First Crossing - Celia's Story

Celia's Story - Connection to the Real World

In chapter 14 of House of the Scorpion, we learn how Celia came to be the possession of El Patron. Could something like this really happen? Do coyotes really exist? Today we will be reading chapter 1 from the book First Crossing: Stories About Teen Immigrants, edited by Donald R. Gallo. The chapter is a story entitled First Crossing by Pam Munoz Ryan. It is the story of a teenage Mexican boy heading to America with his father in search of work to help support their family back home. They enter the United States with the help of a coyote.

1. What is the coyote? Dangers?
   
2. Why did Marco and his father want to go to the United States?
   
3. How did Marco’s father’s absence affect his life?
   
4. How did Marco’s father go about getting a job once he was in the United States?
   
5. What’s a gringo?
   
6. How did Marco and his father get into the United States? How did the 9/11 attacks affect their journey?
   
7. What is La Migra?
   
8. What happened on their first crossing attempt? How many attempts did it take?
   
9. Why was the football game important?
   
10. What will Marco and his father do after both have entered the United States?
    
11. Plot Marco’s journey with Google Maps. (Tijuana, Mexico to Encinitas, California) How many miles did he travel? How long would it take?
    
12. House of the Scorpion Connection: Along with the producing opium, what other role(s) does the country of Opium serve for Aztlan and the United States.
    
13. House of the Scorpion Connection: Compare and contrast Marco's journey with Celia's journey.
    
14. House of the Scorpion Connection: Compare and contrast the coyotes in both stories.