Summary

Part II, A Winter Birthday – February 28th rolls around. It is Celeste’s twelfth birthday. In the Southern hemisphere, it would be summer, but Maine is still cold and snowy. In Valparaiso, birthdays were neighborhood events celebrated by friends and family, but in Maine, there is only Graciela. Graciela wishes Celeste a happy birthday, bringing her breakfast in bed, a carrot cake which Celeste thoroughly enjoys.

Part II, I Search for Myself in Spanish – Celeste’s English improves. Mr. Turner asks Celeste to write an essay about her family and life in Chile to read aloud to the class. Charlie, who bullies everyone, asks if Chile has refrigerators and if Celeste’s family lives in a hut. Celeste responds that Chile is a very advanced country. Spanish words comfort Celeste, but the stand she makes in...