The competing belief systems that occur around Antonio are the drives behind his confusion and misunderstanding. On one hand he has his mother and her deep rooted beliefs towards God and the Virgin Mary. Then on the other, there is Ultima and his dad who do not seem to fall into this religious box. These competing views towards life seem to have a toll on Antonio and his everyday interactions. Throughout most of the book, Antonio explains his uncertainty when it comes to religion and following in his mother's steps. In the book, Antonio sees a lot of “evil doing” that his family and loved ones must go through. He starts by witnessing the death of Lupito and continues witnessing many more counts of death and tragedy. After every situation