Return to Sender Plot
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Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
By Liane Hicks
The Paquettes run a dairy farm in Vermont but are in danger of losing the farm after their father's accident. The Cruz family is from Mexico and has immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. The story is told through the eyes of two 11-year-olds, Tyler Paquette and Mari Cruz. This important book helps students build a deeper understanding of immigration and migrant workers, and how friendship can break down stereotypes and build bridges to a better world.
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Storyboard Description
Have students create a visual plot diagram for Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez, highlighting key moments from the story.
Storyboard Text
- RETURN TO SENDER
- ICE
- ICE
- ICE
- EXPOSITION / CONFLICT
- RISING ACTION
- 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.
- FALLING ACTION
- 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."
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