Esperanza
This is the country that Esperanza, Alberto, and their children flee at the beginning of the story due to political violence and death threats.
¿Qué es Guatemala?
This is the name of Carlitos mother
¿Quién es Rosario?
Young Carlitos braves the dangerous journey across the U.S.-Mexico border for this specific purpose.
¿Qué es "buscar a su mama"?
This Spanish vocabulary word refers to the money or wages earned by workers, which Rosario sends back to Mexico to support Carlitos
¿Qué es "el dinero"?
In both stories, characters rely on these individuals—often paying them thousands of dollars—to smuggle them across the U.S. border.
¿Qué son coyotes?
Alberto holds this specific job, which makes him a target for the corrupt department of immigration and the military.
¿Qué es un lider del sindicato?
In Bajo La Misma Luna, Carlitos has a special talent for keeping track of finances, which he uses to help this local woman who runs an illegal smuggling business in his hometown.
¿Quién es Doña Carmen?
Every Sunday at 10:00 AM sharp, Rosario calls Carlitos from a payphone located next to these three distinct landmarks.
What are a laundromat, a dominoes pizza, and a mural?
En espanol? (100 puntos extra)
¿Qué son "una lavadaria, una pizza de Dominos, y una mural"?
This is the Spanish word for "hope," which serves as both the title of Carol Gaab's novel and the central theme of both stories.
¿Qué es "esperanza"?
Both Carlitos and Esperanza utilize this specific method of transportation to travel long distances through Mexico toward the U.S. border.
¿Qué es "un autobus"?
This is the heartbreaking reason Esperanza is forced to leave her two children, Ricardito and Lili, behind with her mother when she first escapes.
¿Qué es "porque el viaje es demasiado (o muy) peligroso?
Bajo la Misma Luna: Carlitos' grandmother who takes care of him in Mexico until she passes away in her sleep.
¿Quién es Abuelita?
This grumpy, reluctant migrant worker initially tries to abandon Carlitos but ends up becoming his protective father figure and friend.
¿Quién es Enrique?
This is the Spanish word for moon.
¿Qué es "la luna"?
Both stories prominently feature this major California city as the ultimate destination where the characters hope to find safety and family.
¿Qué es Los Angeles?
When Esperanza is arrested in Tijuana, this specific person lends her money and helps her successfully cross the border into the United States on her second attempt.
¿Quién Lucy?
Esperanza: The crying, four-year-old son who accompanies Esperanza on a seven hour bus ride through Guatemala.
¿Quién es Ricardito?
Carlitos picks tomatos earn money, but his journey is nearly ruined when this group unexpected raids the greenhouse, forcing him and Enrique to flee.
¿Quién es la migra?
In Esperanza, Alberto is a worker for what type of worker protection organization.
¿Qué es "el sindicato"?
In Esperanza, Alberto initially flees Guatemala City and hides out in this specific remote, southern Mexican state where his parents live.
¿Qué es Chiapas?
To legally stay in the United States and bring their children over, Esperanza and Alberto must prove they have a "reasonable fear" of persecution to grant them this legal status.
¿Qué es asilo politico?
In Bajo la Misma Luna, these two individuals attempt to smuggle Carlitos across the border because they desperately need money for college tuition.
¿Quiénes son Martha y David?
Enrique makes the ultimate sacrifice at the end of the film by doing this, allowing Carlitos to escape the police and finally reunite with his mom.
What is throwing coffee at the police/ drawing their attention to get arrested?
En espanol? 100 puntos extra:
¿Qué es "tira su cafe a la policia para que arrestan a el mismo."
This Spanish term describes a person who does not possess the legal documents or visas required to reside or work in a country.
¿Qué es "indocumentado"?
To achieve their goals, both Rosario in the film and Esperanza in the novel must navigate the difficult reality of working in the United States under this legal designation.
¿Qué es "imigrante ilegal o imigrante sin documentos"?