Characters
What does Diego’s father do to earn money?
Diego’s father earns money from the woodworking shop.
What were the conditions like in the prison?
Crowded, dirty, strange people around, people have to pay for better cells, morning calls are annoying.
Cocalero means ...
Coca farmer
What is the difference between the male and female prisons?
Physical fights are common in men’s prison. More verbal arguments in women’s prison that lasts longer. More prisoners in male prison. Same overcrowding in prison meant it expanded levels.
Why is Diego’s family in prison?
When the family was on a minibus, the police found small packets of coca paste taped under seat where Diego’s family was sitting. The family was then sent to prison.
Describe the feelings that Rock and Diego have about each other.
Rock and Diego dislike each other. Rock knows that Diego is more intelligent and has more inner strength than the other boys. He is called ‘smart boy’ or ‘prison boy’
What punishment does the Committee give Diego?
He is no longer allowed to work as a taxi.
Chupe is
soup containing meat, grains and vegetables
What animals live in Bolivia’s jungle? It is mentioned in chapter 8
The animals that were mentioned include: monkeys, tree frogs, snakes/anacondas, bugs, rhinoceros beetle and mosquitoes.
Describe the routine of the prison in the morning.
In the morning, a buzzer would indicate everyone to arise. Prisoners then had roll call and were fined if they didn’t answer loud enough. There were lines for the bathroom (showers and latrines).
What mistake did Diego make when he signed up for a job?
“As a taxi, he never took a job before settling on what it would pay, and what exactly he would have to do. He’d leapt into this job blindly, without even thinking to ask.” (p. 136)
Diego notices the effects of the chemicals on their legs. What is it?
Diego’s legs are bleached. His natural brown colour skin is now a washed-out white. He also had blisters and sores which made his skin red.
Centavos
Bolivian money. There are one hundred centavos in a Boliviano.
Why do the villagers respect the leaf?
The leaves feeds their bodies and used as medicine. Referred to as a ‘gift’
How does Diego keep Corina close by when he sells his mum’s knitting?
Ties string to Corina’s ankle and his own to ensure she does not leave him. It is called a ‘special bracelet’
Prove that Diego was the most intelligent of all the boys working for Rock and Paolo.
Diego was good at Maths and questioned everything on his way.
What has burrowed into Diego’s arm? How is the problem solved?
A sort of fly had bitten Diego and that laid eggs under the skin. The eggs hatched and created worms. A white man, referred to as Gringo, cuts the wound and squeezes out blood, water and the warms.
Tienda
small shop selling groceries and basic household goods.
What languages do some people speak in Bolivia (name two).
Spanish and Aymara
Why does Diego decide to smoke?
Diego decided to smoke as the cigarette took away his hunger and gave his body the energy to do the work of stomping the coca leaves and chemicals mixture.
Compare how Mando and Diego feel about Rock.
Mando thinks highly of Rock as he has money, power and only takes only from Smith. Diego believes Rock is a bully and not to be trusted.
Name three biggest adversities that Diego experienced.
1. Family was in prison
2. His best friend died
3. Diego had to fight for his life while trying to escape.
Capybara
Capybara is a giant brown rodent related to the guinea pig.
Tell three pieces of information about Bolivia.
Death Road
Crime rate and kids in prison
Guinee pigs
Potato etc
Who saved Diego from falling off the cliff.
Smith