Throughout the novel, Bodega Dreams, there have been many instances where drugs, violence, and other negativities are present in the Spanish suburb known as Bodega. During these instances there have been many people in Bodega that have been murdered, beaten, or left homeless because of the influence of alcohol and drugs taking an affect on their work ethics. Many of the children have also had the same problems, and are refusing to take school seriously because they don't think that they are special and capable of such success, as some of the white folks appear to have. One of the kids whom has been through all of the nastiness of Bodega is a boy named Chino. Chino grows up to be a great leader after he gains confidence through his toughness, but his toughness is something that others are afraid of, and they are intimidated by a person's toughness to the extent that they can't make their town a place where every person has a great attitude and sincerity. Bodega has to gain its own confidence though, because great things can happen for the next generation. .
Chino was one of the lucky ones that survived the hardships of Bodega. He grew up in a tough neighborhood with plenty of violence and other bad things like drugs around. By growing up in Spanish Harlem, Chino knew he needed three things to survive: a solid friend (his pana), a decent nickname, not some lame thing his parents had called him, like Tito or Googie, and a reputation that he would rather lose a tooth or get his ribs broken than back out of a fight. With the help of Sapo, "the meanest and ugliest kid on the block," Chino manages to make it as far as college before his life is endangered. He even attracts the attention of Nancy Saldivia, a beautiful Pentecostal girl that is so genuinely devout that she has earned the high school nickname "Blanca." With all of these components, Chino was influenced and supported greatly, but there were some times when he needed to listen to himself, and decide what he wanted to do with his life.