Parrot in the OvenParrot in the Oven

mi vidami vida

A novel by A novel by

Victor MartinezVictor Martinez

Awards:Awards:

• National Book Award WINNER

CharactersCharacters

• Manuel: Main character

• Nardo: Manuel’s older brother

• Mom and Dad: Manuel’s parents

• Magda and Pedi: Manuel’s Sisters

Plot DiagramPlot Diagram

Basic Situation

Rising Actions

Conflict

Climax

Resolution

Basic SituationBasic Situation

Nardo and Manny are picking chilies in the field when the I.N.S arrive. The I.N.S arrest the illegals and Manny and Nardo hide from the I.N.S until they leave. They take all the chili peppers and sell them for money.

Rising ActionsManny’s dad takes all the

money they earned and left

to Rico’s pool house

(a bar in town) and spent

all their money

Conflict:Manny’s dad has been at the pool hall for one week without going home.

His Wife gets worried and goes to the pool hall to bring him home.

She embarrasses him in front of all his friends.

Sixteen year old Magda gets pregnant without her dad noticing.

ClimaxClimax

When they get home, Manuel’s mom decides to go to a friends house to do her hair. After a few minuets, her husband appears in the window with a gun. He starts shooting but cant hit her. A neighbor called the cops and when they arrived, Manny’s dad hid the gun but still got arrested. When he got out of jail, both Manny’s dad and mom decided never to embarrass or hurt each other again.

ResolutionResolution

Will Manny’s parents hold their promise? What will happen to Magda? Will their lives ever be the same?

About the AuthorAbout the Author

Victor Martinez was born in Fresno, California, the forth of a family of twelve children. He has worked jobs as a field laborer, welder, truck driver, firefighter, teacher, and office clerk.