MARIN

Marin is a lively young woman who came to Mango Street from Puerto Rico. She babysits her younger
relatives and sells Avon makeup. She teaches Esperanza about being a woman, including things like sex
and beauty routines. She has a boyfriend in Puerto Rico but also likes attention from other men.
Marin's family threatens to send her back to Puerto Rico because she enjoys parties and staying out late. At
one party, she meets a man named Geraldo who later gets killed in a hit-and-run accident. Marin is the only
one who can identify him to the police.
Through Marin's story, the book shows how violence and tragedy affect poor immigrant communities. It
also highlights the loneliness of the immigrant experience, as Geraldo's home and loved ones are far away.
Marin takes responsibility for Geraldo's passing because she feels it's the right thing to do, showing the
importance of caring for each other in the community.