Study Questions and Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. How does Sofia's
relationship with her father change over time? Discuss why they
behave the way they do toward each other.
2. How does Yolanda's
attitude toward the English language change?
3. Why does Carla
want to return to the Dominican Republic?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. Why did the Garcia family
leave the Dominican Republic? Why did they decide to remain in the
United States?
2. How does Yolanda feel toward
Dr. Payne? How do their clinical interactions affect their personal
relationship? What does Dr. Payne represent for Yolanda?
3. Why does Laura stop inventing?
Why does she defend Yolanda to her husband, and how does this relate
to her inventing?
4. Why did Sandra insist on making
Mrs. Fanning buy her a flamenco doll? Why does she risk embarrassing
her family just to have an extra Barbie?
5. Why did Carla not tell the
truth sooner when her mother asked her about the missing toy bank?
Why did she wait for Gladys to be questioned before confessing that
it had been a gift?
6. Why did her father object
to Yolanda's speech for school?
7. Why would Yolanda prefer that
her mother not attend her poetry readings?
