Tell Me How It Ends Character Analysis

Valeria Luiselli

The author and narrator of Tell Me How It Ends, Luiselli is a Mexican writer and professor living in the United States. While waiting to receive her green card in 2014, she goes on… read analysis of Valeria Luiselli

Manu López

Manu is a sixteen-year-old boy from Honduras who has recently migrated to the United States in the aftermath of his grandmother’s death. The main reason he left Honduras, though, was because members of the Barrio… read analysis of Manu López

Alina López

Alina is a woman from Honduras living and working in the United States. She is also Manu’s aunt. Having originally come to the United States on her own to send money back to Manu… read analysis of Alina López

Luiselli’s Husband

Like Luiselli herself, Luiselli’s husband is a writer and an immigrant. When their family takes a road trip to Arizona and listens to radio programs covering the sudden influx of child migrants, Luiselli’s husband engages… read analysis of Luiselli’s Husband

Luiselli’s Niece

Luiselli’s niece is a nineteen-year-old woman who volunteers with Luiselli as a translator and interpreter at a nonprofit organization in Manhattan called The Door. She is waiting to hear back from colleges, and as… read analysis of Luiselli’s Niece

Luiselli’s Lawyer

Luiselli’s lawyer is a Spanish-speaking woman who helps Luiselli navigate the process of getting a green card. However, she eventually gives Luiselli’s case to one of her colleagues, changing jobs in order to work… read analysis of Luiselli’s Lawyer

Minor Characters

Luiselli’s Daughter

A little girl who frequently asks Luiselli—her mother—about the child migrants she (Luiselli) meets as a translator and interpreter. When she hears what these children have been through, Luiselli’s daughter often asks how the stories end, but Luiselli is never able to answer this question.

Luiselli’s Stepson

Luiselli’s stepson is a little boy whose biological father is Luiselli’s husband. When she narrates the road trip their family takes at the beginning of Tell Me How It Ends, Luiselli says that her stepson is visiting from Mexico.

Alina’s Daughters

Alina’s daughters are two young girls originally from Honduras. Like their cousin Manu, they endure harassment from gangs, so their mother pays for them to travel to the United States.