Summary
This debut novel is a gripping survival story of Héctor, a young man who is trapped, perhaps fatally, during a border crossing. Over four days, as water and food run low, Héctor tells how he came to this desperate place. His story takes us from Oaxaca — its rich culture, its rapid change — to the dangers of the border. It exposes the tangled ties between Mexico and El Norte — land of promise and opportunity, home wrecker and unreliable friend. And it reminds us of the power of storytelling and the power of hope, as Héctor fights to ensure his message makes it out of the truck and into the world.
Before You Read
In the News
“What we know about illegal immigration from Mexico”. Pew Research Center. July 2015
“Trapped in Heat in Texas Truck, 18 People Die. NY Times. May 2003.
Discussion Questions
1. What were Hector’s motivations for leaving Mexico? What were Cesar’s? Did you know much about Oaxaca before you read the novel? If so, how did your perception of the place change over the course of the story? If not, what did you learn and did any of it surprise you?
2.“Who else can grow all their food—sweets and spices, herbs and medicines, corn and beans and squash, even oil for the hair—on one hectare on the side of a mountain?” What secret is Cesar carrying with him? How will it impact the Oaxacans way of life? At the end of the novel, what is your feeling about whether and how their culture can survive?
3.Who are the coyotes? Why do they have that name? What role do they play in the novel and how are they implicated in its outcome?
4.Why is this novel called The Jaguar’s Children? Where do jaguars make appearances throughout the novel and what is their significance? How does Hector’s abuelo’s story fit? Hector recalls: “I asked him once, who will dance the jaguar after him. ‘Whoever carves the mask,’ he said. ‘You know where my tools are.'” Does Hector carve a mask?
5.Why do you think the author chose this format for Hector’s story-telling it through audio and text files? How did it affect your reading? Discuss the progression of Hector’s time in the water tank. How does the author increase the stakes, show the rising tension, and convey the feeling inside the truck?
6. What do you believe happened at the end of the novel? Explore the various scenarios that could have played out for Hector. What impact did the change in perspective have on your reading? Why do you think the author made this choice?
7.The novel explores several periods in the relationship between Mexico and the United States as well as several ways in which these two cultures overlap and influence each other. How has your view on these neighbors changed in the course of the book? Do you see ways in which this relationship might improve?
Latin America, Untrammeled 