We Were Here

Pages 5-32

Reading Check

1. It is part of his punishment for a crime he committed. (Pages 5-6)

2. Lying (Pages 9-11)

Short Answer

1. It appears Miguel’s mother is disappointed in him because of his crime, because she will not look at him when he is in juvenile hall. There are many instances early in the novel when Miguel’s mom appears to be at a loss for what to do with Miguel’s and his brother’s behavior. Miguel suggests that his mother would be sad but relieved if Miguel died. (Various pages)

2. He thinks the motivational posters are ridiculous. He thinks the history of the school is irrelevant and ignores it. He also doesn’t understand what use rehabilitation is if he must do it with a bunch of “dummies.” However, his reaction to the counselor and to his mother’s disappointment indicate that Miguel is more troubled by his environment than he pretends. (Various pages)

Pages 33-53

Reading Check

1. He says he stole a bike, earning him the nickname The Bike Thief. (Pages 38-40)

2. Mong and Miguel both self-isolate. (Pages 46-48)

3. Rondell (Pages 48-53)

Short Answer

1. Miguel decides he will dial a wrong number to spare his mother from speaking to him. To appear to comply with his counselor’s request, he will fake a conversation. (Pages 41-45)

2. Miguel realizes Jaden doesn’t know anything about Miguel or his background. Miguel does not answer, probably because he is doing his best to avoid dealing with the emotional burden of his crime. (Pages 48-53)

Pages 54-64

Reading Check

1. He says it is to see what happens. (Pages 57-59)

2. Mong offers to let Miguel come with him when he runs away. (Pages 59-63)

Short Answer

1. Miguel thinks Rondell is illiterate and naive. He thinks the boy has been taken advantage of because he is unintelligent and gullible, and therefore he has become a “bible thumper.” Miguel acknowledges that though he is a bible thumper, he is better than some people he knows. (Various pages)

2. Miguel would like to disappear and go somewhere where he is unknown to everyone. He is tempted to run away to Mexico and rid his mother of himself. (Pages 59-63)

Pages 65-97

Reading Check

1. He challenges him to a game of foosball. (Pages 69-71)

2. His cousin does not arrive to pick up the boys. (Various pages)

3. Miguel points out Rondell cannot read. (Pages 78-81)

Short Answer

1. Mei-li mourns the loss of her “specialness” as a child and the fact that life is uneventful, while Miguel wishes he could have a normal life due to his difficult circumstances. (Pages 82-89)

2. Miguel realizes that he wants a girl like Mei-li but that such a girl would not live with him in Mexico. He also realizes that he wants to live in the United States, because that is where he was born. This is the first indication the reader has that Miguel has the desire to continue living. (Pages 91-97)

Pages 98-154

Reading Check

1. Mong’s erratic behavior makes Miguel wonder if he is schizophrenic, and he frequently vomits after any physical exertion. (Various pages)

2. Assault and theft from a store (Pages 113-125)

3. He has a crazy temper. (Pages 139-142)

Short Answer

1. Rondell’s seeming innocence and excitement about the world around him seem to energize Mong and Miguel, who both have a more negative perspective on life. (Various pages)

2. Mong suffers from major kidney disease, requires dialysis, and is awaiting a transplant. Mong was also the victim of a murder-suicide when his father killed his mother and attempted to kill Mong before killing himself. Rondell’s mother was a crack addict, and he was removed from his aunt’s home after suspected physical and sexual abuse. (Pages 127-139)

Pages 155-194

Reading Check

1. Basketball (Pages 166-174)

2. Mong wanted to find out who Miguel is. (Pages 178-190)

Short Answer

1. Because of Mong’s violent past and his present kidney troubles, he has made peace with death. He says that he isn’t afraid because everything is temporary. It is revealed that Mei-li’s story is the story of Mong’s parents. (Various pages)

2. Mong used the necklace for good luck. He placed it on Miguel’s neck as a goodbye before killing himself. (Pages 190-194)

Pages 195-247

Reading Check

1. His mom and his counselor, Jaden (Pages 209-215)

2. Miguel has decided to stay in the United States, while Rondell intends to go to Mexico. (Pages 231-241)

Short Answer

1. Miguel shifts from acceptance to depression frequently. He is energized by the experience of the drums on the beach but the next day wonders if he should join Mong. (Various pages)

2. Rondell tells Miguel he was speaking to the rocks because they were his parents. Mong, earlier, told Miguel he could tell the future. Miguel himself believes he can control actions by thinking about them. Miguel decides that imagination is a way of surviving a difficult life. (Various pages)

Pages 248-284

Reading Check

1. It is stolen by Miguel’s girlfriend and her friends. (Pages 280-283)

2. He beats a person until they are unconscious for asking if pet names are a “gay trait.” (Pages 256-259)

Short Answer

1. Rondell feels as though he must protect Miguel when people say things behind his back. Miguel says that aside from Diego, Rondell has defended him more than anyone else in his life. (Various pages)

2. Miguel supports and encourages Rondell to do better, even while wondering if he is better off locked away where he cannot hurt anyone. The way Miguel cares for Rondell is like the way Jaden cares for the boys at the group home. He hopes Rondell will someday have a normal life. (Various pages)

Pages 285-320

Reading Check

1. Rondell says it isn’t his fault and tells him God will help them survive. (Pages 292-295)

2. He creates a fake basketball team and solicits people for money at a shopping mall. (Pages 301-302)

Short Answer

1. Rondell behaves as he always does, innocent and smiling. (Pages 304-305)

2. They experience lightheadedness, stomach pains, and dizziness. They also debate about silly things for hours on end and make little progress on their trek north. (Pages 295-298)

Pages 321-356

Reading Check

1. They perform hard labor with Miguel’s grandparents. (Pages 323-326)

2. Miguel killed him accidentally. (Pages 334-337)

Short Answer

1. At first, his grandfather doesn’t speak to him, and his grandmother avoids him. One day, after Miguel works especially hard, his grandmother knocks on the door of his shed, offers forgiveness, tells Miguel they are glad he is with them, and hugs Miguel. (Various pages)

2. Miguel is willing to return to the group home to take responsibility for his actions, despite not wanting to be there in the first place. Although Miguel is initially annoyed by Jaden and points out his gullibility, he appears to now view him as a mentor and someone to emulate. Miguel is surprised to realize that he wants to know what is going on in the group home while he is away. (Various pages)