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One of the novel’s protagonists, Camino is a Dominican teenager who lives in a poor seaside neighborhood in the Dominican Republic with her aunt, Tía. Camino’s mother, Mamá, died about nine years ago… read analysis of Camino Rios

One of the novel’s protagonists, Yahaira is a Dominican American teenager who lives in New York with her parents, Mami and Papi, until Papi dies unexpectedly in a plane crash. Yahaira is quiet and… read analysis of Yahaira Rios

Papi is Camino and Yahaira’s father; he’s deceased in the novel’s present, as he dies when his plane crashes en route to the Dominican Republic. Both girls love their father, though neither knew the… read analysis of Papi

Yahaira’s mother and Papi’s legal wife, Mami is a beautiful, demanding, and tightly-wound woman. She manages an upscale spa and believes that her appearance is good advertising, so she’s always impeccably dressed, with… read analysis of Mami/Zoila Rios

Mamá is Camino’s mother. She died of dengue fever about nine years before the novel begins. Like Zoila, who was her childhood friend, Mamá was married to Papi—but unlike Zoila, Mamá found… read analysis of Mamá

The antagonist of the novel, El Cero is a young man who makes his money as a pimp. He regularly targets young, vulnerable girls—some who are only nine or 10 years old—and as soon as… read analysis of El Cero/Alejandro

Dre is Yahaira’s next-door neighbor, as well as her girlfriend. They’ve been dating since seventh grade. Dre is a Black girl from the South, though she’s lived in New York since she was about… read analysis of Andrea “Dre” Johnson

Carline is Camino’s best friend. She’s heavily pregnant at the beginning of the novel. A few weeks after Papi’s death, she gives birth prematurely to her son, Luciano. Like Camino, Carline is… read analysis of Carline

Luciano is Carline and Nelson’s infant son. He’s born several weeks after Papi dies. Luciano comes several weeks early, so he’s a tiny baby who struggles to breathe from the moment he’s born. Despite… read analysis of Luciano

Nelson is Carline’s 19-year-old boyfriend and Luciano’s father. He’s been in love with Carline since they were children. Nelson is extremely driven: prior to Luciano’s birth, he attends night classes while also working… read analysis of Nelson

Vira Lata is the neighborhood stray dog who attached himself long ago to Camino. He sticks pretty close to Camino’s house, though when it floods, he lives in an elevated doghouse that Don Mateo… read analysis of Vira Lata

Don Mateo is Camino and Tía’s friend and neighbor. His gruff demeanor hides a caring, protective, and loving personality—he drives Camino to the airport to meet Papi and later to meet Yahaira, and… read analysis of Don Mateo

Dr. Johnson is Dre’s mother. The book never reveals what kind of a doctor she is, but she teaches classes at a local university. An intelligent and level-headed woman, Dr. Johnson regularly explains to… read analysis of Dr. Johnson

Tío Jorge is Papi’s brother; he’s both Yahaira and Camino’s uncle. However, while Camino has only heard of Tío Jorge, he and Yahaira have a close, loving, and supportive relationship; part of this… read analysis of Tío Jorge

Wilson is Tía Lidia’s son and Yahaira’s cousin. The novel doesn’t state his age outright, but he’s likely in his mid-20s. A bank teller who makes a decent wage, Wilson often wears designer… read analysis of Wilson

Coach Lublin was Yahaira’s chess coach until she quit the chess team. A kind and supportive man, he never pressured Yahaira to rejoin the team—Yahaira even suspects that he knew she didn’t truly love… read analysis of Coach Lublin

Emily was El Cero’s sister and Camino’s best friend until her death of dengue fever about nine years before the events of the novel begins. Camino believes that Emily’s death brought about El… read analysis of Emily