Character Analysis
When it comes to being a total teenager, Magda—Manny's older sister—has it in the bag. On the one hand, she's super capable of stepping up and being mature; she's a hard worker at her laundry job and spends a lot of time babysitting Pedi, too. But let's get real: She also knows just how to get under her mom's skin. And when they get into a tussle, Magda shows us just how stubborn she can be. Check it:
Magda's face was fierce, and loaded with hurt. She braced her legs and wiped a splash of spit from the side of her twisted mouth. Whatever scolding or advice Mom had been able to give her, she wasn't going to take anymore. (6.91)
Yup, Magda sure has a temper on her. And she can be as indignant as it gets—so when Mom tries to tell Magda that she doesn't want her to wind up a pregnant teenager like she was, Magda just doesn't want to listen. Did you notice how angry and intense Magda's attitude is in the excerpt above? She might be "hurt," but she's also willful as can be with her strong stance and "fierce" looks.
On the one hand, then, Magda's rebel attitude makes her pretty strong sometimes. But it can also get her into a wee bit of trouble, like when she accidentally gets pregnant. As with pretty much everyone we see in this book, Magda's a mixed bag.