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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the date in Chapter 1?

2. How old are Soledad and Rebeca?

3. Where is Meredith from?

4. How many times does Julia say in Chapter 13 that she has been raped since she became a migrant?

5. What is the name of Sebastian's friend that Lydia finds in Chilpancingo?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada special to Lydia?

2. How do the vans carrying the missionaries and Lydia and Luca make it past a roadblock?

3. In Chapter 9, how do Lydia and Luca spend their time at Carlos and Meredith's house?

4. Where do Luca and Lydia decide will be their final destination and why?

5. Why does Lydia go to an unfamiliar branch of her bank in Chapter 3?

6. Where do Lydia and Luca hide in Chapter 1, and how do they nearly get caught?

7. What do Neli and Julia say about the price to el norte?

8. What does Luca see at the end of Chapter 12 when he goes to the bathroom?

9. Why are Lydia and Luca not able to fly to Mexico City?

10. Why does the detective at Lydia's house not contradict her when she says that the cartel will kill her too?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Luca is eight going on nine in the book. How does Luca mature and grow in the novel through the experiences he and his mother endure?

Essay Topic 2

Lydia and Luca had to steal rides on trains to go north. Why was riding La Bestia the only option for Lydia and Luca? Why was Lydia reluctant to ride the train? Why was it so dangerous in so many different ways?

Essay Topic 3

Beto is a young boy on his own. Where did Beto live? Why is he alone? What challenges does he face? What is conveyed about perseverance through the way he faces the challenges in his life?

(see the answer keys)

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