In the novel, Cisneros depicts the idea of one’s judgement based on perception through the characters’ influence on the main character Esperanza. Throughout the book, Cisneros illustrates Esperanza’s meeting many people who teach her new ways of thinking and influence her behaviors. In the vignette “A Rice Sandwich” Cisneros states, “The special kids, the ones who wear keys around their necks, get to eat in the canteen. The canteen! Even the name sounds important,” (43). The writer presents Esperanza’s perception of a group of kids who stay at school for lunch rather than going home, as “special kids”. Therefore, Cisneros presents Esperanza as being envious of the other children by revealing her aspiration to be “cool” because the main character