What is the significance of the quotations that begin each chapter? Choose three chapters and explain how the quotation relates to the events that occur in the accompanying chapter.

Why does Bridget impulsively decide to pose as Gilda when she arrives at her grandmother's house? How does pretending to be someone else affect the relationships she forms in Alabama? How is her decision to hide her real identity symbolic of the struggles she has been experiencing in the past year?

At one point in the novel, Carmen's mother wears the traveling pants on a date, and when the pants first arrive in Alabama, Bridget is unable to wear them because she has gained too much weight. How do these events affect Carmen and Bridget? How do their reactions relate to their feelings about the magic they believe the pants hold?

What is Bridget looking...