under the feet of jesus - god help me

Petra

The matriarch of Estrella’s family. She is religious, hard-working, and protective of her children. At thirty-five, her body is so damaged by hard labor that her varicose veins make it hard to walk. She is stubborn and tough on her children, especially Estrella, but she carries a deep love for her eldest daughter.

Estrella

A teenage migrant laborer and protagonist of the novel. She is strong and determined. She takes care of her younger siblings and works as hard as the other adult laborers. She is also called Star, a nickname her now-absent father gave her in childhood. Though she is only thirteen, shw has a grim resolve that is more adult than her years

Alejo

A motherless sixteen-year-old laborer and Estrell’a love interest. He came from Texas with his cousin. Gumecindo, to work the fields in California. Industrious and clever, he longs to go to school and study geology.

Perfecto Flores

Petra’s companion after her first husband walks out on the family, leaving her alone with young children to raise.

Perla and Cookie

THe twins, Estrella’s younger sisters.

Ricky and Arnulfo

Estrella’s younger brothers.

Gumecindo

Alejo’s cousin and partner in crime.

Maxine Devridge

Blond haired and blue-eyed, Estrella’s childhood friend back home before the family moves.

Baby with No Mouth - Symbolism

Represents the silenced speech of migrant laborers. The images reaffirm the characters’ place at the margins of society. As migrant workers, Estrella and her family aren’t given a voice or treated like true citizens.

Tar Pits - Symbolism

Symbolizes migrants marginal position in American society where they are unseen and unheard.

The barn - symbolism

Represents a space where Estrella can compete her transformation and empowerment. Described as a place of religious contemplation. Estrella uses this building as a place for reflection.

Race and marginalization: theme

The family encounters social marginalization because they are in the middle-class. They constantly experience discrimination like when Estrella passes by the border police. Estrella has been thrown slurs and jokes at involving Latin American immigrants, making her feel uncomfortable.