Point of View

The novel is told from two key points of view. The first is that of Tyler Paquette. Tyler is a small town boy who is growing up on a farm in Vermont. His family is in danger of losing their farm, and they hire illegal Mexican immigrants to come work the farm. When Tyler’s perspective is examined, it is done from the third person point of view. This serves to separate the reader a bit from Tyler, but it still allows Alvarez to explore Tyler’s thoughts and feelings as well as his actions. His is an important perspective because it illustrates why some people choose to hire illegal immigrants and the ethical dilemmas that are sometimes involved. Tyler’s point of view also serves to illustrate how many people from many different cultures are tied to their land. He is tied to his...