Chapters 5-8 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 5, "The End of Political Innocence," Rita learns about fear. El Salvador has had a civil war since 1979, and the Army is trained and supplied for by the United States. She hears horror stories about disappearances of family members and learns what it's like to have to guard conversation. Rita crosses the border to Honduras on her way to Nicaragua. There are soldiers all around. As they drive along, she sees buildings with bullet holes all over the walls. The customs official tries to get her to give him one of her books, but she wants to hold onto it to read to the children in schools. He says he understands. As she heads outside, some children come up to her and asks her to read them a story.

Rita checks into a hotel and meets some of...