The protagonist recalls how he and Beto would come to the mall and shoplift by placing items in shopping bags and then leaving. The protagonist and his mother go to the mall, and he gives her some money for shopping. The protagonist’s mother does not understand why he does not spend time with Beto anymore, and the protagonist refuses to give her a reason. The protagonist remembers how he and Beto would do the same thing together sometimes. He trespasses and swims in the pool with other teenage trespassers. The protagonist goes to the public pool one night after it is closed.

Two years ago, Beto was about to graduate from high school, while the protagonist still had one year of high school remaining. The protagonist remembers how he and Beto used to pass the time by committing small crimes such as shoplifting and acts of vandalism. However, the protagonist has not seen Beto in two years and does not wish to see him now. At the beginning of the story, the protagonist’s mother tells him that his friend Beto has returned to town after his second year of college. He helps with household expenses by illegally selling marijuana. The protagonist is about 19 years old and lives with his mother. The story alternates between a present-day timeline and a timeline that takes place two years prior. Print.ĭrown is narrated by an unnamed protagonist living in a low-income neighborhood in New Jersey.

The following version of this story was used to create this study guide: Diaz, Juno.

Junot diaz drown