Our first few years in the States, though, ethnicity was not yet “in.” Those were the blond, blue-eyed, bobby-sock years of junior high and high school before the sixties ushered in peasant blouses, hoop earrings, serapes. My initial desire to be known by my correct Dominican name faded. I just wanted to be Judy and merge with the Sallys and Janes in my class. But, inevitably, my accent and coloring gave me away. Which detail best conveys the main idea that Alvarez wants to fit into her new culture?

Our first few years in the States, though, ethnicity was not yet “in.”

Those were the blond, blue-eyed, bobby-sock years of junior high and high school . . .

. . . before the sixties ushered in peasant blouses, hoop earrings, serapes.

I just wanted to be Judy and merge with the Sallys and Janes in my class.