Esmeralda describes how much she dislikes Brooklyn at the beginning of the book, and she constantly dreams of ways to escape. Why does Esmeralda have such negative feelings for Brooklyn, and what does she hope to find outside of it?

Esmeralda and her family must deal with prejudice as they adjust to their new life in New York, made worse by a language barrier and by needing to go on welfare. How does Esmeralda react to this prejudice? Does it begin to change the way she sees herself and her family, and if so, how?

The Santiago household is a chaotic place, with 11 children, two adults, and various relatives passing through. How does this impact Esmeralda, and does this begin to affect her relationship with her family?