111 pages • 3 hours read
Mexican WhiteBoy
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
The characters in Mexican WhiteBoy face a wide range of challenges. Some are unique to an individual character, while others struggle to overcome larger societal problems. Identify challenges faced by three different characters. Describe the issues and how they manifest themselves in the characters’ lives. Use specific examples, including the character’s perception of the problem, his or her own role in relation to it, and how the character deals with said obstacles.
Hope is a consistent theme throughout Mexican WhiteBoy. What does the narrative say about the idea of hope? Consider when it is present and when it is not and how those instances shape the experiences of the characters.
Several variations on family are portrayed in Mexican WhiteBoy. Discuss what defines a family in this novel: Is it who lives in a house together? A shared last name? The credo by which they live or the values they share?
Define power in the context of Mexican WhiteBoy. Who desires it? Who has it? Examine 3-5 instances where power, or lack thereof, is a motivating force. What kind of power is it? Who seeks power? Over whom do they seek it?
As a character, Danny is transformed. His brief but tumultuous journey changes him as a person. One lens through which we can trace Danny’s journey is through that of gratitude. Danny goes from being, among other things, resentful, even of objectively good opportunities, to, in the end, being grateful for everything positive in his life, including the simple and small. There are many instances where this transformation occurs. Identify 3-5 of Danny’s most pivotal experiences as seen in the context of gratitude and discuss the role its absence or presence plays in his life.
Why does Danny’s serendipitous discovery of the scout at the ballpark change his outlook? What does Danny learn about his father (beyond the fact he is in jail)? From that, what does he learn about himself?
In addition to the primary story arc, there are several subplots driven by the various characters. Discuss three storylines or arcs. Identify and explain the relevant components, namely its conflict, climax and resolution, and analyze what each says about the character whose plot line you’re discussing. How does each character and subplot encapsulate, collide or interact with the dominant themes in Mexican WhiteBoy?
The Rodriguez Family is the only family of its kind mentioned in Mexican WhiteBoy. What makes the Rodríguezes so unique to Potomac Street? What role do they play in the novel?
Several of the characters acquire new self-knowledge that leads to important realizations. Who are the characters? What are the realizations?
Sofia shares with Uno that she has lost the optimism she once had for her life. Uno disagrees with her. He is more hopeful, regardless of the fact he appears to face greater adversity. What is the source of Uno’s optimism? Consider Uno’s circumstances, as well as the influences of gender, family and ethnicity, in your discussion of Sofia’s realization.
Unlock all 111 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Related Titles
By Matt de la Peña
