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Book 1, Round 7
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Bodega Dreams, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Latinx Immigrants and Broken Dreams
Crime, Wealth and Activism
Religion, Sexism, and Poverty
Loyalty, Solidarity, and Community
Summary
Analysis
The next day, Sapo calls, saying that he needs a favor: he wants Julio to hold onto a package for him. Julio agrees as usual, and he tells Sapo he has news for Bodega. That night, around 10:30 p.m., Julio and Blanca are walking home from the subway, exhausted after a long day at Hunter. They spot Sapo’s car waiting outside their apartment. Blanca is annoyed, but to everyone’s surprise, she lets it slide—though she cracks a joke about how their new apartment doesn’t allow pets, so Sapo won’t be able to come around anymore. Julio stashes Sapo’s envelope and jokes more with Blanca. She seems to be in a better mood than usual and asks Julio not to come home too late.
Quiñonez highlights the persistent tension that Julio’s loyalty to Sapo causes in his marriage. Despite Blanca’s reluctance to endorse Sapo’s activities, it seems she knows that Julio’s involvement with Sapo is somehow helping them get a better apartment. Once again, Quiñonez hints that the underground community, for all its failings, is able to come through with tangible improvements to Julio and Blanca’s lives much faster than their lengthy plan of educating themselves part time and working to save for a better home.
Themes
Sapo and Julio arrive at the Taino Towers on 124th Street and Third Avenue, where Bodega is holding court in one of his many apartments. Nene answers the door and tells them to wait. Bodega is talking with Nazario about a man named Alberto Salazar. Bodega introduces Julio to Nazario, and Nazario is happy to hear that Julio is in college. Nazario and Bodega reflect on how good it will be to have another college-educated kid in the neighborhood. They reason optimistically that soon El Barrio will house an “army” of educated young professional people, and nobody will be able to take the neighborhood away from them.
Nazario and Bodega want to empower Latinx culture by building a middle class that will make others in the U.S. finally respect Latinx people instead of denigrating them. Bodega and Nazario refer to upwardly mobile Latinx youths as an “army” because they believe they’re engaged in a class war. In other words, they think that New York’s political elite use systemic oppression to prevent Latinx people from gaining access to better jobs and better lives to capitalize on cheap immigrant labor that keeps them rich and powerful.
Themes
Nazario steps out to talk with Sapo, and Julio drops the news that Vera is coming to town. Bodega gets excited and starts pestering Julio with questions. Julio wonders if Bodega even wants advice on what to wear. Then, Nazario comes back in and says he needs to talk to Bodega—alone. Julio is relieved—the less he knows about street business, the better. Julio excuses himself and chats with Nene at the door. Nene isn’t too bright, and he mostly talks in nonsensical song lyrics. Julio hears Bodega and Nazario say the name Alberto Salazar again. Julio is relieved that he’ll be done with this business soon and living with Blanca in a nice apartment without having to hide anything from her.
Quiñonez continues to flesh out the disenfranchisement and marginalization that Spanish Harlem’s residents face. Here, it seems that Bodega’s brother Nene is neurologically atypical (as he struggles with adult conversation) and may have special needs. Nonetheless, there don’t seem to be resources available for his care, so Bodega takes care of Nene himself by taking Nene with him everywhere he goes.
Themes
