Summary

Section 1: Pages 1-59

The "Sections" of this guide have been demarcated by the writer of the guide, rather than the novel's author. "Section 1" refers to the following: "Yessenia Lopez" (1), "Joanne Madsen" (14), "Ricky Hernandez" (16), "Michelle Volkman" (24), "Yessinia Lopez" (31),"Teddy Dobbs" (37), "Ricky Hernandez" (45), "Jimmie Kendrick" (52).

The narration titled "Yessenia" begins on page 21. Yessenia is telling her story of how she got to this school, although she does not get the name right. When she was born, her mother gave her over to her grandmother, her Tia Nene, who raised her. Yessenia called Tia her mother and Tia called Yessenia her daughter. One bit of advice she took from Nene is that people only get three bad things that happen in their lives. Yessenia is trying to figure out what number she is currently on in her life.

Yessenia uses a wheelchair, although it is...