Coming of Age

Manny seems to have the typical characteristics of a boy of his age in the time and place of the story. His family situation is chaotic and sometimes tragic. His life is unstable, and he doesn't really have anyone he can truly depend on for productive guidance. Despite this, he matures dramatically over the course of the book. The most obvious sign of this theme is seen in Manny's realization that his sisters are very important to him. He seems to know this as a fundamental truth long before he is able to put it into a coherent thought. His ability to verbalize their importance is a sign of his maturity.

Manny also comes to understand more about other people and his environment as he matures. He wants the party invitation to be genuine, so makes himself believe that it is. In this situation...