Nayeli

Nayeli is the central character and protagonist. During the course of the novel, Nayeli goes on both an external geographical journey and an inward emotional journey. The external journey charts her quest to illegally enter the United States in order to recruit seven men to bring back to her home village of Tres Camarones to protect the villagers from criminals. Nayeli’s plans are a resounding success and more men than anyone predicted agree to return with her to Mexico.

Nayeli’s internal emotional journey charts her transformation from her belief that she is incapable of taking care of herself and must find men to make her whole, to eventually recognizing her own power and strength and returning to the village triumphant. The success of Nayeli’s internal goals is less straightforward than the success of her external goals. At the start of the novel, Nayeli is seeking...