how is the text arranged

The book is arranged with five parts, some of which have defined subsections. Part One: In a Mountain Village begins with Ernie's earliest memories in Jalco. Much of this section describes Jalco in general terms. He moves through the daily routines and traditions, using just a few specific incidents to highlight certain points. An example is the story of Coronel fighting with the buzzard, demonstrating the high value the villagers place on courage in the face of danger. There is little dialogue in Part One.

Part Two: Peregrinations begins with Ernie's journey to Tepic and follows the family through Casa Redonda and Mazatlbn. As with the first part, the story is primarily told in chronological order, though Ernie does make some minor deviations as he moves through the narrative.

Parts Three, Four, and Five are somewhat shorter than Parts One and Two. Part Three: North from Mexico represents the family's transition period, moving from Mazatlbn north through Nogales and Tucson, before finally settling in Sacramento. This part of the book doesn't provide the detailed descriptions of the surroundings as had Parts One and Two. This is out of necessity, because Ernie doesn't seem to stay on one place long enough to being the acclimation process.

Part Four: Life in The Lower Part of Town documents Ernie's life in the barrio of Sacramento. It is here that the commentary on the interaction between American and Mexican cultures is most significant. The last section of the book, Part Five: On the Edge of the Barrio details Ernie's brief life in a suburban home and his return to the barrio.