What positive things has each of them given to Evelyn?Ħ. When Evelyn leaves her native village, she tells her grandmother Concepcion, 'Just as I am going, Grandma, so I will return.' Compare Evelyn’s relationship with her grandmother to her relationship with her mother, Miriam. Why is she so successful at caring for him? In what ways does she expand his horizons? Do you know of someone who works with people who are physically, mentally, or emotionally challenged? Do they share any of Evelyn‘s character traits?ĥ. Evelyn‘s relationship with Frankie is very special, and reveals a lot about her character. Do you know of any immigrants in these kinds of jobs? Do they encounter any difficulties similar to Evelyn’s? How do Frankie’s parents treat Evelyn? Why does she seem 'invisible' to Frankie’s father?Ĥ. Many immigrants in the United States currently work in caretaker jobs: as nannies taking care of small children, or as home health aides caring for the sick, elderly, or dying. Do you agree? Why or why not? Did this book change the way you think about immigrants? If so, how?ģ. Why did they leave their native countries, and what were their first experiences as immigrants? Did you find any aspects of Evelyn’s journey surprising? It is said that the United States is a country of immigrants, and that immigrants made this country great. Compare her experience entering the country with that of other immigrants you know of or have read about. Evelyn comes to the United States as a refugee fleeing violence. In what other ways is she isolated? How is her isolation different from Evelyn’s? And from Richard’s?Ģ.

The book begins with Lucia physically isolated in her apartment during a snowstorm.

Each of the three main characters-Lucia, Evelyn, and Richard-experiences some kind of isolation in their present life.

Allende in the midst of winter