Characters
She is the oldest Garza sister and often acts as the leader.
Who is Odilia?
The sisters find this shocking object in the water.
What is a dead body?
The butterflies symbolize this process of change and growth.
What is transformation?
The novel combines realistic events with magical elements using this style.
What is magical realism?
The sisters discover the body while doing this activity.
What is swimming?
These five sisters discover the dead body in the swimming hole.
Who are the Garza sisters?
The girls decide to return the man to this hometown.
What is El Sacrificio?
One major theme is the strength of these family relationships.
What is sisterhood/family bonds?
La Llorona comes from this cultural tradition.
What is Mexican folklore?
The family communication breaks down between Odilia and this person.
Who is Mamá?
This mythical figure appears to Odilia near the river.
Who is La Llorona?
To cross the border safely, the girls disguise the body as this.
What is their missing father?
La Llorona represents guidance and this nurturing role.
What is motherhood/maternal protection?
The butterflies act as this type of literary device throughout the journey.
What is symbolism?
The sisters cross this major boundary during their trip.
What is the U.S.–Mexico border?
The sisters pretend the dead man is this missing family member.
Who is their father?
The sisters secretly prepare for the journey by doing this.
What is packing their bags/sneaking away?
The girls’ decision to help the dead man shows this character trait.
What is compassion/morality?
The frightening but helpful version of La Llorona creates this unexpected contrast.
What is irony?
The secret swimming location is described as this type of place.
What is a watering hole/secret swimming hole?
This character tries to help the sisters heal emotionally during the journey.
Who is La Llorona?
During their travels, the sisters are surrounded by these
What are monarch butterflies (mariposas)?
The sisters’ journey also reflects healing from this family trauma.
What is their father abandoning them?
The opening discovery of the dead body mainly creates this mood.
What is suspense/mystery?
The mariposas encourage the sisters to embrace this personal process.
What is transformation/self-discovery?