Barrio Boy Characters & Character Analysis

Barrio Boy Important People

Ernie Galarza

Ernie is the central character and the narrator of Barrio Boy. The story is constructed through Ernie's detailed and insightful perceptions about the world around him. Taken in total, these perceptions describe his coming of age and his acculturation. While Ernie is learning each of his new environments, he is also forming opinions about life, work, and family. In short, he is learning how to grow up. His path is more complicated than most, because he is influenced by several different lifestyles. First, there is the traditional, simple livelihood of Jalco. Second, there is the more complicated life in the city of Tepic, where rent must be paid and groceries must be purchased. Lastly, there is life in Sacramento, where a multiplicity of cultures resides and interacts within one small area. Ernie takes in these various influences and learns from them. He considers many of his experiences to be part...
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