What is a theme?
a universal message about life or people
The word "harassing" means
bothering; troubling
If an old car is "vintage," it is
dating from a long time past
A theme is always expressed as
a statement
"Ebony" means
dark or black
A "sarcastic" remark is
mocking or taunting; in a manner that makes fun of something or someone
A generalization of a theme is
a broad statement that takes into account all the details in the text
Who is Luis Cintron?
the main character
Why does Luis work at the car junkyard for his dad?
It is one of the conditions for his early release from juvenile hall.
The word "Tiburones"
means "sharks."
Who are the Tiburones?
the "social club" that Luis organized
What characteristics describe Luis at the beginning of the story?
leadership ability; pain for the loss of his mother; rebellious against authority; resentful
Characteristics that describe Luis' change in behavior are
respectful, responsible, kind
Who is Naomi?
a teenage girl whose parents run the Ramirez Funeral Home
Why does Naomi appear at Mr. Cintron's place of business?
She needs a vintage hubcap for her Volkswagen Bug.
What is Luis' first impression?
He thinks she beautiful.
Luis goes on a "treasure hunt" one evening to search for
the hubcap for Naomi's car
Name two other characteristics, besides beauty, that attracts Luis to Naomi.
poise and compassion
How does the reader infer that Naomi is compassionate?
by her behavior at the funeral home
Which paragraph gives the reader the explanation for the story's title?
the paragraph that details Luis' search for the "moon-shaped" wheel cover for Naomi that he finally finds
Who plays an important part of the story, although she no longer lives with Luis and his father?
Luis' mother
Naomi is compared to which Fairy tale character?
Cinderella
When does Luis' behavior begin to change?
When he confronts the pain he feels as a result of his mother's death, he is able to let go of his anger.
What is the theme of this story?
Acknowledging a painful situation and allowing oneself to grieve can help him or her heal.
Another theme is
Love helpls people cope with their problems.
