Stella Díaz Has Something to Say

How does Stella feel about taking speech classes at school? How does her speech teacher, Ms. Thompson, make her feel? To what degree do these classes support Stella, and to what degree to they exacerbate her feelings of isolation and self-doubt?

How does Stella feel at first about Jenny’s new friend Anna? How and why do Stella’s feelings change over time? How do these feelings reflect Stella’s developing self-image and ability to relate to others?

How is Stella usually feeling when her face turns roja? On Page 119, Stella turns roja for a different reason than usual. What makes this time different? Why does Stella consistently use the Spanish word for “red” when referring to her face?

Describe the relationship between Nick and Stella. To what degree does he act as a paternal figure for her? Stella compares him to a male sea dragon. What does this comparison suggest about her view of their relationship? Does this view change over the course of the novel?

How does Stella’s opinion of Jessica change throughout the novel? How does Stella’s improved self-confidence allow her to understand others more fully, including her antagonists? In answering this question, you might consider Stella’s epiphany as she watches Jessica deliver her final project.

Stella wishes that she and Jenny were in the same class. Does she benefit from being in a different class than her best friend? How so?

Why does the custodian Don cry at the ceremony the school holds for him? What does this ceremony represent to him? What does it represent to Stella?

What is the effect of including Spanish words in the novel? How does Stella’s intermingling of English and Spanish reflect her understanding of herself?