The Only Road

Imagine you were in Jaime’s situation at the beginning of the novel. Would you have chosen to take the uncertain road north or to stay with your family and join the Alphas?

Explain the roles that Padre Kevin and El Gordo play in the novel. Are they good characters? Bad characters? Why?

In Chapter 16 Rafa steals gum and cigarettes from a man who refuses to pay him for some work. Is it ever OK to steal? Why or why not?

Compare the immigration officers Jaime encounters in the novel. How are they different? The same? Does working for immigration make a person bad?

Jaime and Ángela often benefit from the kindness of others and help those they can along the way. What is the moral obligation individuals have to each other in times of suffering? Where does that obligation end?

Several times, characters trade on other people’s suffering for their own financial gain. Are their actions moral? Immoral? Why?

Write an essay from the perspective of the tourists Jaime and Ángela encounter in Ciudad Juárez. What did the tourists see when they interacted with the cousins?

The characters in the novel are often hungry and pass the time remembering favorite meals. Write an essay about how food connects to culture and family.