Summary

In "The Failed," failed migrants disembark buses in San Salvador, returning home from a detention center in Mexico where the majority of deportations to El Salvador now come from. Nearly all the children interviewed by officials say they will try to immigrate again; some have already tried six or seven times. The crackdowns on immigration in Mexico and the United States do not deter them.

In Chapter 9, Ernesto and Raul found jobs in restaurants where they worked after school making more money than ever before. Both boys were mugged on separate occasions after work, causing them even more emotional/psychological hardship. Tensions at home escalated again when Rosalinda's boyfriend moved in, along with two of his friends. Conflicts over food and cleaning arose. After the men fed chicken bones to Gabby's little dog that ruptured her stomach and killed her, Wilber...