The Distance Between Us Reading Journal
PART 2
Chapter 1:
The first chapter described their life in the new house in Highland Park. They had to live in the 1-bedroom unit because their father didn't have enough money and had to work to pay back all money he borrowed for the smuggler, and it described about the first time of them at the beach. In this chapter, Grande shared that “I didn’t have my mother or my little sister, Papi was still a stranger to me in many ways, and I still didn’t know my way in this country and the American culture-but for now I was grateful for the small things.” Base on this quote, I can guess that children lived in fear and missed their family in Mexico. Everything including their father is not familiar to them, and they just were enjoying the new life from basic things, and nothing is certain for them.
Chapter 2:
In this chapter, they wrote letters to Mami in Mexico, but didn’t tell her about the Papi’s dark side. when he drank too much, he would yell at them and hit them with his belt. It was Sep, Grande went to elementary school, while Mago and Carlos went to high school. Reyna feels that she doesn’t belong in the classroom (Grande 162) because she already lost her mother by coming to this country. She didn’t know who she is now, then (Grande 160). Moreover, she could not understand what her teacher was saying, and she sat in a corner and felt like an outside in her own classroom (Grande 161). In the end of this chapter, Grande mentioned that “But what about my dream of one day making Papi pround?” I think for a long time for her dream. I wondered the reason why she wanted to make Papi proud, not Mami? It might be her father didn’t choose her at the first time when he wanted to pick them with him to the US, so she wanted to prove to him that choosing her was a good decision.
Chapter 3:
In this chapter, Grande mentioned that “Mila had been married before she’d met Papi, and she had three children whom she saw once in a while.” (p.170). This quote made me surprised. There is no clue about Mila from previous chapter, so I guessed that she was a kind person, and she would treat them in the good way. However, Grande pointed out the fact that she also had her own children how she would treat them.
Chapter 4:
In this chapter, Grande had a bad hurt at her teeth and Mila took her to the dentist, but Mila stated that “Just call me Mila. I’m not your mom, so you can’t call me Mama" (p.176). Grande wanted to mention about issues regarding between stepmother and children. It could always be a barrier. This issues always occur in the real life with different terrible level. Mila might be in low level, she still took care of them, she just didn’t control or share her love to them.
Chapter 5:
This chapter was described in the Christmas holiday. Grande and her siblings didn’t have enough money, so they decided to stole something at a store to give for their Papi. Moreover, they called to a line which make them in trouble with the expensive bill. Mago said that “We’re going to do something we have never done before. But at this point we have no choice." (p.180). didn’t understand what she meant. If you don’t have enough money, you can do something in your ability, why you decide to steal and assume that it is no choice. In the real life, I also see choices like this, some people want to show off, and they use fake products. Others want to have something, so they steal. what can change this behavior?
Chapter 6:
In this chapter, Mago become a senorita. When she got her period, she skipped the school, so her father hit her very hard without any questions. Mago mentioned that “You just don’t go telling men you’re on your period. Especially a father you haven’t seen in eight years!" (p.188). I agreed with Mago that it is too embarrassed to tell men about period. Although Mago and I come from different culture, we have some similar thoughts, so I think that it is a normal rule in natural.
Chapter 7:
In chapter 7, Reyna couldn't return to school until the lice are gone, so her father spent time parting her hair and looking for lice. Grande shared that “What if he finally did decide to send me back to Mexico-nerver mind that he still hadn’t finished paying his debt-after learning that I was still the dirty girl he’d once left behind." (p.192). Through this quote, I felt that Grande was very worried about being deported to Mexico because his father used to do it, and didn’t choose her at the first time he wanted to pick them with him. It seemed to obsess her of being left behind.
Chapter 8:
The chapter described about love story of Mago, Carlos with their crush. Mago mentioned that “I want someone to like me. I want a boyfriend." (p.195). This quote made me curious. It is just simple because she became a senorita or she felt alone as no one loved her. If she would change her thoughts. Will she mature, or will she rebel?
Chapter 9:
This chapter mentioned her first writing competition at Aldama Elementary. Grande mentioned that “One day, I promised myself, thinking about Mr.Lopez’s words, I will write a book that won’t be rejected, one that will make my father proud.” (p.206). Through this quote, I can guess that failure in the writing contest made her more determined. She wanted to make her father proud. She failed many times. But this time, it hit her so hard, so she wanted to become a author as well. It makes me remember a famous MC who sent his teacher a new TV each year because she said he would never appear on the TV. I don’t know it’s true or not, but it sound like Grande’s situation. Unfortunately, Grande’s book of writing competition was rejected, so this disappointment inspires her to write a book that won’t be rejected.
Chapter 10:
In the chapter 10, The Mami came to US, but she hadn’t even tried to visit her kids. She left Betty in Mexico and come here with her boyfriend, and they had a new child (Leonardo). Grande’s aunt and Betty came to US later, Grande graduated from Aldama Elementary. Grande described that “I finally realized there wasn’t much room for us in our mother’s life.” (p.214). I guessed that Grande realized her family broke, and she lost her mother. The previous time, her mom was separated them by just two thousand miles only, but right now, they were separated by new member with complex relationship. Her Papi had a new wife, her Mami had a new family. They had sibling and cousins who are not totally in their side.
Chapter 11:
In this chapter, Grande’s Papi taught them that “Here in this country if you aren’t educated, you won’t go very far” (p.216). He desires for his children’s future, he want his children have a great career, become home owners, and have money for retirement.
Chapter 12:
This chapter described their neighborhood. She lived in Highland Park which was home of gangs. It was not safe for them to play with their neighbors. It was dangerous because gunfire broke out on the street in front of their apartment. Grande said that “We weren’t interested in becoming gang members, but it was hard not to come across them.” (p.225). Through this quote, I could guess that they were living in the dangerous area, so it were not certain for everything they wanted.
Chapter 13:
In this chapter, they waited for our green card application to processed. Her Papi went to adult school and learn English, but he gave up and changed his believe after he heard that his sister had stolen his dream house in Mexico, and his parents were not his side. In the end of this chapter, Grande shared that “after two weeks of looking at his closed door, I realized that the dream house wasn’t the only thing he had lost” (p.233). Through this quote, I can guess that he lost his father, his family, his love, his believes. Therefore, his characteristic would change and become a bad father.
Chapter 14:
In this chapter, Grande were eight grade, became a senorita and completed ESL program. She joined and got first place in short-story competition with the reward is ticket to visit in Long Beach, but her father rejected to take her go to here. Grande shared that “Like most immigrants, Papi didn’t go anywhere unless he knew where he was going.’’ (p.238). This quote described immigrants’ fear, not only his fear. I also have the similar fear of going to new places. I am afraid of getting lost, accident, ticket.
Chapter 15:
This chapter shared about her first kiss and problem about loving with her classmate, but she recognized that “…I’d lost my friend for a boy …” (p.243). Through this quote, I identified that there are many similar things in anyplace. The story about loving is popular and similar of teenagers.
Chapter 16:
In this chapter, they became legal resident, but her Papi was still abused by hitting them and treating them in the same manner, even when Carlos was broken , he didn’t take his son to the hospital until the following day. Grande said that “ we shouldn’t expect anything better from him” (p.252). I guessed that Grande loved him so much although he was so bad, but she still hoped that there was one thing which was good from he. Therefore she forgave for him many times, but this time, it was over her limit.
Chapter 17:
In the chapter, Mago was no longer concerned about making her father proud instead she wanted to find a full time job and go out with her coworkers, and she said that "I don’t care what he likes or doesn’t like” (p.255). After a long time of living together, there was contraction between leading to separate in their relationship. Mago was no longer concerned about making her father proud instead she wanted to find a full time job and go out with her coworkers.
Chapter 18:
In this chapter, Mago bought a new tercel. Mago and Carlos had dropped out of college. Mago worked full time; Carlos married to his high school girlfriend. Mago and Grande had come back to visit Iguala, but Mago no longer cared about her root. Therefore, Grande shared "How could I stop myself from feeling sad that Mago no longer cared about Iguala?” (p.272). She was struggling with keep their original, she was sad because her sister didn’t care about their home country.
Chapter 19:
In this chapter, Mago moved out and her farther’s apartment, Grande accepted to US Irvine but her father didn’t allow her to go. Mago desired to live in freedom and safety, so she can do everything she wants, don’t need to receive any punishment without a reason.
Chapter 20:
In this chapter, her father took Uc Irvine away from her. It might be he thought all of them would dropped off college, didn’t follow the path to get their success, so he didn't want to waste his money.
Chapter 21:
In this chapter, Papi prevented her from meeting Mago; however, Mago had left when she knew Papi was hitting her. Reyna Grande writes about some very strong feelings in this quote - “...I just wanted him to keep going, to keep beating me and beating me with those hands that were the same shape as my own. Keep beating me until I could no longer think anymore, until those hands made me disappear, cease to exist” (Grande 294). She had strong feelings in this moment because she disobey her father to meet Mago who she loved a lot, but Mago had left when she knew her father was hitting her sister. This made Grande hopeless to live. Everyone had left her; she had to live in violence alone day by day. Each day, she lived in fear. Now, it was over her limit, so she wanted to disappear.
Chapter 22:
In this chapter, it disclosed the past of her father. He mentioned about his job which guided the oxen, hit them as hard as he could. I understand that this job will make him become gruff, but I will not understand for his actions towards to his children. Grande always stayed in her room away her father, but Reyna has a growth mindset in this chapter. After the beating, Grande always hide in her room to make herself disappear from his sight. She lived in quiet that she can, but she recognized a way to change. The way could help her escape this hole was herself, so she stand up, moved to talk to her father for enrolling college (p.296).
Chapter 23:
In this chapter, the fights in her house become more and more worse, so police officers come to investigate and took her father away. Grande still wanted to protect her father although she knew he would continue beating her. She didn’t have where to do, so her teachers asked Grande to come stay at her house. Reyna develops a relationship with Dr. Diana Savas. Grande called her a hero because Grande thought that she helped Grande escape her hole as a hero.
Chapter 24:
In this chapter, Grande lived in Diana’s house. It was the new chapter in her life and she placed second and won $100 in a writing competition. Grande recognized that “ all I could do back then was allow myself to dream” (p.310). Now, she was in a safe place, so she had a chance to make her dream which she wished. A safe place is important for success. It isn’t certain thing, but it is enough condition to develop. I think that children who live in homes similar to Rayna’s with Papi have a disadvantage in school and in life. They don’t have enough money for joining schools. They don’t have enough time to study. They get stuck in the fear, violence, and poverty. It will be very difficult for them to success; however, they can do it.
Chapter 25:
In this chapter, Mila left Grande's father, so Carlos asked Grande to go back home. Although it was not volunteer, Grande came back and had a nice time with her father. Grande used to think about choosing a school close to her father house instead of UCSC which was 6-hour driving. She shared that “But now I did have a reason - my father,” (p.315). It might be Grande had to think a lot. She had a chance to study at a great school for her career, but she also had a chance to live with her father who she dreamed. It was difficult to make a decision for her at that time. If she thought about these options, I believe that she forgot for her father mistakes. Unfortunately, he decided to come back with Mila over her.
