Essay Questions

Why is Efrén taking a bold decision to betray David and campaign for Jennifer Huerta for the position of presidency in school?

Efrén and David are close friends but have different visions and ideologies. Efrén’s philosophy in life is shaped by his circumstances. For instance, Efrén is the son of undocumented immigrants, and he knows the challenges his family goes through. On the other hand, David is a carefree person who does not understand the challenges facing immigrants. When David contests for the presidency in their school, he expects Efrén to support him unconditionally. However, Efrén disagrees with David’s unrealistic ideologies in his campaign and instead campaigns for Jennifer. Jennifer is the daughter of an undocumented immigrant, and she knows the challenges children go through when their parents are deported. Consequently, Efrén’s decision to betray David is justifiable because it is based on facts and reality.

How does Ernesto Cisneros build the theme of the challenges facing undocumented immigrants in the novel Efrén Divided?

The primary theme in the novel is immigration and the challenges undocumented persons go through in the United States of America. The novel focuses on Mexican citizens living in the United States illegally. However, children born in America automatically become legal citizens. The primary challenge facing undocumented immigrants is living in fear. For instance, Efrén’s parents live in fear of deportation. When the immigration officers start searching for undocumented persons, Efrén’s mother becomes the first victim, and she gets deported. The other challenge facing illegal immigrants is the lack of opportunities to support their families. Any undocumented person cannot get formal employment in America. Therefore, Efrén’s parents are casual laborers in factories working for long hours with little pay.

What makes Efrén a unique character, and how does he contribute to the success of the novel’s plot?

The entire narrative in the novel revolves around the life of Efrén and his role in the plot. Efrén is the eldest in his family and is in grade seven. Despite his young age, Efrén is a unique boy because he is responsible and participates in making important decisions that affect the family. Efrén knows there is a risk of his parents being deported at any time because they are undocumented. Therefore, Efrén is prepared to care for his siblings in case his parents are deported. For instance, When Efrén’s mother is deported, he cares for his siblings by ensuring they eat and attend school. Efrén takes care of their home while his father is away working for long hours to raise money to return Ama safely. It is also interesting to note that Efrén knows all the loopholes undocumented immigrants use to access America from Mexico. For instance, Efrén takes the money he receives from his father to pay a coyote to smuggle his mother back to the United States of America. Therefore, Efrén is a unique character because, despite his young age, he plays an important role in his family.