1. Identify the chapters--more than one--that are thematically related to this one. Explain how they are related. E.g. “I like the boys and the boys like me.” Who does this remind you of and why? Use ample quotes to support your answer.
2. The main part of the chapter begins, “One day you wake up and they are there” (49). What does the pronoun “they” refer to here? What kind of impression is this supposed to make upon the reader? (i.e. How does Esperanza feel about it? How do you know?)
3. Esperanza claims she knows about hips—but does she really? How do you know?
4. Where are the girls in this chapter? What are they doing? How do you know?
5. Throughout this chapter, there appears repeated images of woman. How are they described? What does this suggest about the children? How do you know?
6. What lines are repeated throughout this chapter in the children’s game? Why do you think that is? What significance does it have in regards to this chapter?
7. In this final scene, Esperanza says of Nenny, “she is in a world we don’t belong to any more” (52). What does she mean by this? (N.B. Why is the pronoun “we” used?)
8. Have you even been in a position where you know that there is a way you are supposed to behave but you don’t know exactly just what that way is? What happened? How did you feel? Explain.