How does Alicia Gaspar de Alba create suspense in Desert Blood? For example, many scenes show characters interacting without knowing facts the reader has already been exposed to. What is the effect of this technique, and how does it add to the suspense?

Explore the dichotomy of El Paso and Los Angeles. What does each city represent to Ivon? How is her life different in each city? Why does she decide to stay in El Paso, and how have her experiences helped her begin coming to terms with her hometown by the end of the novel?

Discuss the concept of human flaws in Desert Blood. What are Ivon’s flaws, and how does she overcome them? Consider also Raquel, Lydia, Ximena, Father Francis, and Pete McCuts.