1. “No face” Junot Diaz
By Rachael Treen

2. About the Author
Junot Díaz was born December 31, 1968 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
He lived with his mother and grandparents while his father worked in the United States.
He immigrated to New Jersey in 1974
He won the 2008 Pulitzer for his book The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

3. The story follows the main character (whom we can assume to be Ysrael) as he goes about his daily routine.
Ysrael visits Father Lou at the church and takes his usual English lesson from him, after which Father Lou buys him a comic book from the bookseller. Ysrael identifies with the comic book character Kaliman, who “takes no shit and wears a turban” (155); Ysrael mentions that if his face were covered he would be perfect.
Ysrael has reoccurring nightmares about the night his face was eaten by the pig, and is constantly reminded about the incident by those around him.
Padre Lou takes Ysrael to the medical clinic for a checkup and to ask when he’ll be going to North America for the operation. The doctor only says that they’ll “get him there eventually.” (159)
One morning, Ysrael talks with his younger brother and tells him that he leaves during the day to fight evil. Afterwards his mother comes out and gives him his flea-ridden mask to wear, and warns him to leave before his father wakes.
Summary of “No Face”

4. Analysis
“No Face” is an identity that Ysrael has built for himself amidst the constant torment from his community; he turned the cruel name that was given to him by the townspeople into a heroic alter-ego.
The way that the narrator describes Ysrael’s daily routine is fast-paced and dramatic, much like the comic books Ysrael reads.
“He watches for opportunities from corners[…] he has his power of INVISIBILITY” (155) and “He runs […] never slipping or stumbling. Nobody’s faster” (160) are both examples of the dramatic writing style used to describe Ysrael’s actions.
As Ysrael is faced with obstacles throughout the passage he calls out the words “FLIGHT”, “INVISIBILITY”, and “STRENGTH.” These are all trademark superpowers, which Ysrael imagines himself having in order to cope with the despair in his daily life. Ysrael continues this game of pretend because he cannot cope with his reality, his fear that he will always be “No Face.”