Die Paquettes betreiben eine Milchfarm in Vermont, laufen aber Gefahr, die Farm nach dem Unfall ihres Vaters zu verlieren. Die Familie Cruz stammt aus Mexiko und ist auf der Suche nach einem besseren Leben in die Vereinigten Staaten eingewandert. Die Geschichte wird aus der Sicht der beiden Elfjährigen Tyler Paquette und Mari Cruz erzählt. Dieses wichtige Buch hilft Schülern dabei, ein tieferes Verständnis für Immigration und Arbeitsmigranten zu entwickeln und wie Freundschaft Klischees abbauen und Brücken zu einer besseren Welt bauen kann.
In dieser Aktivität erstellen die Schüler ein visuelles Diagramm der wichtigsten Ereignisse in Return to Sender. Die Schüler sollten wichtige Wendepunkte im Roman identifizieren, wie Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action und Resolution.
Storyboard-Text
ZURÜCK AN DEN ABSENDER
ICE
ICE
ICE
EXPOSITION / CONFLICT
STEIGENDE HANDLUNG
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez is about two families, the Paquette family who live on a dairy farm in Vermont and the Cruz family who immigrated from Mexico to the United States in search of a better life. Mr. Cruz and his two brothers work on the Paquette farm (despite being undocumented) when the farm is in desperate need of workers after Mr. Paquette has an accident and the Grandfather passes away.
CLIMAX / TURNING POINT
Tyler is unsure about the arrival of the Mexican family on his farm. Despite the family being kind and hard working, Tyler hears that they are "illegal", meaning they don't have proper documentation to work in the U.S. Tyler worries his family is breaking the law by hiring them. Tyler is also mourning the loss of his grandfather and anxious as the family had worried they'd lose the farm altogether. Mrs. Paquette calls the Cruz family angels that have come to help save the farm.
FALLENDE AKTION
The Cruz family immigrated to the U.S. together and Ofie and Luby were born in North Carolina. However, Señora Cruz went back to Mexico to see her dying mother and but she hasn’t been heard from in a year. Mari and her family miss her every day and pray for her safe return. Meanwhile, with the help of the Cruzes things are improving at the Paquette farm. Tyler and Mari become close friends and bond over stargazing. The girls attend school and become close with Tyler's grandmother.
CONCLUSION
The Cruzes are shocked when Tio Felipe is arrested while out with Ben Paquette one evening. He is forced to remain in prison for months until he is deported to Mexico. The family finally hears from their mother, but she has been kidnapped by human traffickers and there is a ransom. Tyler gives the Cruzes all the money he saved for a school trip to help. After saving Senora Cruz, the family has another scare a few weeks later when ICE agents raid the farm!
With the help of their Spanish teacher and a kind lawyer, Mari and Tyler go to the police to plead the Cruz's case. Mari explains about the ordeal her mother has been through and that her family are not criminals but simply a family seeking work in the U.S. She offers herself up to the police if they will let her parents go, especially her mother who has been through so much already. The officer is moved by her appeal and says he will do what he can.
In the end, the Cruz's are deported back to Mexico and without their help, the Paquettes are not able to continue farming. Tyler is sad to lose a friend. He and Mari write to and encourage each other by saying they are looking at the same stars. Tyler writes, "We are the ones we have been waiting for ... You and me, Mari, it's up to us. We are the ones who are going to save this planet. So we've got to stay connected - through the stars above and the swallows and letters back and forth. Your friend forever... Tu amiga, para siempre."