Chapter One Summary

In chapter one, Eva Luna tells the story of her life, beginning with the life of her mother, Consuelo. Consuelo, born in the jungle, is discovered as an infant by missionaries and raised with little fanfare. Despite this, Consuelo grows and learns from her life in the jungle, developing a wonderful sense of life and creating her own history. At the age of twelve, Consuelo meets an older Portuguese man and the two become friends. Consuelo spends the day with El Portuguese, catching the man's chickens as they roam the jungle, then slicing their gullets and removing the golden seeds that they eat while roaming. The seed provides the man with a living, and Consuelo has a wonderful time helping her friend. Upon returning to the Mission covered in chicken blood, Consuelo is informed that it is time for her to...