Look back at the sections of the novel that are written as letters. What function do the letters serve in relation to the overall plot and message of the novel? Use specific evidence to support your analysis.

María navigates multiple languages throughout the novel. How and why does her use of Spanish, English, and Spanglish change over the course of the text? Use several key examples to illustrate the shifts that take place.

The novel makes frequent reference to the two different types of Puerto Rican people: those who are on the Island and those on the mainland. Why does Ortíz Cofer portray María as being in the middle of this tension?