Critical Response #1 (short story)

Christina Ledesma
Advanced Fiction Writing
Professor Barnstone
Critical Response #1 (Short Story)
March 17, 2009
How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie by Junot Diaz
I really enjoyed the story “How to Date a Browngirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie” by Junot Diaz. After reading this story it was very clear to me how the author used a lot of detail from his character’s surroundings to tell the story. From the authors details we are aware the narrator’s ethnicity, culture, and poverty. One of the most important details that stood out to me was the “government cheese”. In the story the author gives a brief paragraph about the things the narrator does around his house before his dates come over. One of them is hiding the government cheese in the refrigerator. Just by this line the narrator’s economic status is revealed which is an important detail in the story. He moves the cheese behind the milk if a girl from the Terrance comes over and if it is a girl from the Park or Society Hill he puts it way in the cabinet so she cannot see it. Throughout the whole story we are given specific details to get to know the narrator. This story help me realized the possible objects that I could use as a writer in my own stories to help describe the background of my characters. The author of this story use many detailed objects in the story to help describe what type of person his character is. I also thought this story was very funny. And I think the author did a great job of grasping my attention as a reader.