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'I tough me tongue to the word violation, like it's a fruit I've never tasted that's already gone sour in my mouth.' On page 25-26, Xiomara tells us the way the word feels wrong to her because of Father Sean's description.

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Xiomara is confused about her faith to God, she feels she has no connection to him, despite her mothers demand for her to believe in him. 'Sometimes I feel my life would be easier if I didn't feel like such a debt to a God that don't really seem to be out there checking for me.'

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simile: "ive forced my skin just as thick as i am". this means shes comparing the thickness of her body to how tough she is

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One example of figurative language is on page 55; "these days, church seems less party and more prison" This is an example of figurative language because church is not literally a prison, but she feels trapped there because Mami keeps forcing her to go to church, and she would get in huge trouble if she stopped going.

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On page 54, there is a metaphor "a beckoning hug or falling anvils" and this shows the relationship between Xiomara and her brother.

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Xiomara feels that her brother is the child her mom always wanted and is how her mom wants her to be. Xiomara also always stands up for Xavier but he doesn't do the same for her. "He's older and a guy, but never defends me."

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"I feel the question sticking to the roof of my mouth like a wafer:"(Page 56) This is a simile that is explaining how the question Xiomara wants to ask is on the tip of her tongue but she does not want to ask it.

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I look and feel like a myth it's a metaphor and this mean that she doesn't feel like she is real or someone has to find her

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"And I wonder if Twin and I are keeping each other small. Taking up space that would have let the other grow." (page 74) This is a metaphor as Xiomara is comparing herself and her twin to gold fish and there bowl as well as the goldfish evolutionary gene that states fish grow bigger if their tank/bowl is bigger.

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Xiomara internal conflict is that she likes boys but her mom is very religious and strict so her mom gets mad when every she hears Xiomara was with boys.

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simile: Tight curls that spring like fireworks out of my scalp this is saying that the curls are very bouncing

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metaphor, "Mami's back is a coat hanger Her anger made of the heaviest wool. It must keep her so hot.". it compares her moms back to a coat hanger full of coats, showing her mom holds a lot of anger.

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"her eyes like bright lampposts shining on my face" this is a simile because she uses the word like and is comparing her eyes and bright lampposts shinning implying that they are bright and pretty.

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"But she says she doesn't want any conversation between me and those boys, or any boys at all, and she better not hear about me hanging out like a wet shirt on a clothesline just waiting to be worn or she would go ahead and be the one to wring my neck." (page 6) This form of figurative language is a simile and it means that if Mami sees her hanging out with any boys she will get backslapped or in a lot of trouble.

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I think that their relationship is a love but hate relationship and an example of this is when Xiomara gets into a fight for her brother and her brother didn't care.

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Xiomara has a complicated relationship with her brother. She obviously loves him because they're siblings, but she also hates him. This is because Xavier is who Xiomara is expected to be, and is constantly compared to. "Why can't you be a lady? Or like your brother?" (page 45)He is also the older twin, but always has Xiomara defend him/does not defend Xiomara.

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she does not have a very close relationship with her brother she has called him "twin" for as long as she can remember. she always used to defend him at school and beat up the kids who where being mean to him. "but it just doesn't feel like the brother I know" she is saying she does not really see who he is today and does not remember him this way.

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Xiomara's internal conflict is if the church is right for her. This is because she is right now at odds with the church and refusing to take communion.

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Question 4: How would you characterize Papi? What details does Xiomara share about her father? Give an example from the text and explain it.
Papi is very absent because he never interacts and supports Xiomara which makes him a distant father. Xiomara even says that Papi is a distant father and shows some reasoning why. On page 65 it says "Just because your father's present doesn't mean he isn't absent."

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I'd describe their relationship as one-sided. "and a guy, but never defends me." that quote shows she wishes he would step in something because she is doing everything for him and for herself.

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"But today, I feel the question sticking to the roof of my mouth like a wafer." Page 56 this quote means that she really wants to ask why she cant live her life her way instead of other peoples way, but she doesn't feel like anyone will listen to her if she tells them this so she keeps quiet.

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Xiomara characterizes her father as someone that is there in person but doesn't do anything. An example of this is Xiomara and her brother only see's their father a few times a day and doesn't even speak to them.

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Xiomara is questioning many things in her life like her believes, boys, and Mami. Her internal conflict is she cant talk to Mami about any of these things because she knows her mom will just react quick and be mad at her. Xiomara says "The questions I have, about church, and boys, and Mami."

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Simile: "She better not hear about me hanging out like a wet shirt in a clothesline just waiting t be worn or she would go ahead and be the one to wring my neck." This means that she will get in big trouble with her mom if she sees Xiomara hanging out with the drug dealers.

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Xoimara is frustrated as her brother is this perfect child in her mother's eyes and all Xiomara does is fight, when in reality, she fighting for her brother. "I never told her he didn't fight because my hands became fists for him." (page 45)

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Xiomara dad doesn't talk to Xiomara too much and doesn't really do any work around the house unless asked of him. The only time Xiomara dad talks is when he is talking to their mom about them or food.

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Xiomara's internal conflict is the church, and god. She's trying to ask god all these questions about herself but he won't answer her, its not told why but I assume its because he wants her to do what she thinks is right and what makes her happy and doesn't want her listening to what others say. "why does listening to his commands mean I need to shut down my own"

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An emerging theme in this book is that you should fight for what you believe in. An example of this is when Xiomara stood up to her mother after she refused to take communion.

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The internal conflict is that Xiomara doesn't feel like god has been there for her and she doesn't want to follow her moms religious ways because she does not get it

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Xiomara's relationship with her brother is she feels like a disappointment compared to him she is also tired of sticking up for herself and twin since twin is older and a boy, "He's older and a guy, but never defends me".

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on page 47 it says "my body could fold into the tiniest corner for me to hide in" I think this is a metaphor because you cant really fold your self up like paper but she wants to so she can get away from everyone and life.

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I feel like her internal conflict is issues with her mom. Her mom doesn't like that she hangs out with boys and wants her to be religious and take confirmation classes. She doesn't want to listen to her mom and wants to do what she wants. So her and her mom aren't as close.

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xiomara;s internal conflict is confusion. she is confused about what she beleives in. "its not abouts feeling unready. she is confused abou God and her confirmation and doesnt knoe if she wants to pull through with it

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i agree with alex

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Xiomara does not have the best relationship with her brother because she is always protecting her but getting in trouble for it. "I never told her he didn't fight because my hands became fists for him. My hands learned how to bleed when other kids tried to make him into a wound."