“I always thought the biggest problem in my life was my name, Naomi Soledad León Outlaw, but little did I know that it was the least of my troubles, or that someday I would live up to it.”

In this opening line, Naomi indicates that her mundane problems will take a backseat to much more mature and challenging problems that are to come. She reflects on the day when everything began to change in her life and presents a summary of her tale before she tells it.

“There was my ‘Regular and Everyday Worries’ list, which included 1) Gram was going to die because she was old, 2) Owen would never be right, 3) I will forget something if I don’t make a list, 4) I will lose my lists, and 5) Abominations. I made lists of splendid words, types of rocks, books I read, and unusual names.”

In this passage, Naomi lists the mundane and not-so-mundane things that cause her to worry. She also reveals that her family is important to her and that lists are comforting. Naomi’s habit of making lists reflects her attempts to gain control over the parts of her life she feels she cannot contain.

“I looked at Owen. His eyes grew big and his mouth dropped open. He slid off the bench, opened the drawer, took out a roll of tape, and studied it. Then he stuffed the whole thing in his pocket.”

Owen doesn’t worry as openly as Naomi does but demonstrates his distress by grabbing a roll of tape as their routine deviates for the first time. Upon their mother’s return, Gram changes her routine, foreshadowing the larger changes to come. As she goes with Fabiola to notify Bernardo of Skyla’s return, the children know the situation is serious, but aren’t sure how or why it is so.