Efren Divided chapter 18 by Ernesto Cisneros read aloud

Summary

In this poignant chapter, Efren wakes to an empty bed, a painful reminder of his mother's deportation. He copes by immersing himself in family recipes and the warmth of community. School brings both joy and sorrow as he navigates friendships, the loss of his mother's presence, and the harsh reality of prejudice. A misunderstanding with his friend David leads to heartache, but an unexpected revelation of David's true character offers a glimmer of hope amidst the challenges of Efren's young life.

Takeaways

• 🌅 The story begins with Efren waking up to sunlight and an empty mattress, symbolizing loneliness and the absence of a loved one.
• 🍽️ Efren finds comfort in the food his mother, Amma, shared with others, which represents her presence and connection to the community.
• 👦🏽👧🏽 The twins, Max and Mia, show affection to their teacher, Miss Solomon, indicating a strong bond and seeking comfort in a difficult time.
• 📖 Efren is carrying a book, 'The House on Mango Street,' which parallels his own desire to escape his current circumstances.
• 🏠 Amma has been deported, and Efren is struggling with the emotional and practical implications of her absence.
• 🏫 Miss Solomon provides support to Efren and the twins, showing her role as a caring figure in their lives.
• 📝 Efren decides to drop out of the school election, writing a resignation letter to Miss Salas, indicating his prioritization of personal struggles over school activities.
• 📚 'The House on Mango Street' resonates with Efren, who identifies with the character Esperanza and her desire for change.
• 👫 Jennifer returns to school after overcoming her own challenges, and her friendship with Efren is rekindled, offering a glimmer of hope.
• 🗳️ Despite Jennifer's encouragement, Efren feels overwhelmed and decides to withdraw from the school president race, focusing on his personal life.
• 🏛️ David is revealed to have torn down Efren's campaign posters, but it turns out he was removing derogatory messages, not posting them, showing a misunderstanding between the two friends.

Q & A

What significant event occurs at the beginning of Chapter 18 that affects Efren's mood?

The sun's morning light shines through the window blinds, hitting Efren in the face, and he finds an empty mattress next to his, indicating someone close to him has left.

What connection does the food on the kitchen counter have to Amma?

The food on the kitchen counter is made from recipes Amma shared with women at the laundromat, making the food a symbolic presence of Amma.

How does Efren's emotional state affect his interaction with his siblings?

Efren doesn't say much to his siblings, indicating that his emotional state is causing him to be withdrawn and less communicative.

What triggers Max's emotional outburst at school?

Max's emotional outburst is triggered when he sees Miss Solomon in the playground yard, and he races to her side to give her a big hug.

Why does Efren decide to resign from the school election?

Efren decides to resign from the school election because of personal issues, including his mother's deportation and the emotional turmoil it has caused.

What book does Efren find solace in, and how does it relate to his feelings?

Efren finds solace in 'The House on Mango Street' because the main character, Esperanza, shares his desire to leave his current living situation and the challenges associated with it.

How does Jennifer's return to school impact Efren?

Jennifer's return to school provides Efren with a moment of joy and distraction from his troubles, as he is excited to see her and catch up.

What incident causes Efren to feel betrayed by David?

Efren feels betrayed when he discovers that David has vandalized his campaign posters with derogatory messages about his family and Latino families.

What misunderstanding is revealed about David's actions regarding the posters?

The misunderstanding is revealed when it is shown that David was actually tearing down the posters with racial epithets, not creating them.

How does the school principal, Mrs. Kerry, help to clear up the misunderstanding about David?

Mrs. Kerry informs Efren that David was caught by school security tearing down the offensive posters, not posting them, which contradicts Efren's initial belief.

What realization does Efren come to about his friendship with David?

Efren realizes that he may have been too quick to judge David as a horrible friend, as the evidence suggests David was trying to counteract the hateful messages, not spread them.