One of the major themes of this book is the constant friction and disparity between the Mexicans and Americans, both on Mexican turf and off. For example, in Chapter 1 Lupe notices that the indigenous people in her village are up and working at the break of dawn, while the Americans are still asleep, showing a disparity in work ethic. In addition to being lazy, the Americans are often cruel to the Mexicans, not allowing the schoolkids “around the gates” of their encampment (33). Besides being gated, “the six American buildings […] looked long and dark and huge […] they had no trees or flowers around them” (33), which shows that the Americans wanted to put off a foreboding rather than a welcoming vibe. The discrepancy is not just between adults. Compare the constant “walking and climbing” by the village children to the American girl, Katie, whose most strenuous activity is tending to the Christmas holidays (39).

Additionally, marriages between Mexican women and American men were considered serious lifetime engagements by the women but flings by the men. Top officials did not even acknowledge most of these weddings. Additionally, the Americans are much better equipped for the constant violence, having horses instead of mules, and not having to worry as much about flying bullets.