1. Celiane seems to be very anxious when it comes to talking to or writing to her father while she is in Haiti. What causes this anxiety? How does it lessen once she arrives in New York? Celiane describes herself as more of a country person than a city person. In what ways does she seem to change while adjusting to staying in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and when she is in Brooklyn, New York?
2. Manman, Celiane’s mother, must take care of her children while their father is away in New York. How has the strain of their Papa being away affected her? How do Manman’s sickness and injury change her? In what ways does she expect Moy to be “the man of the house” and “her little boy” at the same time?
3. Moy has taken on the responsibilities that his father left behind and goes to school to be a tailor even though he wants to be an artist. Why do you think he remains in school to be a tailor when he loves art so much? How does Moy seem to change when he stays in the city—Port-au-Prince and Brooklyn? In what ways does Moy struggle to become a “man” in his parents’ eyes?
4. Papa, Celiane’s father, moved to New York to raise money for his family to move there. How do you think his being away for so long has affected each person in the family? In what ways must he now adjust to his family being together? How does Celiane’s letter to him at the end of the story change him?
5. Tante Rose, Papa’s sister, lives in Port-au-Prince and works as a nurse. In what ways does she help Celiane’s family while they are in the city? Why is there such a struggle between Tante Rose and Manman?

SETTINGS AND THEME

1. One of the proverbs in the book is “Behind the mountains are more mountains,” which means that once you overcome one problem, there will always be more waiting to be solved. How does this apply to this story? In what ways does family help in overcoming such obstacles?
2. In her journal, Celiane writes that she was afraid living in a different country and learning a different language would make her a different person. Is that true? Explain. If this were something that you had to do, how would it change you?
3. Proverbs are used many times in this story. Celiane says a proverb makes “a picture for you and you must discover for yourself how to interpret it.” How would you interpret the proverbs below, and why did you interpret them the way you did?

“Little yams make a big pile.”

“The empty sack does not stand.”

“Sweet syrup draws ants.”

“Don’t look down your nose at old rags.

Remember, they fit you fine before.”