14. Did you know anything about Ecuador before reading this novel? How has your perception of this country changed since you read it? Were you surprised by any of the cultural and historical details that surprised or interested you?
15. When Puri arrives at the cacao plantation and sees the sign at its front gate, she learns her father had named his hacienda after her, “La Puri.” Why do you think Don Armand made that decision? Do you think it was fair to Puri–or her siblings?
16. Family and jealousy are important themes in the novel. Puri always longed for an intimate relationship with her father, and when she learns about her half-siblings, she envies the closeness they had with him. Similarly, her sisters experienced a desire to meet her, but were also jealous of her. What do you think was the root source of their jealousies? Were you satisfied with the way their stories ended, or would you prefer a different outcome for them?