Coyotito’s death was a surprise because Coyotito had survived so much, Juana would protect her son to no end, and it seemed incredibly safe inside the cave for Juana and her son. First, the strength and health of Coyotito were ample. For him to be killed at the end of the book was quite surprising, considering he had persevered through being stung by a scorpion. As described by the narrator on page 8, “An adult might be very ill from the sting, but a baby could easily die from the poison.” All Coyotito got was seaweed raps for his sting. Yet, Coyotito had both excellent health and a headstrong and loving mother and still tragically died. In addition, Juana, Coyotito’s mother, had a strong bond with her son. She insisted on getting a doctor.
