Robo en La Noche Chapter Summaries & Characters

Capítulo 1

Makenna is 15 years old on a plane heading to San Jose with her dad. Dr. Parker is an ecologist. Her mom died in a car accident when she was 12. She has a sister in college named Alex. She is sad because her friends and her horse, Bender, are back in Michigan. She feels very alone.

Capítulo 2

There are lots of earthquakes, it is peaceful, and there are great jungles. C.R. is known for excellent hospitals, beaches and ecotourism. There is no dictator, it is a democracy and 96% people ("ticos") can read. Cecilio drives them to the ranch. She now lives in a tiny house with one bedroom, small bathroom, and a living room.

Capítulo 3

Margarita makes breakfast for Makenna; it is rice and beans. Makenna thinks its weird to have gallo pinto in the morning. Margarita's first husband and Ines' dad was Manuel, but he died in a car accident; Ines never met him. She married Ricardo when Ines was 2 years old and he became her father. Makenna can't imagine calling someone else "mom". Ines is 43, skinny, long hair, and a big nose.

Capítulo 4

Makenna and Ines cut mangos and other fruit for the birds. She did not have tropical fruit in Michigan. Cecilio ate some of the mangos and then Ines was mad, but they were joking. Cecilio said he needed to leave to go to his mom's house for her birthday. Family is really important in Costa Rica. They need a guard because there are bad people. Cecilio's dogs will help guard the birds. The aviary was large and the birds flew had great colors and feathers.

Capítulo 5

Makenna is with Ines in the aviary, they talk about how the birds get to the ranch. Either they are taken by MINAE or people can't look after them anymore. They talk about how she misses her friends and horse and she starts to cry. Ines comforts her. Makenna's job becomes to look after a baby bird who has a hurt wing and leg. She names the bird Mimi after her mom. Then Juan Carlos comes (Ines' boyfriend) and is very rude and grabs Ines.

Capítulo 6

Makenna goes to the big house for breakfast. She talks to Ricardo, who tells her more about the ranch, and how people rob the birds because money is the only important thing to them. They take eggs and babies from the jungle. Families and generations of bad people rob the birds. MINAE guards the birds so people don't steal them. They arrest criminals and then give the birds to the ranch. The birds stay there for 3 months then are released when they are ready to live in the jungle. Ricardo says that Makenna is already a "tica".

Makenna

Daughter of David Parker. Her mother died in a car crash. She did not want to go to Costa Rica because she was leaving her friends, horse, and phone. Shares a bond with Ines because each lost a parent. 15 years old.

Dr. David Parker

Father of Makenna. His wife passed away in a car crash. Has new work in Costa Rica as an ecologist. He has 2 kids including Makenna. Has not re-married since his past wife. 44 years old.

Alex

Sister of Makenna and daughter of Dr. David Parker. University student in Michigan.

Cecilio

He is the ranch security guard. He is also the driver to bring people to the ranch. He lives in a small house with his with Lilia and 4 children.

Lilia

Wife of Cecilio.

Inés

Daughter of Margarita and Ricardo. Her original father died before she knew him. She is 43. She is tall, skinny, and has long hair.

Manuel

Ines' biological father. He passed away before she was born.

Margarita

Wife of Ricardo and Mother of Inés. She is the "señora" of the ranch and does the cooking.

Ricardo

Ines' step-father and Margarita's second husband. He owns the ranch and adopted Inés when she was two years old.

Juan Carlos

The boyfriend of Inés

Mimi

Is the bird that hatched in the backpack. Her wing and legs are hurt badly.

What is the Capital of Costa Rica?

San Jose

What is the nickname for the Costa Rican people?

ticos

Where is Costa Rica located?

Central America