4 Distance Between Us - 2 Journal Submissions

 

DBU Reading Journal

Part 1 Chapter 15                   Lelwala

Notable Quote or Detail from the Text	Page number(s)	My Response, Observations, Comments or Questions
“She came back with a smile on her face. Don Oscar, her former boss, had given her back her old job at the record shop, although she’d have to work the afternoon shift. “But a job is the job,” Mami said, smiling.	94	Mami is trying to stay positive even though the job isn’t perfect. This shows how determined she is to take care of her family. It made me think about how sometimes people have to accept whatever work they can get, even if it’s hard.
“A few weeks later Mami came home full of excitement. She said, “The government is giving away land!” and hurried to gather the things we’d need to become squatters.”	96	Mami sounds hopeful and excited, like this might be a chance for a better life. It shows how desperate the situation was, that she was willing to become a squatter just to give her family a home. It made me feel how strong and determined she is to fight for her kids’ future.

 

What was Mami’s goal or dream that she was trying to achieve in this chapter?

She wanted to get a job and build her own house.

 

Use this chart to describe the events related to Mami’s dream.

What:	What was Mami’s goal? She wanted to show her husband that she could also build her dream house.
Why:	Why did she want this dream?      Mami wanted to prove that she was strong and independent, and that she didn’t need to wait for Papi to make things happen
How:	How was she going to achieve this goal?  Mami planned to build her dream house by claiming land the government was giving away and becoming a squatter. She used her old job to earn money and started gathering materials gradually. Her goal was to slowly build the house with whatever resources she could find.
Who:	Who was involved in these events? Mami, Reyna, Mago, Carlos, and Betty were involved.
Where:	Where did these events take place?  In Iguala, near the government land for squatters.
When:	When did this happen?   This happened a few weeks after Mami got her job back at the record shop, during the time when the government started giving away land.
Result:	What was the result? Did Mami get her dream?     Mami did not fully get her dream. She got some land and built a small house, but it was not the nice home she wanted. Things were still very hard for the family.

 

Part 1 Chapter 16

Notable Quote or Detail from the Text	Page number(s)	My Response, Observations, Comments or Questions
“They came into the home. I smelled the delicious aroma of the roasted chicken Mami had brought. I looked at Rey. He seemed too young for Mami. She said she’d met him at work. I wished his name wasn’t the male version of my name.”	104	Reyna feels uncomfortable and unsure about Rey. She notices he is younger than Mami and has the same name as her, which makes things even more awkward. This shows how hard it is for Reyna to accept someone new in her mother’s life.
“I can bring whoever I want,” Mami said. Mago rushed at her, and for a moment I thought she was going to hit our mother. Instead she started kicking the chairs, pulling out her own hair, and screaming at the top of her lungs. It sent shivers down my spine. My sister had turned into a monster.”	105	This moment shows how deeply hurt and angry Mago feels. She can’t hold in her emotions anymore and loses control. It’s clear that Mami’s choices are causing a lot of pain for her children, especially Mago

 

There is a conflict that occurs in this chapter. Explain the issue or problem.

Mago confronted Mami about seeing her new boyfriend coming to Christmas day, who wasn’t their father.

 

Use this chart to describe the responses of each character to this issue.

Mami:	She got angry she said that I can bring whoever I want. Thought she had the right to make her own choices.
Mago:	She was upset and disappointed. She felt betrayed acted out.
Reyna:	She was confused and uncomfortable with the situation.
Abuelita Chinta:	She stayed quiet and didn’t get involved much. She seemed to help kids.
How would YOU have responded:	I would’ve told Mami how I felt and asked her to listen to our side too.

 

 

Part 1 Chapter 17

Notable Quote or Detail from the Text	Page number(s)	My Response, Observations, Comments or Questions
“He is my Papi. He is really my Papi. I told myself. And I finally forced my feet to go to him.”	112	This moment shows how hard it was for Reyna to reconnect with her father after being apart for so long. Even though she calls him “Papi,” it feels strange because he’s been like a stranger to her. It’s a powerful moment of mixed feelings—hope, and the desire to feel loved.
“Now that the house was finished, so much had changed.”	115	The dream of the house came true, but the family didn’t feel as happy or close anymore.

 

The Most Important Thing (MIT) in this chapter is: (use one single sentence)

Mami’s dream of a house came true, but it didn’t fix the emotional distance in the family.

 

“Now that the house was finished, so much had changed” (Grande 115).

Chart the changes:

Dreams before the house was built:	The reality after the house was built:
Mami dreamed of a better life for her children and wanted to show she could build something on her own.	The house was finished, but the family still faced problems like poverty, emotional pain, and broken trust.
Reyna, Mago, and Carlos hoped the new house would bring them stability and happiness.	Even though the house was nicer than before, the struggles within the family continued, and emotional wounds didn’t go away.
They imagined the new home would bring the family closer together.	Instead, there were more arguments, confusion, and distance between family members.

 

 

Part 1 Chapter 18

Notable Quote or Detail from the Text	Page number(s)	My Response, Observations, Comments or Questions
“I grabbed Mago’s hand. She was my little mother. Even if Papi and Mami didn’t want me, at least my sister did. Mago squeezed my hand tight.	118	Mago is in Reyna’s life. Even though Reyna feels unwanted by her parents, Mago gives her love, comfort, and protection like a mother would. It made me feel sad but also hopeful, because it shows how strong the bond between siblings can be, even in hard times.
“I shook my head, unable to believe him. “The last you left, you were gone eight years, Papi.” Papi looked down and didn’t say anything.”	120	This moment shows Reyna’s pain and how hard it is for her to trust her father again. She remembers how long he was gone and how it hurt her.

 

The Most Important Thing (MIT) in this chapter is: (use one single sentence)

With a lot of fear and doubt, Reyna takes the first steps toward making a new life with her father in the United States.

 

Make a Prediction What do you think is going to happen next in the story? This is just a guess. There is no right or wrong answer.

I think Reyna will struggle at first in her new life, but she will work hard in school and try to make her parents proud, while also learning how to fit in and follow her dreams.