The Red Umbrella

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2010

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Chapters 25-29

Chapters 30-33

Chapters 34-37

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Chapters 30-33Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 30 Summary: “Castro Again Tells About Keeping Red Views Secret —The Fresno Bee Republican, December 24, 1961”

Christmas in Nebraska is very different for Lucia and Frankie. On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Baxter cooks a feast, and Mr. Baxter says a prayer before the meal. Lucia smiles when Mr. Baxter includes her parents in the prayer. Mrs. Baxter surprises Frankie and Lucia by attempting to make the meal more like the Cuban dishes they are used to, which makes Lucia smile “from ear to ear” (287). Christmas is celebrated differently in Cuba, and Frankie is concerned that Santa and the wise men might not know how to locate him. Lucia explains that the “three wise men bring toys on January sixth to children who live in Cuba” and that Santa brings toys to kids in the US on December twenty-fifth” (288). Mrs. Baxter assures Frankie that Santa knows he is in Nebraska.

Chapter 31 Summary: “Castro Pledges Fight to Death —The Humboldt Standard, December 25, 1961”

On Christmas morning, Frankie wakes Lucia up early. They go downstairs to see presents under the tree. Mrs. Baxter greets the kids with hugs and tells them Santa left something in their stockings. Frankie is excited to find a baseball glove, and Lucia is thrilled with a compact of pressed powder and pink lipstick. Next, they open their gifts from the Baxters. Frankie gets some new clothes and a baseball to go with his mitt. Lucia receives a new skirt and a scarf that Mrs. Baxter knitted herself. Lucia and Frankie open one more gift that only contains a piece of paper. It tells them that the Baxters will pay for a Christmas phone call to their parents. Lucia exclaims that it “is the best gift of all!” (293).

Chapter 32 Summary: “Castro Perils Peace—U.S. —The Chicago Tribune, January 4, 1962”

A few days after the start of the new year, Lucia receives a letter from Ivette. She disparages the US and hopes Lucia will come to her senses and dedicate herself to the revolution too. Ivette also mentions that Lucia’s father had an accident. Lucia panics and tells Frankie and the Baxters about the accident. They make some calls and finally, at 11:00 p.m., the Baxters’ phone rings. Mama reveals that Papa suffered serious injuries after falling off a roof. He shattered his leg, punctured a lung, and was in a coma for several days. Mama explains that he woke up and is still in the hospital. She gives Lucia the address of where she is staying and the hospital’s phone number. Before hanging up, she tells Lucia not to “do any crazy things” and to “behave like a proper young lady” (305). Lucia is amazed that her mother can still think about instructing her, even when Papa is so badly injured.

Chapter 33 Summary: “Castro Denounces U.S., Roars Defiance of OAS —The Times Record, February 5, 1962”

Lucia talks to Jennifer on the phone. They gossip about boys, and Lucia says she thinks Eddie is charming, but she just wants to be his friend. Frankie overhears the conversation and, when Lucia hangs up, teases her about being in “lo-o-o-ove.” Lucia makes him promise not to say a word to anyone, and he reluctantly agrees.

Chapters 30-33 Analysis

These chapters show how Frankie and Lucia have assimilated to American culture. Even though the kids are adjusting very well, they remain strongly connected to their Cuban roots and family. When Mrs. Baxter cooks a Cuban meal on Christmas, it demonstrates her love for the kids and her respect for their culture. As a Christmas present, the Baxters gift the children a phone call to Cuba. They are good people who want Lucia and Frankie to be happy and cared for.

Letters continue to demonstrate the connection between Lucia’s Cuban and American lives. When the letters from home stop, Lucia is certain something is wrong. After receiving the letter from Ivette explaining that her father was injured, Lucia has an epiphany:

People that didn’t support the revolution sometimes met with so-called accidents. Could someone have tried to hurt Papa on purpose? It was almost too much to take in. A shaking started from deep inside my body. My knees began to quiver (305).

Throughout the novel Lucia’s family has rejected many of the restrictions that Castro has enacted against all Cuban families. The Alvarezes do not want to be forced to give up their wealth, their ideals, or their individualism. In Castro’s Cuba, such defiance is dangerous. This fact inspires Lucia’s fear that Papa was hurt because of his resistance to the revolution.

Lucia also has an epiphany about Ivette. As Castro institutes more controlling changes, many people are indoctrinated, while others adhere to the new policies out of fear of persecution. Lucia realizes that Ivette is overtaken by the revolution—and that she has lost her freedom and individuality in the process. After experiencing American culture for so many months, Lucia finally recognizes the extent of the oppression in Cuba.

This awareness is an important stage in Lucia’s coming-of-age journey. Another key moment occurs in Chapter 32: A flash of Lucia’s old self appears when she becomes annoyed at her mother’s direction to behave like a “young lady.” It is clear throughout the novel that Lucia behaves properly and that her mother need not worry about her propriety. Such comportment from a 15-year-old is yet another mark of maturity.