Plot Puzzles
What city does Arturo live in? Can you name the specific area?
Miami, Florida (Canal Grove)
Who are Artuor's two close friends?
Bren and Mop
Arturo gets tongue-tied around Carmen. What does that suggest?
He likes her and feels nervous around her.
True or false: Abuelo's letters help Arturo learn about his grandfather.
True
Who is José Martí?
A Cuban poet and writer who also advocated for Cuban independence.
What does the Zamora family propose to do with the vacant lot next to La Cocina?
Expand the restaurant
How does Arturo investigate Wilfrido Pipo with Carmen?
He wears a hulk mask to his meeting about his plans for the neighborhood.
Abuelo leaves Arturo letters about his life. What can you infer he hopes Arturo will gain from reading them based on the content of the letters?
He hopes Arturo will learn from his experiences and develop courage and confidence in expressing himself.
Someone claims that Abuela mattered to the wider community. Which is stronger evidence: Arturo feels sad or Father Samuel describes Abuela as a beacon in the community.
Father Samuel's description, because it directly supports the claim about her importance to the community.
Why might the author tell the story from Arturo's point of view instead of Pipo's?
Readers experience Arturo's feelings, worries, and discoveries directly, which helps them understand his side of the conflict.
What does Arturo discover when he examines the model of Pipo Place?
La Cocina is missing from the model, and Pipo's plan takes over the corner where it stands.
Why does Arturo decide to confront Pipo during the festival?
He becomes angry when Pipo speaks about the development and feels compelled to defend his family and community.
Many people are excited about Pipo Place, even though Arturo's family is worried. What does this tell you about the conflict?
People may have different priorities or may not understand how the development could affect existing businesses.
Someone claims that Arturo is beginning to take action instead of just worrying about Pipo's plans. Which event from the story best supports this claim?
Arturo confronts Pipo at the festival to defend his family and community.
Arturo thinks the man in an old photograph is José Martí. Is that confirmed by the end of Chapter 20?
A possibility. Arturo and Carmen speculate that the man resembles Martí and wonder whether the building has historical importance.
Why does Vanessa organize to oppose Pipo's festival? What makes her qualified to organize a protest?
A protest with signs and informational pamphlets. She has experience with her Green Teen Club.
Arturo feels embarrassed after trying to tell Carmen how he feels. Does that mean he made no progress? Explain.
No. He took a risk and tried to express his feelings, even though the interaction did not go as he expected.
What was significant about the white rose at the regular Sunday mass where Father Samuel held a special service for Abuela?
White roses were Abuela's favorite, and from one of the poems. It reminded Arturo of everything he had lost.
Someone claims that Pipo's plan will have no effect on La Cocina. What detail from the story directly challenges that claim.
La Cocina is missing from the model, and Pipo's proposed high-rise takes over the corner.
What does the word "gentrification" mean in the context of Carmen's explanation?
When investment and redevelopment raise an area's value and can push out longtime residents and businesses.
Put these events in order: Arturo finds Abuelo's letters, Abuela's memorial service, the family protests at Pipo's festival,
1. Arturo finds Abuelo's letters
2. The family protests at Pipo's festival
3. Abuela's memorial service
Cari wants the family to focus on remembering Abuela instead of fighting Pipo immediately. Why might she make that choice?
She is grieving and wants the family to stay together and honor Abuela rather than focus only on the conflict.
If someone says, "Arturo is a coward because he gets nervous around Carmen" what is wrong with that conclusion?
Feeling nervous does not mean someone is a coward. Arturo's later decision to speak up shows that he can act courageously despite fear.
Someone claims Arturo's family cares only about the money they will make from expanding the restaurant. Give one reason this inference is weak.
The family's actions show that La Cocina also represents family history, cultural traditions, and relationships in the neighborhood.
Imagine that you are Arturo. You have one minute to persuade a neighbor to support the Zamoras' proposal instead of Pipo Place. Give one strong argument and one detail from the story.
Strong answers connect the restaurant to the neighborhood and support the argument with a specific detail.