Given Names and Encounter Juana
Across a Hundred Mountains
Study Questions
1. Briefly explain why Juana was afraid to ask her father to tell her a story.
2. Why did Apa have to leave and travel to the United States?
3. Name or list several cultural images the author weaves into the story.
4. Why did Juana, Abuelita Elena hate Ama (Lupe), Juana’s mother?
5. Why does Don Elias keep pestering Ama for the money Apa owes him?
6. The curandera, Dona Martina gave Juana instructions after Martina stopped the hemorrhaging. What did she tell Juana? How was this similar to Juana’s relationship to her baby sister Anita?
7. What happened to Ama’s baby she had with Don Elias? Who justifies
this actand why?
8. Who is Adelina developing a relationship with?
9. What promise does Adelina make to her mother, and this is the reason she
must return to Mexico?
10. Diana, who is an alcoholic and in the shelter where Adelina works feels
Guilty. Why?
11. What does Juana learn from Don Tomas, and what does she decide to do?
12. What did Ama do to replace the children she lost?
13. What school did Adelina attend?
14. What school did Sebastian Luna attend?
15. What did Ama (Lupe) do to ask for forgiveness?
16. What did Ama finally do to Don Elias?
17. What did Juan decide to do that separated her from her mother, Ama?
18. Who does Adelina take care of before his death and what does he leave her?
19. When Adelina went in search of her father in Watsonville, what did she learn?
20. How does Juana end up in jail in Tijuana and who does she meet?
21. How old was Juana/Adelina when she returned to her village?
22. Explain the encounter Juana had when she first met up with her brother
in the village where she was born?
23. When Juana told Adelina, “It will only be awhile,” she was referring to the
job she took on; what was the job and
Study Questions
1. Briefly explain why Juana was afraid to ask her father to tell her a story.
2. Why did Apa have to leave and travel to the United States?
3. Name or list several cultural images the author weaves into the story.
4. Why did Juana, Abuelita Elena hate Ama (Lupe), Juana’s mother?
5. Why does Don Elias keep pestering Ama for the money Apa owes him?
6. The curandera, Dona Martina gave Juana instructions after Martina stopped the hemorrhaging. What did she tell Juana? How was this similar to Juana’s relationship to her baby sister Anita?
7. What happened to Ama’s baby she had with Don Elias? Who justifies
this actand why?
8. Who is Adelina developing a relationship with?
9. What promise does Adelina make to her mother, and this is the reason she
must return to Mexico?
10. Diana, who is an alcoholic and in the shelter where Adelina works feels
Guilty. Why?
11. What does Juana learn from Don Tomas, and what does she decide to do?
12. What did Ama do to replace the children she lost?
13. What school did Adelina attend?
14. What school did Sebastian Luna attend?
15. What did Ama (Lupe) do to ask for forgiveness?
16. What did Ama finally do to Don Elias?
17. What did Juan decide to do that separated her from her mother, Ama?
18. Who does Adelina take care of before his death and what does he leave her?
19. When Adelina went in search of her father in Watsonville, what did she learn?
20. How does Juana end up in jail in Tijuana and who does she meet?
21. How old was Juana/Adelina when she returned to her village?
22. Explain the encounter Juana had when she first met up with her brother
in the village where she was born?
23. When Juana told Adelina, “It will only be awhile,” she was referring to the
job she took on; what was the job and