shelter under the truck?
What change is evident in Estrella when she enters the barn at the end of Part 2?
What change is evident in Estrella when she enters the barn at the end of Part 2?
As Part 3 opens, what does Perfecto think Alejo should do?
As Part 3 opens, what does Perfecto think Alejo should do?
How old is Gumicindo? How old is Alejo?
How old is Gumicindo? How old is Alejo?
What were the twins playing with at the start of this section?
What were the twins playing with at the start of this section?
Why does Petra want to take care of Alejo?
Why does Petra want to take care of Alejo?
What are some of Alejo's symptoms?
What are some of Alejo's symptoms?
What internal conflict does Perfecto feel?
What internal conflict does Perfecto feel?
Why is the car battery a problem?
Why is the car battery a problem?
The episode from pages 103-115 is called what?
The episode from pages 103-115 is called what?
What difficulty does the family have in the first few pages of that section?
What difficulty does the family have in the first few pages of that section?
What does Petra envy and why?
What does Petra envy and why?
Why doesn't Petra allow the children to go into the store?
Why doesn't Petra allow the children to go into the store?
What food does Petra decide to buy?
What food does Petra decide to buy?
Describe the posters in the store. How are they positioned?
Describe the posters in the store. How are they positioned?
Whom does Petra first meet there?
Whom does Petra first meet there?
What does this person give the children?
What does this person give the children?
Describe the conversation Petra overhears.
Describe the conversation Petra overhears.
What does Petra make for lunches?
What does Petra make for lunches?
Why is Petra upset?
Why is Petra upset?
Why does Estrella want to tear the barn down now? What is she afraid will happen?
Why does Estrella want to tear the barn down now? What is she afraid will happen?
What happens when they try to get to the medical clinic?
What happens when they try to get to the medical clinic?
How does this section of the novel end? Why might this be significant?
How does this section of the novel end? Why might this be significant?
How did Perfecto feel when they arrived at the clinic?
How did Perfecto feel when they arrived at the clinic?
How did they get the car out of the mud?
How did they get the car out of the mud?
How does Estrella know that the clinic is still open when they arrive?
How does Estrella know that the clinic is still open when they arrive?
What do the cotton balls and scale remind Petra of?
What do the cotton balls and scale remind Petra of?
What lies does Estrella tell the nurse?
What lies does Estrella tell the nurse?
How does Petra feel about the nurse and the clinic?
How does Petra feel about the nurse and the clinic?
What does the nurse do to/for Alejo?
What does the nurse do to/for Alejo?
What does the nurse charge for her 'services'?
What does the nurse charge for her 'services'?
What does Perfecto offer the nurse?
What does Perfecto offer the nurse?
What action does Estrella take and what is the result? Why does she do this?
What action does Estrella take and what is the result? Why does she do this?
What does Estrella remember about the ranch store?
What does Estrella remember about the ranch store?
How does Alejo get into the hospital?
How does Alejo get into the hospital?
Why is Perfecto Flores moved by Estrella's gratitude?
Why is Perfecto Flores moved by Estrella's gratitude?
What do the twins think when Estrella comes out of the hospital?
What do the twins think when Estrella comes out of the hospital?
What allusion is made as Estrella comes out of the hospital?
What allusion is made as Estrella comes out of the hospital?
What does Petra do once the family arrives back home at the bungalow?
What does Petra do once the family arrives back home at the bungalow?
What does Perfecto think about when they get back to the bungalow?
What does Perfecto think about when they get back to the bungalow?
As Petra looks at the statue of Jesucristo, what does she think about? What exactly is under the statue?
As Petra looks at the statue of Jesucristo, what does she think about? What exactly is under the statue?
What happens to the statue? How does it happen?
What happens to the statue? How does it happen?
What does Estrella first think about when she returns to the bungalow?
What does Estrella first think about when she returns to the bungalow?
Where does Estrella go after they return to the bungalow?
Where does Estrella go after they return to the bungalow?
What does she believe by the end of the novel?
What does she believe by the end of the novel?
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Study Notes
Character Descriptions and Actions
- Perfecto is an elderly man described as old, wearing bifocals, with sparse silver hair.
- Gumicindo and Alejo engage in stealing peaches from a tree.
- Estrella initially thinks about cooking and protecting her family from scorpions upon arriving at the migrant camp.
- Estrella's strong memory of her father is tied to how he peeled an orange, signifying her connection to him.
- She distracts the twins from their hunger by banging an empty Quaker Oats box and dancing, symbolizing her relationship with America.
Symbolism and Themes
- Alejo keeps a young boy out of the barn by creating shadow puppets, with the eagle representing the American dream.
- Estrella's recollection of Mrs. Horn highlights feelings of cruelty and the lack of support in her education.
- Perfecto teaches Estrella about tools, leading to irony as he trains her in reading instead of her teacher.
- Maxine represents a crude lifestyle, and Estrella finds appeal in the magazines Maxine possesses.
- A dead dog floated in the canal, likely due to pesticides, reflecting the environmental dangers faced by the characters.
Family Dynamics and Challenges
- Petra worries about Estrella facing trouble after a fight with Maxine, fearing they might have to leave the camp.
- Estrella makes a circle in the dirt around the bungalow to protect against scorpions, emulating her mother’s behavior.
- Alejo gifts Estrella and Petra peaches after being mesmerized by Estrella swimming at night.
Struggles and Aspirations
- Alejo works in the fields to save for college, aspiring to become a geologist.
- Estrella experiences intense emotional pain and feels hopeless about her life prospects.
- Estrella’s outsider status is emphasized when she refrains from entering the baseball field, despite being a citizen.
Key Incidents
- Birth certificates are kept by Petra under a doily crocheted by her grandmother and a statue of Jesucristo.
- Conversation between Alejo and Estrella reveals their close bond and desire for companionship.
- Petra bears the weight of worries about Estrella growing up, pregnancy complications, and fears about Perfecto leaving.
Conflicts and Resolutions
- Family faces difficulties crossing a busy highway to reach a store due to the children’s small size.
- Petra ultimately prioritizes necessary food purchases like Spam, onions, and garlic over sweets for the children.
- Estrella confronts her feelings about a barn and expresses a willingness to tear it down in exchange for help with Alejo’s doctor visit.
Health and Sacrifice
- Alejo is subjected to pesticide spraying while discussing plans with Estrella and Perfecto.
- Estrella lies to a nurse at the clinic about Alejo’s relationship to cover for their undocumented status, exhibiting desperation.
Catalysts for Change
- Estrella's actions at the clinic, including smashing money onto a desk, symbolize her fight for Alejo’s well-being.
- The family receives assistance getting the car out of the mud and arrives at the medical clinic, revealing communal support among piscadores.
- Perfecto feels moved by Estrella’s gratitude, contrasting his experiences of never having received thanks in America.
Reflections and Realizations
- Upon returning to the bungalow, Petra retraces protective circles around their home, showing her protective instincts.
- Estrella’s journey leads her to a newfound belief in her ability to evoke change, marking significant character growth from despair to hope.
- The novel closes on Estrella's recognition of her own strength, transitioning from the hopelessness of her earlier conditions.
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