Platanos are like golden slices of this afternoon’s sun on our dinner plates. I help Mami in the kitchen. She shares stories about life in the Dominican Republic before my older brother, Kendry, and I were born. Mami’s stories are the secret ingredient in all her yummy food.
When the chicken, bean, and rice are nearly cooked, Mami peels the platanos with a knife. First she cuts off both ends. Then Mami slides the blade down the plantano.
As her fingers separate the thick green skin from the pale-yellow flesh inside, I ask, “Why do Dominicans love platanos so much?” Mami smiles and answers, “Because they remind us of home, Yesenia.”
“Back home, platannos grow upward on trees,” Mami says, and I wonder how that’s even possible.
“Platanos are long and heavy, so they droop and curve as they grow, but their feet are always reaching for the stars.” That is cool, I think.
Comprehension Questions
1. What floor does Yesenia live on?
A. Second
B. Third
C. Fourth
2. How does Mami cheer Yesenia up after school?
A. Playing hopscotch at the park
B. making her favorite dessert after dinner
C. taking her to the zoo
A. Playing hopscotch at the park
B. making her favorite dessert after dinner
C. taking her to the zoo
Your Thoughts
3. Did you like this excerpt? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.