Community can be hard to come by in Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida, and this is a pretty tough fact for Manny to face. He has a bunch of siblings but no real sense of belonging, so he's looking for a place to fit in—and it isn't always easy to find. Other characters also have tough times finding community, like Mom and Dad who are wary of all the gossip around town, but Manny's the one who really quests for a place to belong throughout the book. Surprisingly, as the book ends, we think he's finally found the community he needs most: himself. Go figure.
Questions About Community
- What makes community strong in this book? Are there elements of community that can make it weak, too? How so?
- Who gets to be part of a community? And what makes other folks into outcasts? Is it ever possible for an outcast to be accepted back into the community in this book?
- How does community positively impact the characters? And what are the negative effects? Overall, does living in a community do more good or harm for Manny's family?
Chew on This
Feeling accepted is key, and in this book, it's most important to every character that they feel accepted as part of a community.
Privacy takes the cake, and in this book, community is great and all, but not at the expense of personal space.