Knowledge comes as Mary Helen becomes aware of the fact that she is unwelcome in certain places, like the local movie theater, because of her race. Questions about the reading

1. Catholicism plays an important role in the novel. Are people such as the women called "The Three Trinidads" who compete as to who can offer the most prayers to God and Father Muller who hates dancing but loves the beach hypocrites? Does their form of rationalization reflect badly upon the faith? (Compare these images with the author's mother at her young brother's funeral).

2. The story is told through the eyes of a child, but the author is much older. How...

Food and cooking play an important role in the tale in its depiction of women What does it mean that the humble but loving Dona Luisa makes tortillas with holes, and the author's sister, who hates cooking, makes perfect tortillas?
4. World War II provides the backdrop to part of Ponce's narrative and it dramatically impacts the acculturation of her brother. How is this depicted?

5. Ponce often uses Spanish phrases in the novel. Although it is written in English, it is about a bilingual community. How does the clash of languages illuminate the clash of cultures?