Immigration

The central theme of the novel is immigration, initially presenting an attitude that is sympathetic towards immigrants but ultimately suggesting that immigration has negative consequences for all concerned.

Throughout the novel, the author seeks to turn traditional narratives about immigration on their head by inverting the expected scenarios. In this novel, the expected attitude towards immigrants is one of hostility from Americans towards immigrants from Mexico. Although this attitude does appear at various times throughout the novel, it is by no means the only perspective showcased. Indeed, much earlier in the novel, the topic of hostility towards immigrants is first addressed from within Mexico itself towards immigrants from South America. Aunt Irma complains to Nayeli that: “These illegals come to Mexico expecting a free ride! Don’t tell me you don’t have Salvadorans and Hondurans in your school, getting the best education in the world...