How the García Girls Lost Their Accents Characters

Manuel is the four girls’ cousin. At one point, he dates Sofia. He is also Carlos’s nephew. Manuel is an “illegitimate cousin” because he was born out of wedlock. Manuel is controlling of Sofia while the two are together.

Tío Mundo is Laura’s brother, Carmen’s wife, and Mundín and Lucinda’s father. He went to college in the U.S., where he met Victor.

Pila is a servant who works for the Garcías for some time. She is half Haitian. She is missing an eye, and she tells Yolanda that it’s because a cat scratched her eye out. Yolanda thinks that a shed on the property is haunted because of Pila.

Papito is Laura’s father. He is well educated and wealthy. For some time he works for the U.N., and he often travels to New York for work.

Mamita is Papito’s wife and Laura’s mother. She has health issues which necessitate frequent trips to New York after Papito stops working for the U.N.

John is Yolanda’s ex-husband. John and Yolanda have an intense and tumultuous relationship. Yolanda feels that they are in love, but that John doesn’t fully understand her. On multiple occasions, John forces himself physically on Yolanda.

Clive is Yolanda’s former professor and lover. Clive is married, and he repeatedly leaves Yolanda to go back to his wife. He finds Yolanda prudish.

Otto is Sofia’s husband. He is German, but he meets Sofia when they are both traveling in Colombia. Otto writes Sofia love letters until she leaves home to marry him. Carlos doesn’t approve of Otto until Sofia gives birth to her son.

Tía Carmen is Tio Mundo’s wife, Mundín and Lucinda’s mother, and the four García girls’ aunt. She helps raise the four girls when they are still children in the Dominican Republic.

Lucinda is Mundín’s sister, Tía Carmen and Tio Mundo’s daughter, and the four García sisters’ cousin. Growing up, Lucinda and Carlaare best friends.

Rafael Trujillo is the militant dictator of the Dominican Republic. The García family fears and hates him and his regime. Carlos helps plan an ambush of Trujillo, making the García’s a target of the secret police. The family goes to New York in order to escape Trujillo’s rule.

Gladys is a servant to the Garcías. Carla gives Gladys a toy bank that Carlos bought her. When Carlos and Laura find out, they fire Gladys.

Pupo is a member of the secret police who goes to the García house to investigate Carlos. Pupo is surprised and put off by his colleague Checo’s crass and violent behavior. Pupo and Checo both grew up poor.

Checo is a member of the secret police who goes to the García house to investigate Carlos. Checo is much crueler than his colleague Pupo. He threatens to sexually assault Sofia.