Throughout the novel, Oscar struggles with his weight and his self-esteem. Occasionally, Oscar tries to improve his life and health through diet and exercise, but he always gives up. Why does Oscar never stick with any of his plans to lose weight? Does the text present obesity as part of the family curse, or is this just something Oscar believes?

Teaching Suggestion: Like many of the themes explored in the novel, obesity and body image are sensitive subjects. To approach this discussion prompt with sensitivity, consider reminding students what a tremendous challenge it is to change one’s lifestyle.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or executive function differences might find sorting through the entire text to find evidence daunting. You might help these students pinpoint the most relevant sections of text to limit the amount they need to review or allow students additional time to gather evidence.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Literary Code Switching”

In this activity, students will use creative thinking to write a short narrative using “code switching.”

Díaz’s novel employs a very distinctive style, constantly switching between an eloquent, academic tone and a lively, Caribbean vernacular.