comment on theme

Identity features in all of the stories in the collection, and characters are often searching for a sense of identity in order to understand who they are and where they come from. Identity is not defined in any of the stories, and the characters' searches are subtle; for the characters who gain more knowledge about who they are there is no "a-ha" moment, rather they absorb this new information into themselves, and continue on their way, still searching. Nearly all of Obejas' characters are Cuban, and many of them move to America, or were brought to America as children. While they all have this in common, the degree to which they relate to their Cuban heritage differs from character to character. In "Kimberle" the narrator does not mention her Cuban heritage often, and does not seem to view it as a huge part of her identity. She still reacts with inward anger when Kimberle makes racist jokes about her ethnicity, however, which shows that it is still something she considers to be important.