His fatherly affection and understanding of Lala is contrasted with a shameful, secretive nature that unravels itself as the story progresses. The favored son of his mother, Soledad, Inocencio is nicknamed 'el Tarzán' by his family, after he unsuccessfully swings from a tree and breaks both of his arms as a child. Inocencio – Lala’s father/Zoila's husband.As the youngest child and only daughter of seven children, Lala feels overshadowed by her brothers and unappreciated by her mother. The history is so different from previous versions Soledad has told her family that Lala is often interrupted by her 'Awful Grandmother' in order to correct Lala's version. Celaya (Lala) – The narrator, and self-appointed family historian, Lala tells the story of the extended Reyes family, including a rich explanation of her parents' marriage and the surprising tale of how her 'Awful Grandmother' (Soledad) met and married her 'Little Grandfather' (Narciso) in Mexico.

It was shortlisted for the 2004 International Dublin Literary Award. The novel could also be called a Bildungsroman, as it focuses on Lala's development from childhood onward. Because Cisneros also has six brothers and her family moved frequently when she was a child, the novel is semi-autobiographical. The main character, Lala, is the only girl in a family of seven children and her family often travels between Chicago and Mexico City. It was inspired by her Mexican heritage and childhood in the barrio of Chicago, Illinois. Caramelo is a 2002 epic novel spanning a hundred years of Mexican history by American author Sandra Cisneros.

Caramelo sandra cisneros sparknotes