Instructions:

If you’re a teacher: Consider creating your own chapter summaries or a vocabulary list for students. The Teacher’s Guide is worth the investment.

To fully understand the narrative, one must understand the backdrop of the Guatemalan Civil War (1960–1996). The conflict pitted the government/military against various leftist rebel groups supported largely by the indigenous Mayan population and poor peasants.

: The book is based on the real-life experiences of a young family during Guatemala's 36-year civil war.