Breaking Through [Paperback]

Francisco Jimenez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

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.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618342486
• ISBN-13: 978-0618342488
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Teens > Biographies
  • #7 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Hispanic & Latino

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

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

By M. Tarpey

Format: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

Format: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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful portrayal of a migrant family February 15, 2007

By LARRY VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought *Breaking Through* without realizing that it was a sequel to *The Circuit*. Nonetheless, you aren't lost if you start with *Breaking Through* I loved this memoir because it was one of the best portrayal of a migrant family.

This memoir chronicled the life of Francisco Jimenez from the time that him and his family entered America from Mexico to his entrance into college.

The Jimenez family saved up some money and entered into Mexico illegally. They were soon caught, after a time, and deported back. However, they were able to get papers and return. Despite living in the land of freedom and opportunities, the family has to work hard in order to survive. They worked in strawberry fields, lettuce patches and cleaned buildings.

Francisco is loving school yet struggled to stay on top as he also has to work. His older brother did well in school but worked nearly as much as their often-ill father did. The mother stayed home and took care of the children. However, she often substituted in their work when needed.

*Breaking Through* is a story of a family working together. It's also a story of one finding one's own identity in America. It's also a story of one trying to achieve the American dream.

You'll laugh. You'll cry. If you don't understand the Mexican culture, you'll find yourself puzzled at some things. Coming from a Hispanic family, I found myself nodding and taking strolls in memory lane.

Overall, it's easy reading for a great book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars book review on Breaking Through January 15, 2007

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

Book Review on Breaking Through

Hi, this book Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez is a sad book. Why is it a sad book? A boy named Francisco struggles through life trying to keep his family together. He works and goes to school, also trying to keep his grades up. This book is a good book because of the Theme, believable charters, and a nice setting.

The theme is, heart breaking. It's heart breaking since a boy and his family have to face many difficult obstacles. The obstacles are not easy for Francisco and his family. They have to pay bills but they don't have any money. So the whole family except mom and the youngest ones have to work.

Besides the heart breaking theme there are nice believable charters. The charters sometimes where confused. They where confused because they didn't have money. No one to help them, and struggled to keep food on the table.

There also was a very good setting. The setting took place in many different places. Like school, fields, gas company, Twitchel and Twitchel. There are many different places. So that means that the family is all over the places.

So this book has a great theme. Wonderful setting that makes you feel like your there watching it all happing. Also nice believable charters that do things that you could relate to. So if you like heart breaking novels then this is the book for you.

The End

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stories and Good Message October 1, 2006

By Ann E. Dunlop

Format:Hardcover

I bought this book after I'd read The Circuit because I needed to find out what happened to the family. I was intrigued by both books, found them fairly easy reading, and believe that they open up opportunities for discussion with teens. Thought provoking, well-written, very descriptive, somewhat depressing although I found the characters' spirit amazing and inspiring, and all together a very good read. Great for young adults as well as adults...highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Book review of breaking through January 24, 2006

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

Book Review of Breaking Through

This book tells the story about a boy's life and how his family struggles with money. In this book Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez a boy name Frankie has to manage school, work and his family. The whole book is about the hard time Mexicans had to go through during that time. The Mexicans would go past the gate somehow to get to the U.S. because Mexico was really poor and they got paid just enough to let them live but not enough to go up in life so they had to keep working. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books about hard times and how they overcame challenges.

The main themes of this book are courage, bravery, love and friendship. The reason I picked courage was when Frankie's dad gets his finger cut off and he gets through all the pain. I pick bravery from when Frankie made a speech in front of the club roddery club without knowing he had to. I picked love from when Roberto got married and had a little baby named Jackie. I picked friendship because Frankie makes a lot of friends in the different clubs like the school council and Spanish club. The main characters in this book are Papa Mama Frankie Robert. And Frankie's little brother and sister. Frankie is school president and more of a get to know guy. Papa is always in a bad mood and works in the fields. Roberto is a janitor at a high school and worked a little in a restaurant. Mama is always worrying for papa and stays home and cleans with Frankie's little brother and sister. Frankie's little brother helps Frankie at work sometimes.

The main themes are home, work and school. Frankie's cleans buildings before and after school as a janitor by places in the country. Mama is home all day cleaning the house sometimes With Frankie's little brother.... Robert is the high school janitor and works after school with Frankie when he was young. Roberto also worked at a restaurant for a couple days because he got fired for not working for a while because the boarder patrol caught the family but you'll have to see why.

I would recommend this book to everyone who likes excitement friendship and Mexicans going through hard times and how they got passed them. Frankie and Robert both get shut down because they went over to some peoples houses and the parents didn't want them to see them again because there Mexicans. But Roberto gets married without the other dad's permission. But you'll have to see what happens. Frankie makes a lot of friends going through middle school and high school. Couples of boys ask him to put on a dress in front of the whole school with them. Will he do it? You'll have to find out. Read more ›