This is a great book about family. Miguel is looking forward to his aunt's visit to Vermont from the Dominican Republic. Although he is first embarrassed by this different aunt of his, Tìa Lola, who came to visit him, his sister, and his mother. Miguel's parents had a recent divorce, but he ends up learning how to love her, and wants to change her visit into a stay.

Setting, Time, and Place

This story takes place in Vermont, with visits to New York and the Dominican Republic. This story has no time, it occurs year round. It is mainly at their old white house (Actually purple paint mostly covers the house at one point in the story).

Likes/ Dislikes

I liked this book very much. I really liked the way the author used Spanish a lot, which is something I've never seen before. One thing I didn't like was that sometimes after the author used Spanish, it didn't translate it to English, so you had to guess. Something that is not a like or dislike, something I just wanted to mention, was that it had me tricked. I thought Miguel's mother and father would get back together because of Tìa Lola, but it never happened.

Images or Symbols

Tìa Lola- Love, kindness, Happiness

Father (Daniel")- Wise

Colonel Charlbois (Landlord)- Mean, Grumpy

Mother (Linda)- Sadness

Key Words

"Te quire mucho." (I Love you very much)

Tìa Lola (Aunt Lola)

Surprise

Colorful

Spanish

Ñapa