Manuela (11-12 year old Mexican girl – spanish speaking)

Manuela is a bright eleven-year-old girl transitioning from childhood to adolescence. She has a strong personality but yet a wounded heart. One year after her mother’s death, Manuela filled with grief looses her faith for the Mexican tradition Dia de Muertos. Before her mother’s death, she was friendly, adventurous and full of life always wanting to go out and explore every corner of the city of San Miguel with her friends. She has an obsessive love for collecting bird feathers. Her obsession began from her Grandmother’s adoration for parrots and other birds. While growing up without a father she was raised by her single mother Silvia who taught her to be self-dependent and to know her self-worth. Manuela shared an intensive friendship with her mother, one so big that even though she had friends, her mom was her best friend. Now after her mother’s death Manuela has shifted to become lonelier and apathetic. She doesn’t spend time with friends anymore and her attitude has become more defensive. Although everything about her and who she was before her mother’s death is not yet completely forgotten.