Why is Elena attracted to Eugene in "American History"?

Elena—or "Skinny Bones" as the bullies at school call her—feels a kinship with Eugene because he reads, as she does. Elena is a straight A student, but is held back by the prejudice of the school from the higher classes. She is not allowed to demonstrate her knowledge. Eugene is a reader like herself and lives in her favorite house—so she naturally seeks him out. When she does, although she fears rejection and is even prepared for it, she finds someone with whom she can share her ideas, her knowledge, and her dreams. Eugene is naturally shy and quiet, so he likes to listen. Elena is outgoing, but she has no one who will listen to her. It's the perfect friendship, made stronger by the fact that they are both isolated and alone in their community.

Why is Elena attracted to Eugene in "American History"?

There are a couple of reasons that Elena likes Eugene. First, he lives in the house next to her tenement building and is living the life that she wants. She dreams of sitting at the kitchen table in his house to read and to eat like the older couple who lived there before. She dreams of a time when she can have a backyard to lounge in and soak up the sun; so, becoming his friend might give her access to realizing those dreams. But it's not just his house that entices her to befriend Eugene. Elena also doesn't have any friends at Public School Number 13. The majority of students at school are African American and they tease her for being Puerto Rican. She hopes that making a friend of the new boy might give her some happiness and joy at school, too. Elena even says the following:

"There was only one source of beauty and light for me that school year--the only thing I had anticipated at the start of the semester. That was seeing Eugene . . . I liked him right away because he sat at the kitchen table and read books for hours."

Elena therefore likes Eugene because he represents a new opportunity for her to have a friend at school, he likes to read books at his kitchen table, and he was living her dream.

How do Eugene and Elena compare and contrast in "American History" by Judith Ortiz Cofer?

Eugene and Elena are different because she is a Puerto Rican girl who lives in a large apartment complex and he is a white boy from Georgia who has just moved into the house next door. She has a dark complexion, while he has blonde hair and glasses. There doesn't seem to be any reason why these two would become friends, except that they are both minorities in a mostly African American public school in New Jersey.  At school, both Elena and Eugene receive nicknames from the other students: "Skinny Bones" and "Hick." They also find out that they both like to read, so they start reading certain books together and talking about them. Then, they also discover that their mothers are both unhappy to be in Paterson and both hope to move from the area as soon as possible. Sadly, the fact that Eugene is from Georgia is the reason behind the termination of their friendship. His mother tells Elena that they will be moving soon, so there's no need to have a friendship with Eugene; but coming from Georgia, she's probably just against any interracial mixing or socializing. Thus, Elena discovers one more difference between her background and Eugene's: prejudice. As a result, their friendship is discontinued and she walks home sorrowful.  

How do Elena's and Eugene's backgrounds differ in "American History"?

Elena is Puerto Rican and she lives in a tenement building for immigrants. Eugene is from Georgia, white, and lives in the two-story house next to Elena's building. It seems as if Eugene's family is well enough off financially; although, they must be going through a transition in life, or a career change, because they are a long way from Georgia. Plus, Eugene's mother is a nurse, his father also works, but his mother says that their stay in the house next to El Building is only temporary. They don't want to live in their current situation for long.

Elena, on the other hand, is accustomed to salsa music, prejudice at school, and listening to her parents dream of a better life. Being from Georgia, Eugene is most likely used to being in the majority at school, so this is a big change for him when he moves to Patterson, New Jersey and must attend Public School Number 13. Based on the way Eugene's mother treats Elena, Eugene is more than likely not accustomed to experiencing any type of prejudice towards him. Even though there are major differences in their backgrounds, Elena seeks friendship from Eugene and she is surprised to be received well rather than rejected by "snobbery."

What would you say to Elena about her experience with Eugene in "American History" by Judith Ortiz Cofer?

Cofer's protagonist in "American History" Elena, whose family has recently moved to New Jersey from Puerto Rico, feels the effects of being different at a school with a mostly African American student population. When Eugene moves into the house next door and starts attending the same school, Elena hopes to become his friend. Because Eugene is white, he also feels the effects of being a minority at school. As a result, Elena and Eugene become friends and find strength at school together even though other students call him "the Hick" and her "Skinny Bones." Elena also seems to have a crush on Eugene because her mother tells her, "Elena, you are acting 'moony.'" Elena explains that "moony" means that she is acting "like a girl stupidly infatuated." But for a young girl who feels lonely at school, why wouldn't she be excited to have the new boy in school as a close friend?

Elena's experience with Eugene is happy and positive until they make a study date at his house one evening. Unfortunately, Eugene's mother answers the knock and does not permit Elena to be friends with her son anymore, let alone come into the house and study. It is this experience that teaches Elena the most about the realities of prejudice in life. For example, Elena feels completely shocked when Eugene's mother says the following:

"You live there? . . . I don't know how you people do it . . . Listen. Honey. Eugene doesn't want to study with you. He is a smart boy. Doesn't need help. You understand me. I am truly sorry if he told you you could come over. He cannot study with you. It's nothing personal. You understand? We won't be in this place much longer, no need for him to get close to people--it'll just make it harder for him later. Run back home now."

When giving advice to Elena after this experience, one might first empathize with her situation and let her know that the pain she feels from such an experience is not her fault. People who are prejudiced are intolerant because they are narrow-minded, not because she has anything wrong with her. Consequently, people like Eugene's mother miss out on experiencing different personalities, stories, cultures, and perspectives towards life. Elena might also need to know that she should not close herself off from other people because of this disheartening and discouraging experience. She should realize that not every person is prejudiced and to give others a chance before judging others herself. It is tough to bounce back after being treated so poorly, but she can also find strength in the fact that she does not need to perpetuate prejudice and hate, either, because she knows how it feels. 

Is Elena really in love with Eugene in "American History," or just the idea of him?

Elena never directly says that she is in love with Eugene. She understands that he is a friend and that their connection could involve something more personal, but the story doesn't progress enough to get to that point. Elena is in the beginning stages of being interested in Eugene, though. Her mother even notices that Elena is noting Eugene and tells her that she is becoming "Enamorada," which translates to "in love."

As far as Elena being in love with the idea of Eugene is concerned, she truly appreciates his friendship because both of them feel the prejudice directed against them at school. It's nice to finally have a friend who won't be rude to her each day. The idea that she is in love with, however, is that which she imagines is found in his home. She's in love with the idea of sitting at a kitchen table in a house, not an apartment, and having a loving relationship like the one she witnessed between the old couple who lived there before Eugene moved in. It would seem, then, that Elena's dream is to have this when she grows up, but if she could experience some of it at that moment with Eugene, she would be happy to do so.

How do Elena and Eugene know each other in American History?

In an otherwise miserable school year, there's one bright spot for Elena. His name is Eugene. Eugene's the new kid at school, who's just moved with his family to Paterson, New Jersey from the South. They live in Elena's neighborhood, in a house formerly occupied by an old Jewish couple.

Elena lives not far from Eugene and his family in an apartment block colloquially known as El Building. From her bedroom, Elena can see Eugene inside his kitchen, where he sits at the table and reads books for hours. To the bookish Elena, this only makes the tall, handsome Eugene even more attractive.

Before long, Elena has developed a major crush on Eugene, and she plucks up the courage to talk to him. Much to Elena's delight—and relief—Eugene, though painfully shy, seems to like her, and over the next few weeks, they regularly walk home together.

Eventually, they arrange to study together at Eugene's house. Elena's very excited at the prospect, but her excitement turns to crushing disappointment when Eugene's mom won't let her into the house. Although she doesn't come right out and say it, it's clear that Eugene's mom is prejudiced against Elena on account of her being Puerto Rican.