When I Was Puerto Rican

When I Was Puerto Rican is an example of a coming-of-age story. How is Santiago’s coming-of-age experience influenced by her family circumstances?

• How do these circumstances make it harder and/or easier for her to accept that the world is an imperfect and unfair place? What evidence from the text shows this?
• How do her family circumstances make it harder and/or easier for her to rely on herself and find her individual identity? What evidence from the text shows this?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt asks students to apply what they have learned about coming-of-age stories to Santiago’s specific text and to target their application to the specific thematic area of Family and Family Duty. It may be helpful to explain to students that the wording of the bulleted elements of the prompt is designed to allow for mixed conclusions where necessary: for instance, students are allowed to conclude that Santiago’s family circumstances make it both harder and easier for her to rely on herself. Students may have differing opinions about the influence of Santiago’s family circumstances, and their perspectives will be enriched by hearing opposing views. You might ask students to write preliminary individual answers, and then allow for a discussion, either in small groups or as a whole class, before students finalize their answers.