The Secret Lion

The boys see the grinder ball as perfect in comparison to nature. What about nature strikes them as imperfect? How does it affect their view of the world?

How does the narrator depict his mother? What does this depiction suggest about his view of adults and adulthood broadly?

What role does the arroyo play in the loss of the narrator’s innocence?

What role does the metaphorical lion play throughout the story? Does it feature in more ways besides the three direct mentions?

The social and geographical features of the region greatly influence the story. Research the setting (Nogales, Arizona) and discuss its significance in the story.

How does the dichotomy between the upper and lower class influence the narrator’s perception of himself and growing up?

What role does Sergio play in the story? Why is it important to the narrator’s story that he have a friend going through the same coming-of-age arc?

The boys repeatedly stop going to the arroyo and return to it later. What keeps them coming back? What does this represent in terms of the shift from youth to adulthood?