Ch. 10-11
What causes Abuelito to get angry and give "the look" towards the end of chapter 10?
Abuelito gets angry because Pedro and his brothers were fighting instead of working. Pedro describes Abuelito's "look" as a Jedi mind trick.
What reason do the older kids give that they need to go back home?
The older kids say they need to go back home because they will start school soon.
What is causing Abuelita's cemetery to sink?
There is an underground river that has shifted course and now flows underneath the cemetery.
How does the book indicate when things are a memory or from the past? Why is this significant?
Martin indicates when events are a memory or took place in the past by illustrating these events with less color. The images look faded like an old comic book or photograph. This is significant because he might be communicating that these events are less reliable and might only describe them partially.
Why does Pedro want to go leave with his older siblings?
Pedro misses home and does not think his Abuelito needs any help.
Why might Abuelita be the third casket down?
In small town cemeteries in Mexico, families might share the same grave. Since Abuelita died many years before, she is buried further down in the grave.
How does Pedro think he is going to attract a girl?
Pedro thinks he will attract a girl by giving her a giant cookie.
What did Apa go to Tepatitlan to buy? What is the significance of this?
Apa goes to Tepatitlan to buy a small coffin. The significance of this is that while Apa is purchasing a coffin (a symbol of death), Pedro and his brothers are playing with a local boy and having fun, living their childhood, the opposite of death.
Page 199 - “Abuelito's big, stone-like hands held her like she was a baby chick as he walked her over to the tub to lay her to rest with her other remains.” Why do you think the author used those words to convey what was happening?
Martin uses this description to explain what is happening to emphasize how delicate and emotional this moment is for Abuelito and the rest of his family. While it might seem that they don't care because they are digging up a corpse, actually it is the opposite, his family cared a great deal.
What did Pedro do with his giant cookie? What does this tell you about his character?
Pedro decides to eat the cookie himself. This reveals that Pedro is confused about how to attract girls; however, he refuses to be defeated by his initial choice to give a girl a cookie.
Apa tells the boys they need to help save someone. Who is it and why is it so unusual?
Apa tells the boys that they need to help save Abuelita. It is an unusual request because Abuelita has already passed away.
Why did they have a party before they left Mexico?
The Martin family wants to share a special moment with their family before they leave on their trip back home. They want to make sure that they remember the events they shared in Mexico.
Why did Pedro believe the girl chose the other boy? What does this tell you about Pedro?
Pedro believes the girl chooses the other boy because he is wearing a big hat. Pedro is focusing on superficial things rather than attempting to speak to a girl.
How many siblings does Apa have and what happened to them? What does Pedro understand about his father?
Apa had 6 brothers (7 in total), however, only three survived to adulthood. Pedro realizes that his father has survived a lot and has been resilient.
What were Abuelito’s parting words?
He does not have any. Instead, he sings his favorite song with his family and just says "Hasta Luego" which means, "see you later".