Before We Were Free

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. cotorrita (“little parrot”) (Chapter 1)

2. the secret police (SIM) (Chapter 2)

3. Mr. Washburn, the consul from the U.S. Embassy, and his family (Chapter 2)

4. friends of Papi’s who died in an “accident” (Chapter 3)

5. a light in Tío Toni’s casita (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Chapter 1 begins in an American-style school in the Dominican Republic in 1960. The narrator (Anita) learns that her cousin Carla and her family have been accepted to immigrate to the US. (Chapter 1)

2. The SIM are monitoring their family because their Tío Toni tried to depose the dictator a few months prior. (Chapter 2)

3. Their teacher, Mrs. Brown, introduces the “Secret Santa” game to Anita’s class. The next day, the students learn that the activity has been cancelled since there were complaints from the Dominican parents that writing secret notes would make the situation even more tense. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. She erases them so they are not found. (Chapter 4)

2. a quinceañera (Chapter 5)

3. “Mr. Smith’s friends are here.” (Chapter 5)

4. “El Jefe”/Trujillo (Chapter 5)

5. because she has her first menstrual cycle (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. She realizes that she has feelings for Sammy, Mr. Washburn’s son. Unfortunately, like many other Americans that Anita and her family know, the Washburns might return to the United States. (Chapter 4)

2. Anita’s mother confides in her about the reason her family has gone into hiding, and explains that Anita should not roam their property anymore. She also emphasizes that they will continue to stay in the Dominican Republic, unlike some of their relatives, in order to fight for the country’s freedom from Trujillo. This conversation marks a turning point in the mother-daughter relationship, as Anita’s mother sees Anita more like an adult. (Chapter 4)

3. “Operation Maid” is the plan that Papi and the Washburns devise in order to send Lucinda away from the property. They devise this plan because Lucinda has attracted the attention of El Jefe at the quinceañera, and her family wants to protect her from the dictator. (Chapter 6)

4. Anita’s family is concerned that Lorena is an informant. Chucha takes advantage of Lorena’s superstitions by trying to scare her so she leaves her employment willingly. They do this by putting Anita’s bloody sheets from her first menstruation cycle in Chucha’s coffin; after seeing this image, she resigns from her employment with the family. (Chapter 6)

Chapters 7-11

Reading Check

1. that the school is closing (Chapter 7)

2. weapons (Chapter 7)

3. her first kiss (Chapter 8)

4. so they can help others who are in hiding (Anita’s Diary)

5. in the trunk of Papi’s Chevy (Anita’s Diary)

6. the Queen of Hearts playing card (Anita’s Diary)

7. snow (Chapter 11)

Short Answer

1. By Chapter 7, Anita’s feelings for Sam have changed and she no longer has a crush on him. (Chapter 7)

2. The Washburns leave the property where Anita and her family live. First, Sam, Susie and Mrs. Washburn leave in April; then Mr. Washburn moves out of the property, and finally he leaves in June. (Chapter 8)

3. Papi and Mami, along with their companions, are planning the assassination of Trujillo. This goes as planned; however, Pupo, the head of army, does not make the official announcement of Trujillo’s death as planned. Instead, Trujillo’s family is in charge of the government, and Anita’s family is targeted for their involvement in the assassination. (Chapters 8-9)

4. Anita and her family are now in New York, and Anita is attending school there. They are waiting for news from Mr. Washburn about Papi. (Chapter 10)