90 Miles to Havana

Issues of gender are slightly touched upon in the novel. Compare Julian’s mother, Angelita, and Dolores, to Julian’s father, Caballo, and Tomas, respectively. How does each comparison highlight the themes of survival and sacrifice? What role does gender play in this discussion?

There are several “overlaps” or commonalities between Julian’s life in Havana to his life in Miami. For example, Tomas reminds him of Bebo, and Ramirez is like the little woman trying to catch him. What other commonalities exist between both places? How is his life in America different? How is this significant to Julian’s character development?

Is Caballo a sympathetic character? Why or why not? Why is his character important for understanding the message of the novel?

There are several moments of foreshadowing in the novel. For example, Julian knows right away that Dog is up to no good. Trace more of these moments and analyze their significance. Why does the author make these connections? What purpose does this kind of “prediction” serve?

Analyze the significance of minor or fleeting characters like Armando, Lucia, Dolores, Marta, etc. What do their characters do for the novel? They are minor, but why are they important for sustaining its message?

The narrative jumps from past to present tense quickly and almost quietly. Why do you think this is? What kind of impact does narrator tense have on the novel as a whole?

Look at the titles of each chapter. Why are they named that way? What expectations does the name set up for the chapter? Does it meet those? Why or why not?

Julian mentions several nicknames for other kids in the camp. What kind of power does naming serve? How is a name different or similar to a nickname? What does it say about their personality?