What is the author's perspective in the memoir, When I Was Puerto Rican?

The story is written in first person from Esmeralda's point of view. Esmeralda tells the story of her life, apparently from some of her earliest memories at the age of four. The perspective is written from Esmeralda's memory years after the event. The reader should keep in mind that the story is likely skewed somewhat by Esmeralda's memory over the passage of years. For examples, Esmeralda recalls that having her father's infidelity pointed out by her mother was not enough to matter until the day she realized the truth of the accusations. At that point, she feels bitter and betrayed. These feelings may have been amplified by the fact that her father later allows the family to leave the country and then marries another woman. This hurts Esmeralda and it seems possible that her memories of this earlier hurt is amplified by the more recent feelings of betrayal. The perspective is greatly limited and the reader is left to decide the catalysts behind some of the events. For example, Ramona arrives from a trip to New York seeking medical help for Raymond. Upon her return, Ramona looks different and has apparently made up her mind to move the family there. It's not clear what happened there to prompt this decision but Esmeralda notes that her mother looks different and has a new sense of confidence that had not been evident before the trip.