This story, along with the Alaska story, both hit me fairly hard. However, this one made more of an impact with me. In Alaska, her heritage isn't set in stone. She basically has no power in her heritage, and is made fun of for basically being a mutt. Both spanish and indian, she is ridiculed by racist fools. She is confused by their remarks, and she doesn't know what to make of getting a shotgun placed in her face. the difference between the stories is their dedication to their heritage.
In Dumpling, Balcita has a rich history that she first ignores. She is taught about her heritage through cooking, but at the moment, suntanning and hanging out with her friends is better than just lame old cooking. However, she takes more interest as it goes along, and she starts to examine her mother more of as an angel than anything (although she calls her a witch instead. which made me laugh), and the art of cooking becomes just that: a skill she wants. After perfecting her dumpling making skill, she takes it to school, and is insulted because of it.
this is the part of the story that struck me - she turns her back on her culture because of her embarassment, something that just shows how children struggle with fitting in.
I love her last lines "They are green and sparkling. I think maybe I can stay out here and look at them forever, but then I remember that they'll be gone in a week." Which I take as how she dealt with the situation. It may seem as if the embarassment may last forever, but it will be gone in a week. I really liked this story. It was charming and sad. Truly a good piece.
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