The book is comprised of short stories that can stand alone rather than chapters. Considering the stories are linear, in that they progressively tell the story of Soto’s childhood to his adulthood, why do you think the author chose short stories over chapters? What effect does this have on the overall reading of the book?

Soto often talks about his violent nature as a child; specifically, how he was always getting into fights that he often provoked. How are these fights connected to his circumstances? What commentary is being made about the link between violence and environment? 

Television plays a large role in Soto’s childhood. What does TV symbolize for him as a child?