The novel is narrated through the alternating first-person perspectives of Chula and Petrona. Compare and contrast their narrative voices. What does each girl’s narrative style reveal about her character and the way she perceives the world? Consider sentence structure, use of detail, expression of emotion, use of direct quotation, and diction.

What role does class and socioeconomic privilege play in the novel? What is the impact of socioeconomic inequality on Petrona’s relationships with Chula and Mamá? How does Mamá’s personal history of poverty affect her relationship with Petrona?

The novel features extreme weather in several sections, including a heat wave, a drought, and flooding. What is the role of nature in the story? What structural and dramatic significance do these weather events carry? Does nature seem to be at odds with the human drama, or does it mirror and echo it?