Religious faith is a major theme within the novel. How does Alex use his faith to help him get through tough times? How does Briana use her faith? What about Julie? Do you think these characters would be able to survive in the novel without their faith? What does this say about Briana's death? Why was Alex so concerned that his sisters die in a state of grace?

It is unclear in the novel as to the fate of Mami and Papi. Do you think Alex would have been better off if he had found his mother's body at Yankee Stadium? Why or why not? What did the lack of hard evidence do for the family? How do you think this affected Alex, Briana, and Julie? Do you think the ending of the novel, specifically Briana's death, would have changed if Mami or Papi...