EWNH: Characterization Tracker by Laura Bertalmio

Came to California when he was 16 to work.

lbertalmio — 2025-01-15 14:38:21 UTC

Is an assimilationist.

lbertalmio — 2025-01-15 14:40:19 UTC

Prefers convenience over the time it takes to make things "homemade."

lbertalmio — 2025-01-15 14:41:14 UTC

Believes in preserving his culture.

lbertalmio — 2025-01-15 14:42:32 UTC

Does not have a positive relationship with his father, Emil.

lbertalmio — 2025-01-15 14:43:27 UTC

Deals with anxiety.

lbertalmio — 2025-01-15 14:47:16 UTC

A Symbol that's important to Enzo: Murder Hornets

2025-01-28 20:10:39 UTC

He is lonely.

lansari2_1 — 2025-01-28 20:11:21 UTC

Fear of the Future.

2025-01-28 20:12:11 UTC

Wants to make his own choices

jsuggs1_1 — 2025-01-28 20:12:12 UTC

Enzo feels "messed up."

2025-01-28 20:14:32 UTC

over thinker and introverted

2025-01-28 20:14:49 UTC

"You ever regret coming here, Manong?" Francisco says. Or at least, he wants to."(5)

He cares about his family.

2025-01-28 20:15:00 UTC

"But in the East, they're respected. They're family. They're the reason we are here. We honor them, and when they need us, we take care of them. We talked about this already: utang na loob."

"When Chris was a kid, he loved riding shotgun in the middle of the night on their summer family road trips as his dad drove and his mom and sisters slept in the back."

Works for Money

pmodi5 — 2025-01-28 20:15:03 UTC

"It is the last day of the job and, therefore, their last chance to increase their earnings." (73)

he works hard

alame2_1 — 2025-01-28 20:16:21 UTC

Emil's father ( Francisco ) never pay's attention to him and uses him as a " prop ". Francisco is a selfish person.

2025-01-28 20:16:53 UTC

" Emil edges away, free from his use as a prop,but at the cost of being forgotten"(60).

The love of fishing

pmodi5 — 2025-01-28 20:19:03 UTC

"Francisco had learned to fish from his tatang, just as his tatang had learned from his own father, and so on." (81)

Chris feels ashamed

2025-01-28 20:20:06 UTC

"I told you I didn't know anything about the Philippines.'

'I didn't realize you were being literal.'

The comment strings. Chris lets a few beats of silence pass, then tries to move in a different direction." (105)

The American dream

2025-01-28 20:22:09 UTC

"He's more than who he is in this country. It's good to remember, Mang Carlos had said. Maybe this is what he meant.(81)

Having regret of the present and hope for the future.

pmodi5 — 2025-01-28 20:23:12 UTC

"But whenever he insists on pointing out the white boys going to school, it makes Fransico angry in a subterranean way. It forces him to bury again his quiet resentments."(66)

"The best he can hope for is to end up like Mang Carlos: stuck in the fields but at least with a family." (67)

Chris feels he has no voice/ silenced

2025-01-28 20:29:51 UTC

"Chris shakes his head in stunned disbelief. anger and confusion swirl within his chest like a gathering storm." This shows how during this quote his father was controlling him by taking him off the football team without explanation to him.

He fears about his grandfather and dad fighting

jbenkara — 2025-01-28 20:31:13 UTC

""Dad and Lolo emil are going to kill eachother: aren't they?" he asks"

Curiosity of learning

pmodi5 — 2025-02-07 20:32:53 UTC

“And what about your dad—did you guys get along?” (Ribay 168)

Enzo if facing the challenge of anxiety

2025-02-07 20:35:03 UTC

Enzo has anxiety he refers to as "hornets nests" that bother him and his actions though the novel. Enzo does not like when his family fights with one another and this gives him anxiety that his therapist helps him deal with.

Understands the worth of money

2025-02-07 20:38:37 UTC

"God dad, it always comes back to money with you! How can I get you to understand that that's not what everyone cares about? That's not what I care about! that's not what I want Enzo to care about!

Easy to say when you had enough of it" (Ribay 178-179)

Enzo's Anxiety

2025-02-07 20:43:47 UTC

Throughout the novel Enzo experiences anxiety that he refers to as "murder hornets" and the pandemic and his family conflicts really affect Enzo's anxiety and his feelings towards other people.

Francisco feels like he is losing pieces of himself living in the US and he wants to return to his family in the Philippines.

ashah7_1 — 2025-02-07 20:49:18 UTC

"Maybe it is time to return home. He loses a piece of himself each time he leaves or each time someone he loves leaves him. If he stays for even just a few more years and continues to live this life of constant reset, what will eventually remain?" (157).