Spirit and Ghosts

Acevedo uses the theme of spirits and ghosts to make the reader consider what is left behind after a person dies. This theme also makes the reader reconsider how the events around them happen, and why, and similarly to the theme of secrets, adds a tone of mystery to the novel. Finally, this theme also reminds the reader of the structural references to The Tempest, as spirits are also an important theme of Shakespeare’s play.

This theme shows the reader what people leave behind when they die, and asks them to consider what is left behind. At first, when both characters find out about their father’s death, they are filled with despair and grief. For Camino not only is her father gone, but also the money he provided for her and Tia’s lifestyle in the Dominican Republic, and her education. For...