How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay

“Why not ask Papi to come up and stay with them instead? Miguel wants to suggest. He doesn’t really understand why his parents can’t stay married even if they don’t get along.”

This passage offers insight into the perspective of Miguel, who serves as the novel’s viewpoint character and protagonist. He misses his father, and this contributes to his initial resistance to Tía Lola’s visit, as shown by his wish that Papi could “come up and stay with them instead.” As Miguel grows to love and accept Tía Lola, she helps him process challenging situations, such as his parents’ divorce, encouraging his growth as a character.

“‘Those two,’ Tía Lola is saying in Spanish to Miguel’s mother as she points to him and Juanita, ‘those two gave me my first welcome to this country. ¡Ay, Juanita! ¡Ay, Miguel!’ She spreads her arms for her niece and nephew, ‘Los quiero mucho.’”

Alvarez’s introduction of Tía Lola, the series’ titular character, establishes her loving, exuberant personality and develops the theme of The Role of Language in Shaping Identity. Although Miguel dislikes speaking Spanish at this point in the story, he helps locate Tía Lola by providing her with her “first welcome to this country” in Spanish. As the story continues, his great-aunt transforms his relationship with Spanish and his cultural identity. In addition, the phrase “Los quiero mucho,” which means “I love you lots,” reappears at key moments in the plot, reinforcing the thematic significance of language in Alvarez’s story.