Choncho Character Analysis in American Dirt

Choncho is a migrant from Veracruz. He is part of the group of migrants El Chacal is taking across the border, which includes Lydia and Luca. Choncho is travelling with his younger brother, Slim, his son, David, and his nephew and godson, Ricardín. He and Slim are migrant workers and have made the clandestine journey across the border several times. Like his brother, Choncho has a tall and imposing presence; he is very gregarious and love to tell stories and sing songs. When there is a flash flood in the desert, Slim, Choncho, David, and Ricardín help the others get to safety, but Ricardín ends up caught in the flood waters and breaks his leg. Choncho insists on staying with Ricardín in the canyon and bringing him to the Ruby Road, while Slim accompanies David across the border to find work. No one knows if he and Ricardín make it out of the desert alive.

Choncho Character Timeline in American Dirt

The timeline below shows where the character Choncho appears in American Dirt. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...is awakened early when El Chacal arrives with five more migrants: two brothers from Veracruz, Choncho and Slim; and their teenage sons, David and Ricardín, and Nicolás, a recently deported PhD... (full context)

Choncho asks Marisol about California, and she reveals that she was deported during a routine check-in... (full context)

Survival, Grief, and Resilience Theme Icon

The group has been walking for a while in the dark. when Choncho points out the blinking red light of a United States Border Patrol camera. Overhearing that... (full context)

Self-Determination, Uncertainty, and Chance Theme Icon

...member of the group takes turns despairing. Lydia and Luca have filed in line behind Choncho, Slim, and Beto; directly behind them are Rebeca and Soledad; and then it’s Marisol, Nicolás,... (full context)

...shouts at the migrants to get up, and they jump up to get to elevation. Choncho, Slim, David, and Ricardín are last because they stayed down to help the others. Ricardín... (full context)

Choncho and Slim have made this journey numerous times and understand what comes next: someone must... (full context)

...up to the sisters. Luca resists the urge to ask Lydia what she thinks about Choncho and Ricardín’s odds for survival; he has made up their mind that the two men... (full context)

...the group. Lorenzo’s death is forcing the others to consider the fact that Ricardín and Choncho may have shared his fate: even if they did make it to the Ruby Road,... (full context)