Gary Soto

The theme of "Growing Up" by Gary Soto is the importance of family and the realization of maturity. The protagonist, Maria, initially believes she is too mature to vacation with her family, opting...

The theme of Gary Soto's "The Bike" is children learning life lessons. This theme is portrayed through the story of a young boy riding his bike. He disobeys his mother's orders to stay on the street...

The irony in Gary Soto's "Mexicans Begin Jogging" centers on a Mexican-American worker who, despite being a legal citizen, is forced to flee with illegal immigrants during a border patrol raid. The...

In “Growing Up,” the narrator reveals Maria’s regret as soon as she realizes she has hurt her father’s feelings. On the morning the rest of the family leaves, before she hears about the accident, she...

Study guides for Gary Soto's The Afterlife can explore its supernatural themes and Latin American magic realism. Discussion questions could include: What elements of magic realism are present, and...

The imagery in "Oranges" enhances its theme by contrasting cold and warmth to depict the emotions of first love. The cold imagery, like "frost cracking" and "fog hanging," reflects the boy's...

Because Maria is the protagonist and antagonist of "Growing Up," she struggles with her desire for independence, which conflicts with her remaining a child. She comes to an understanding of these...

Abel asks Jesse to babysit so he and Maureen can go out, and Jesse agrees out of love for his brother. Despite sensing Abel's reluctance to leave him out, Jesse understands the situation and...