Characters
This boy is the main character whose mother leaves him when he is young.
Enrique
Lourdes leaves Honduras for this country.
This word means “to leave one’s home country to live in another.”
Immigrant
This theme is shown through Enrique’s determination to find Lourdes.
Perseverance
Enrique is from this Central American country.
Honduras
She is Enrique’s mother who leaves Honduras to find work in the U.S.
Lourdes
Enrique is only this old when his mother leaves him.
5 years old
This Spanish word, meaning “the beast,” is what migrants call the train they ride.
La Bestia
Enrique’s story highlights this large-scale issue affecting many children.
Family separation due to migration
Lourdes leaves Honduras in hopes of finding this.
Work/job opportunites
Enrique is raised by this family member after his mother leaves.
His father; then grandmother
Enrique decides to travel north to be with his mother for this reason.
To reunite with her and find her
This term refers to people who leave their country to find work or safety.
Migrant
Enrique’s difficult trip demonstrates this theme about survival.
Resilience
Many families in Honduras live in this type of economic condition.
Poverty
Enrique’s mother hopes to send this back to her family while she is away.
Money
Enrique faces danger while traveling because of these people who control the train routes.
Gangs
This word means “to look after or protect someone.”
Guardian
Enrique longs for this throughout the chapter, showing his deepest motivation.
Love/renunion with his mother
Migrants must travel through this large neighboring country before reaching the U.S.
Mexico
Enrique feels this strong emotion toward his mother for leaving.
Anger; resentment
Enrique clings to this form of transportation to make his journey north.
Freight train
This word means “a dangerous or risky undertaking.”
Perilous
The story reflects this broader theme about risks families take for a better life.
Sacrifice
Enrique’s story is part of a real-world issue often described as this kind of crisis.
Immigration crisis