Narrator watches her mother make the decision to leave her family to escape the horrors of domestic violence. After years of being left alone, it is her turn to bring the baby she is carrying to safety and a better life.
Pre-Reading Activity:
- Sit in a circle. Think about this sentence. “I used to be _______, but now I’m ______.” Teacher completes her sentence. For example, “I used to be afraid of the dark, but now I’m okay in the dark. I’m not really afraid.” OR: “I used to be so shy, but now I’ve got a big mouth!”
- Complete the sentence by filling in the blanks: I used to be ______________, but now I’m _____________. Go around the circle and share your responses.
Post-reading:
How do you think the narrator would complete the sentence frame?
I used to be ____________, but now I”m _____________.
Share your thoughts with a classmate. Did anyone have a similar sentence as yours? What surprised you about your classmates’ sentences?
Optional Activity (Topic: PREGNANCY)
The writer waits until the middle of her story to tell us that she is pregnant. Why do you think she does this? Do you think if you had known she was pregnant right away (earlier in the story), you would have a different reaction?
Would you like the writer in a different way?
Do you know anyone who has had an unplanned pregnancy?
How was this person’s situation different from the writers?
● Imagine you are the writer of this story. Choose one letter to write from the choices below:
A. Write a letter to your unborn child. Tell the baby whatever is on your mind. Maybe you will write about what you hope for the baby. Maybe you will describe the journey to the USA. Maybe you can describe why you left home.
B. Write a letter to the child, your son, who is now ten years old. You are his mother. What will you tell this child?
C. Write to this young boy (the baby who is now ten years old) from the perspective of another person on this journey. What will you tell him about how his mother managed on the trip?
Other activities:
-Draw a picture of the writer who is pregnant, crossing the river.
-Choose a name for the baby boy. Why did you pick that name?
-You are the baby who the writer was pregnant with. You are now fourteen years old. Your mother just told you the story of her journey. What questions do you have for her? What do you want to know about your mother?