Well, chapters 8-12 have proved that this book continues to get better. These chapters definitely had more of a plot line than chapters 1-7. The first seven chapters gave a great introduction to the book and allowed you to figure out what each character was like. However, chapters 8-12 contain a good chunk of the story that the first few chapters did not. They start with Antonio's brothers struggling with what is most likely post-traumatic stress disorder. They were put into the war at a young age and forced to grow up to fast. All three of Antonio's brothers urge him to stay young while he can and not rush anything. However, after Antonio listens to his brothers advice, he goes off to school to learn that he is skipping second grade. After he graduates from first grade, he will move up to third grade and he knows his mother will be extremely proud. While fishing with Cico, Antonio also learns of the golden carp and starts to question his beliefs. It is obvious that Ultima is having an affect on Antonio's life as he tends to stay close to her and believe what she says. While all this is going on, Antonio's parents relationship is falling apart. His father is distressed because his brothers are away from home again and he resorts to drinking. His mother can not agree with his father on anything and their conflicting beliefs become a prominent problem in this section of the book. Antonio is not sure which parent is "right" and who he should believe and listen to.
One of the biggest events to happen in these chapters is the sickness of Maria's, Antonio's mother, youngest brother Lucas Luna. Her family has tried everything the church will allow them to do but no cure is working. Finally, Maria offers for Ultima to go to cure Lucas because she knows of her healing powers. Ultima agrees to go but required Antonio to go with her. In the three days that Ultima spent curing Lucas, Antonio was forced to grow up fast. Antonio sees how sick Lucas is, he looks like he's dead but Antonio has to be mature and responsible in the room with him. While he was assisting Ultima cure Lucas, Antonio was stuck in the same room with them for three straight days. During his time there, Antonio felt sick, almost as if he was catching what Lucas had. Antonio's feelings make the reader assume that he is connected with both Lucas and Ultima because when Lucas is healed, Antonio feels as if nothing ever happened.
In chapter 11, Antonio is introduced to the golden carp. Cico asks Antonio if he believes the golden carp is a god but Antonio sys that he can not answer because he is catholic and only believes in his god. Antonio tells Ultima about the golden carp but she already knew of his experience. She told him that when he grows up he will have to chose his own beliefs. This suggests that Antonio will no longer believe what his mother or father taught him but will become independent and make decisions on his own. In chapter 12, Ultima is accused of being a witch because one of Tenorio's daughters died. Tenorio blames Ultima for the cause of the death because he claims to have found a pouch of Ultima's herbs under his daughters bed the night she died. Narcisco, who is visiting Antonio's family, says that if they hang hold needles in the sign of the cross over the door and Ultima can not walk through than she is a witch. But, Ultima walks through the door with no problem.
As readers, we are left to wonder what Ultima's fate will be. She appears to be more of a healer and an eraser of evil rather than a witch. I think that she is going to have a strong influence on Antonio as he continues to grow and that he will eventually follow in her footsteps one day. It is hard to say what is going to happen with Antonio's family because one day his parents are enemies but the next they act like nothing has happened. I think that their conflicting beliefs and different opinions on where and how to raise a family will eventually overpower and separate them.
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