Summary

In Chapter 9, Jeanette and Maydelis are with their grandmother, Dolores, in Camagüey, 2015. Maydelis appears to be tiring of Jeanette and is more interested in hearing about the USA than showing Jeanette Cuba. Jeanette finds it difficult to connect with Dolores. Jeanette finds two books in Dolores’s home – one is a copy of Cecilia Valdés and the other is Les Misérables, both from the 19th Century. The phrase “We are force” is written in the margin of Les Misérables. Maydelis explains that Dolores found the books in the walls of her house. That night, Jeanette steals Les Misérables in order to sell it for cash to cover her bills. Dolores discovers it is missing a week later and blames it on a Black visitor to the house. Jeanette confesses to Maydelis that she took the book, and returns...