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In the end, we learn that Sofia's dad dies. She says, " That spring I saw how Papa's death had shifted my focus entirely, my whole life. Yes, I still wanted to get into a good college, but life was more than that now. I was writing stories to conjure up Papa, and these stories, especially, had opened up a whole new world for me" (Canales 190). She realizes that everything she heard from her father and family would help her to become a great person. She took those lessons in stride and improved her life by remembering where she came from.

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The worm in the tequila plays a part in the story. This is what Sofia would eat when she became homesick at school. It was apart of their community to do this because it was believed to cure homesickness.

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Sofia realizes that her life is not the same. She has seen a different culture and community and although some things she learned there were helpful, she always will be connected to her roots and she saw how her culture is really influencing herself and how she need to reconnect with it.

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Sofia's mom wanted her to be a good girl and a good wife. It is mentioned in the story that the only way to really show her mom she could take this opportunity was to be a good comadre, which means someone who brings people into families. Her mother is described the be very devot and strict when it comes to Sofia.

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We see their relationship play out more when she is offered the scholarship and how her dad is hesitant about letting her and wanted her to see the world around her better.

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Her father would tell her that not everything is perfect and even though they don't have what others have, she should cherish, remember and be lucky for the memories and traditions her people have because they are something special. He says "Don't worry Mi'ja. You'll see what I'm talking about when you're older" (Canales 35).

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As a kid, Sofia would tell her dad of how she dreamed of living on the other side of town. She wanted to live in the "rich" peoples houses because they were warm.

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The community she lived in was very close knit and everyone was like family. Her family and her community didn't want her to leave. They had a hard time dealing and coping with it and Sofia really had to think about whether or not it was the best decision.

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Growing up in this type of community, where everyone was a christian and mostly everyone spoke Spanish, Sofia was raised on speaking only Spanish. This caused a lot of trouble in her life because the kids at her old school made fun of her for speaking Spanish. She was actually called a "Taco Head" by her classmates because she brought bean tacos to school with her, everyday for lunch. It made want to strive more in school. This is ultimately one of the reason she decided to go and have a fresh start.

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She doesn't want to leave her family and everything she has ever known.

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In the book, Sofia goes through a series of complications and doubts about going to this school.

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The book is set in McAllen, TX, which is on the border of Mexico and Texas. It also takes place at St. Luke's, which is where Sofia is attending school.

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Berta is Sofia's cousin and she is the exact opposite of Sofia. She is described in the book to be "headstrong" and "greedy". Growing up, Berta and Sofia had a love/hate relationship. They were best friends and cousins, but Sofia was caring and Berta was not.

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In the book she is described to be very helpful and sweet, but also very intelligent.

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She grew up listening to the stories her community would tell her, but always wanted to move outside that and discover something new.

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Sofia is the main character and also the protagonist. She is chosen from a group of kids to attend a boarding school outside of her storytelling, home town of McAllen, TX.