New London

New London is the overall setting of the majority of this novel. The town is based around the Humble Oil company, making it a relatively wealthy setting. There are many oil wells around the region and more are being drilled all the time. Naomi, Beto, and Cari go with Henry to the site of a drilling rig just as oil gushes from the ground. The work is often dangerous. Henry sees a man burned alive in an accident at one of the sites.

The New London School

The New London School is the school the whites of New London attend. There is no significant Mexican population. Naomi attends this school as well even though she is obviously not white. The school is wealthy because of the local oil money, meaning it is state-of-the-art for the time. The science lab is incredible for the time. Classes are filled...