▁It ▁was ▁short list ed ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁International ▁Dublin ▁Liter ary ▁Award . ▁ ▁Char acters ▁in ▁Car am elo ▁Cel aya ▁( L ala )- ▁The ▁narr ator , ▁and ▁self - app oint ed ▁family ▁historian , ▁L ala ▁tells ▁the ▁story ▁of ▁the ▁extended ▁Re yes ▁family , ▁including ▁a ▁rich ▁explanation ▁of ▁her ▁parents ' ▁marriage ▁and ▁the ▁surprising ▁tale ▁of ▁how ▁her ▁" A w ful ▁Grand m other " ▁( So led ad ) ▁met ▁and ▁married ▁her ▁" L ittle ▁Grand father " ▁( N ar cis o ) ▁in ▁Mexico . ▁The ▁history ▁is ▁so ▁different ▁from ▁previous ▁versions ▁So led ad ▁has ▁told ▁her ▁family ▁that ▁L ala ▁is ▁often ▁interrupted ▁by ▁her ▁" A w ful ▁Grand m other " ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁correct ▁L ala ' s ▁version . ▁ ▁As ▁the ▁young est ▁child ▁and ▁only ▁daughter ▁of ▁seven ▁children , ▁L ala ▁feels ▁over shadow ed ▁by ▁her ▁ ▁brothers ▁and ▁un app reci ated ▁by ▁her ▁mother . ▁In oc en cio - ▁L ala ’ s ▁father / Z o ila ' s ▁husband . ▁The ▁fav ored ▁son ▁of ▁his ▁mother , ▁So led ad , ▁In oc en cio ▁is ▁nick named ▁" el ▁T arz án " ▁by ▁his ▁family , ▁after ▁he ▁un success fully ▁sw ings ▁from ▁a ▁tree ▁and ▁breaks ▁both ▁of ▁his ▁arms ▁as ▁a ▁child . ▁His ▁father ly ▁affection ▁and ▁understanding ▁of ▁L ala