LeiFengwasamodelsoldier,OnDecember18,1940,dn'eageof18,nuary8,1960,hejoinedthearmy.
Inthesameyear,vedthePartyandthepeople,esult,rhisdeath,ChairmanMaocalledonthepeopleto"LearnfromComradeLeiFeng"eng'sspiritwillliveinourheartsforever
CharacterList
MajorCharacters
Esperanza-Thenovel’sheroineandnarrator,anapproximatelytwelve-year-oldChicana(Mexican-Americangirl)ameEsperanzameans“hope”inSpanish.
Esperanza(In-DepthAnalysis)
RachelandLucy-Esperanza’,theoldersister,wasborninTexas,whileRachel,theyounger,ranzaeventuallychoosesamoresexuallymaturefriend,Sally.
Nenny(In-DepthAnalysis)
snotagoodfriendtoEsperanza,asaphysicallyabusivefatherandrunsoffbeforeeighthgradetomarryamanwhowon’ranzafeelsprotectiveofSally.
Nenny-Esperanza’y,whoserealnameisMagdalena,isapretty,eNennyisimmature,sheisoftenasourceofembarrassmentforEsperanzawhenthetwoofthemplaywithRachelandLucy.
Sally(In-DepthAnalysis)
Marin-AyoungwomanfromPuertoRicowholiveswithhercousin’oughshehasafiancébackinPuertoRico,eendoftheyear,hercousinssendherbacktoPuertoRico.