Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Yolanda García de la Torre (Yo, Yoyo)

Even though this novel is an ensemble show there's reason to believe that Yolanda is the star. Why? Well, for starters, she's the protagonist of the most chapters, including the very important first and last chapters.

Secondly, we have a sneaky suspicion that Yoyo is an alter ego for the author herself. In the autobiographical essay included at the end of the novel, "My English," Alvarez lets us know that she, like Yoyo, grew up as part of a privileged family in the Dominican Republic, but moved to the United States when she was young. So how do we know that her alter ego is Yoyo, and not one of the other García sisters? Well, just like Alvarez, Yoyo is a writer. And, get this; the word "Yo" in Spanish means "I". How do you like them apples?