Breaking Through [Hardcover]

Francisco Jimenez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 2001

At the age of fourteen, Francisco Jiménez, together with his older brother Roberto and his mother, are caught by la migra. Forced to leave their home, the entire family travels all night for twenty hours by bus, arriving at the U.S. and Mexican border in Nogales, Arizona.
In the months and years that follow, Francisco, his mother and father, and his seven brothers and sister not only struggle to keep their family together, but also face crushing poverty, long hours of labor, and blatant prejudice. How they sustain their hope, their goodheartedness, and tenacity is revealed in this moving sequel to The Circuit. Without bitterness or sentimentality, Francisco Jiménez finishes telling the story of his youth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Francisco Jiminez continues the moving tale of his early youth begun with a dozen autobiographical short stories in The Circuit. Breaking Through chronicles the author's teenage years. At the age of 14, Francisco and his family are caught by la migra (immigration officers) and forced to leave their California home, but soon find their way back. The author explores the prejudice and challenges they face while also relaying universal adolescent experiences of school, dances and romances.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Maturity means breaking through the cocoon into freedom for Panchito, whose adolescence is described in this sequel to The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (Houghton, 2001). The simplicity of life and the unending work for the whole family continues here, but is mitigated by Panchito's increased awareness and gradual loss of innocence as he learns to make his life a success. His father's bitterness, pain, and need for unquestioning obedience is matched by his mother's ability to coax agreement out of her son. The clash of cultures between teen insolence in the U.S. and Mexican respect for elders' authority is vividly portrayed, as is the injustice and casual bigotry often endured by young and old. Fortunately, the protagonist, now often known as Frankie, finds friends and employers willing to recognize his strength of character and ability. While sure to be inspiring and reassuring to readers mesmerized by the first book, this follow-up lacks the intensity and voice so memorable in that one, and is consequently less affecting. Still, Jim‚nez ably helps readers see the world of 1950s and 1960s California through adolescent eyes. Rock 'n' roll, Kennedy versus Nixon, the old-boy network of service clubs, the humiliation of deportation, and the painful struggle to have the right clothes are among the pieces of that world that readers see with a startling clarity from a new perspective. The photos at the end are great additions.

Carol A. Edwards, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; None edition (August 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618011730
• ISBN-13: 978-0618011735
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,167,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Teens > Biographies

More About the Author

Francisco Jiménez emigrated from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, to California, where he worked for many years in the fields with his family. He received both his master's degree and his Ph.D. from Columbia University and is now chairman of the Modern Languages and Literature Department at Santa Clara University, the setting of much of Reaching Out. He is the award-winning author of The Circuit, Breaking Through, La Mariposa, and his newest novel, Reaching Out. He lives in Santa Clara, California, with his family

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spanish Book Review of Breaking Through, May 1, 2003

By 

M. Tarpey "grazio" (MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking Through (Paperback)

I thought this book was very interesting. It told about the life of a boy who had moved to California from Mexico, where he was born. He had to work everyday after school to help support his poor family. He was very smart and maintained good grades and even got into college, which no one in his family had ever done before. He has to struggle with his father to make decisions financially and about his future. His father does not speak English and gets stressed out a lot. His mother is very understanding and tries to make everything work out for the family.

I enjoyed reading this book because it took place not too long ago and the boy was around my age. I could not believe that he had to work to help support his family. I thought it was interesting because whatever money I get, my parents let me keep for myself, but everything he had was given to his parents.

I would suggest reading this book because it shows the struggles of people on the other side of my country only a few decades ago. I would have never known what it was like there if I had not read this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sequel, August 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Breaking Through (Hardcover)

"Breaking Through" is an excellent follow-up for those of us hungering for more after "The Circuit." It follows Francisco Jimenez's life through high school. Francisco Jimenez goes deeper into depth about all that he faced, including his relationships with his parents. He accurately portrays the challenges so many parents and teens, especially Latinos, face in dealing with issues of love, understanding, and personal struggles that affect their relationships.I think teenagers will especially enjoy and connect with this book. It will inspire and motivate many. Teachers, use it in your classrooms - especially middle and high school!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My review of Breaking Through, January 24, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Breaking Through (Paperback)

My review of Breaking Through

This award-winning book is very interesting and adventure-packed!!! This book is about a family that escapes Mexico illegally. When they get to America, a couple of months pass and the Boarder Patrol find them. I recommend this book because it teaches people about how poor people live or how they kind of live.
This book's theme is courage. It shows courage when Francisco's father was really sick. Or when Francisco had not to be scared about being in the U.S. illegally. Also when Trampita was outside all night. And finally when Roberto's parents had to go back to Mexico. And that is how the book Breaking Through is full of courage.
The characters in this book are Mama, Papa, Roberto, Francisco, and Trampita. Roberto is the first of the children to get married. Francisco gets a job to help out his family. Trampita is Francisco's oldest littlest brother. Mama stays home and cleans there house. The characters, these things that happen in this book actually happened to them.
The setting of this book is in Mexico and the United States. They have to keep switching countries. Francisco has to keep switching and missing schools. Also the land is very dry and humid. And they didn't like sneaking into America.
This book is great for teaching people about love and caring for the whole family. I would recommend this book 5 out of 5 stars. This shows love, compassion, hard times and caring for their whole family. And not to forget about anyone that's in their family. And it teaches other people about how poor people live.