Characters & Relationships
Who is Reyna's older sister who takes care of her & Carlos?
Mago
What country does Reyna grow up in at the beginning of the book?
Mexico
Why does Reyna’s mother leave Mexico?
To build a house with her husband
What does Reyna believe connects her to her mother even when she is gone?
Her umbilical cord
Corridos are a style of music most connected to which culture?
Mexican / Mexican American culture
Who is Reyna’s grandmother that the children live with after their mother leaves?
Abuela Evila
What is the name used for the United States in the book?
El Otro Lado
What item does Reyna keep to remember her father?
A photograph of him
What does El Otro Lado symbolize in the story?
Separation & Distance
Name one Mexican soccer player.
Hirving Lozano – “Chucky,” known for speed and big World Cup goals
Guillermo Ochoa – Legendary goalie, famous for clutch saves
Javier Hernández – “Chicharito,” one of Mexico’s top scorers
Who are Reyna’s siblings?
Mago and Carlos
What city does Reyna live near with her grandmother?
Iguala, Guerrero
What problem do the children get that leads to punishment?
Lice
How does Reyna feel about being called an orphan?
Angry & hurt
July
Who is Élida, and how is she different from Reyna?
Élida is Reyna’s cousin who is favored by Abuela Evila and treated better.
Where do Reyna, Mago, and Carlos sleep in Abuela Evila’s house?
In their grandfather’s room on a small bed
What punishment happens because of the lice?
Reyna and Carlos get their hair cut very short
What does hair represent for Reyna before it is cut?
Beauty, identity, and connection to her mother
How old is Junior H?
24
Who leaves Mexico to work in El Otro Lado before the story begins?
Reyna’s father (Papi)
What natural landmark does Reyna look at when thinking about her parents?
The mountain (“The Mountain That Has a Headache”)
What news upsets Mago the most during a phone call from her parents?
Her mother is pregnant
What big idea does the title Mi Mamá Me Ama represent?
A child’s belief that her mother still loves her despite separation
Finish the sentence: Mas vale que te...
apasigues eh -Ash Trevino