Alma Rivera

Alma Rivera is one of the two main characters in the novel “The Book of Unknown Americans” by Cristina Henriquez. Though Alma’s age is never given, it appears as if she is in her late thirties or early forties, and is quite beautiful. She has been married to Arturo Rivera for 19 years, and is the mother of Maribel Rivera. Alma and her family are native to Mexico, where Alma is a homemaker, and Arturo owns a construction business. Alma revels in her role as a homemaker, taking great passion in caring for the home and her family. She especially loves preparing fresh meals for her husband to come home to. When Maribel asks to see Arturo’s latest construction site, Alma agrees to go with her. While Maribel is climbing down a ladder, she falls off, hits her head on the ground, and becomes intellectually disabled...