From Elena A novel excerpt

CONNECT TO YOUR LIFE How important is your home and community to you? How might you feel if you were forced to leave it & go to a new land?

Key to the Novel Excerpt Elena is a historical fiction, fiction that is set in the past, during Mexican Revolution. Porfirio Díaz was a dictator who favored the rich and stole from the poor; the Mexican people were miserable, so they rose up to make Díaz leave office. An excerpt = a part of the novel

Building Background Early 1900s during Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) About 1 million Mexican were killed Many Mexicans traveled to the United States because it was close and easy to get to; they could be safe and make a good life there. Pancho Villa  The Mexican Bandit

Story Map Beginning Elena and her four sisters grew up in Mexico. In Elena’s day, only boys could go to school & marriages were arranged. Elena wanted to study and learn local priest Elena fell in love with Pablo, an Indian. Papá refused to let Elena marry Pablo

MIDDLE Papá allowed Elena to marry Pablo. They had children and were happy. Pablo died, and Elena was filled with grief. The Mexican Revolution began; soldiers came to Elena’s town. Elena gave Pancho Villa Pablo’s last sombrero; his army guarded her house.

End Elena and her children left Mexico; they made it safely to the United States. Elena worked hard for her children; she gave them a good life.

Vocabulary Preview Notorious adj. well-known for bad deeds Condolences n. statement of sympathy & concern Detain v. stop from leaving Refugees n. people who flee a country to find protection from war or political oppression Barrio n. mainly Spanish-speaking neighborhood in a U.S. city

Vocabulary Strategy: Foreign Words Many English words taken from other languages. Some Spanish words: a.) Campesinos = country folk b.)Patio c.) sombreros

1st CHUNK Pg. 38-39, line 1-52

VOCABULARY As he mounted on his horse = to get on They headed off across the rugged countryside Down they plunged = fell off into the ravine below = a deep, narrow gap in the earth To haul my father up to safety = to pull with effort or difficulty

THINK IT THROUGH REREAD: How does this passage hint at what might happen in the story? What is doctor implying in line 33? REREAD: What is unusual about Pablo’s answer? What great change happens to the family? What other changes does Pablo predict?

LITERATURE Where and when does this part of the story happen? How does the setting affect what happens to the narrator’s father?

2nd CHUNK Pg. 39-70, line 53-70

VOCABULARY She ran weeping into the patio

THINK IT THOUGH What is Elena feeling? What details tell you how deeply the narrator & her mother, Elena, miss Pablo?

3rd CHUNK Pg. 40-42, line 71-131

THINK IT THROUGH Do you think the narrator has good reason to feel afraid of Pancho Villa? REREAD: Why has Elena’s strength become so important? What steps does Elena take in order to protect her family, especially Esteban?

4th CHUNK Pg. 43, line 132-160

THINK IT THROUGH What is surprising about Pancho Villa’s action? Why do you think the author included the scene between Pancho Villa & the narrator’s mother?

5th CHUNK Pg. 44-46, line 161-227

THINK IT THROUGH What problem causes Elena & the children to leave home? REREAD: What sacrifices must the family make so they can leave? What new problems do they face when they reach Ciudad Juarez? How do they solve their problems?

6th CHUNK Pg. 46-48, line 228-280

THINK IT THROUGH REREAD: Why is education so important to Elena? REREAD: What do you learn about the way Elena views herself and the world? Compare Elena’s life in the United States to her life in Mexico. Which do you think she prefers?

7th CHUNK Pg 48-49, line 281-322

THINK IT THROUGH REREAD: Do you think that Elena’s feelings are common among people who come to the US from other lands? What words would you use to describe the narrator’s mother? How does the narrator judge her mother? Do you think Elena would return home if she could?

WRITE A LETTER Students can pretend that they are Elena and write a letter to her sisters in Mexico. Have them describe Elena’s life in California and tell what she misses about Mexico. Then students can exchange letters with a classmate