Stella Díaz Has Something to Say

Stella and her family go to a Latin American supermarket to prepare for Thanksgiving. Their relatives in Mexico always visit for Thanksgiving, even though they don’t celebrate the holiday in Mexico. Sometimes Stella thinks she would fit in better in Mexico than she does in the US, but in reality, she doesn’t know much about Mexico. In the supermarket, Stella likes hearing everyone around her speaking Spanish. She wishes she was more comfortable speaking in Spanish. The only people Stella is willing to speak Spanish to are her mom and her grandfather, because they are patient and don’t mind when she makes mistakes.

On Thanksgiving, Stella anxiously awaits her relatives’ arrival. She hasn’t seen them in a couple of years. When her aunt and grandfather arrive, they talk more to Nick than to her because they know him better and he speaks Spanish well. After dinner, everyone looks at old photos from Mexico. Stella’s mom says that when she was young, her father used to have parties where they would play music all night long. Stella wishes she still lived in Mexico so that her relatives really felt like her family. As the night continues, everyone dances, sings, and laughs. Stella takes comfort in the fact that “giggling and smiling is something that doesn’t have to be translated” (93).

Stella goes to the office with her mom on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. She can tell that her mom is stressed and busy with work. Stella feels bad for her mom and wishes her dad was a better parent. He doesn’t send them money even though he’s supposed to and can afford it. Stella decides to write a story to kill time while she waits for her mom to finish work. The next day, Ms. Bell asks Stella to read her story aloud to the class. Stella is nervous, but she does it, and Stanley compliments the story. Ms. Bell announces that everyone will have to present to the class about the animal they choose to research. Stella is terrified.

To celebrate the New Year, Stella and her family go snowshoeing in Wisconsin Dells. Stella is slower than Nick and her mom, and she falls behind. Nick tells her that bigfoot might catch her if she doesn’t hurry. Stella is scared, so Nick carries her on his back. They pass some ice fishing huts, which remind Stella of her school project. Feeling anxious, she asks her mom if she is afraid of speaking in front of crowds, too, but her mom says no—she grew up watching her father play music, so she is used to public performances.

Stella’s mom explains that Christmas is different in Mexico because there, they celebrate Three Kings Day, when the three wise men leave presents for children in their shoes. Nick and Stella want to celebrate Three Kings Day, and their mom explains that they never did it because she wanted them to fit in after moving to the US. Stella doesn’t feel like she does fit in, though. She feels like her fish Pancho, because he doesn’t belong with other fish.

Stella and Nick are surprised when their dad calls just a little while after Christmas. He asks if they received the gifts he sent, which are the same gloves and socks from their uncle’s clothing store that he sends every year. On the phone, he says that he would do anything for Nick and Stella, which annoys them since he doesn’t seem to do much for them.

Jenny is sick after winter break, so Stella has no one to play with at school. At recess, Jessica and her friend Bridget make fun of Stella and call her stupid. Stella is enraged, and she yells at Jessica that she isn’t stupid. Reflecting on this interaction later, Stella realizes that as much as she wants to move back to Mexico sometimes, she doesn’t speak Spanish well enough to stand up for herself there.

At home, Stella tells Nick that they are “aliens.” He explains that this is not a bad thing—it just means they have a unique culture. He tells Stella that he will help her with her school project.

One day in February, Jenny sits with her friend Anna at lunch. Stella is nervous at first, but when she talks to Anna, she realizes that Anna is nice and interesting. They talk about Valentine’s Day, because soon there will be a school party to celebrate it. Stella isn’t sure what card she should give Stanley, but she settles on one that says, “You’re the Coolest” (128), hoping that he will want to be her friend.

Stella’s mom comes to help out at the Valentine’s Day party, and she overhears Jessica bullying Stella. On the way home, Stella’s mom says that no one can hurt Stella if she doesn’t let them bother her. She explains that Stella is strong and bright, and that this is why her full name is Estrella, which means star. This makes Stella feel better.