Senderos fronterizos (Breaking Through)

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.

A la edad de catorce anos, Francisco Jimenez, junto con su madre y Roberto, su hermano mayor, es capturado por la migra. Obligada a abandonar su hogar en California, la familia entera viaja en autobus durante veinte horas, hasta llegar a la frontera mexicano-estadounidense en Nogales, Arizona. En los meses y anos subsiguientes, Francisco, su madre y su padre, asi como su hermana y sus cuatro hermanos, no solo luchan para mantener junta a su familia, sino que enfrentan tambien una aplastante pobreza, largas horas de trabajo y flagrantes prejuicios racistas. La manera en que ellos logran mantener su esperanza, tenacidad y generosa bondad se revela en esta emocionante continuacion de Cajas de carton. Sin amargura ni sentimentalismo, Francisco Jimenez termina de contar la historia de su juventud. Una vez mas sus palabras, sencillas pero potentes, permitiran a los lectores abrir sus mentes y sus corazones. La fotografia en la cubierta es del autor, edad de trece anos, en el Rancho Bonetti en Santa Maria, California. Fotografia en la cubierta cortesia de Francisco Jimenez

Maria Otero-Boisvert, "Criticas" Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information. - Criticas

Gr 5-8-These two books together offer first-hand accounts of life as a migrant worker in the United States in the 1950s. Jim nez uses his own biographical details and family stories to paint an intimate and, at times, nostalgic picture of his family's struggles to survive as undocumented workers in California. Although his tone is often sentimental, the author does not attempt to gloss over the daily struggles with hunger, poverty, homelessness, and hard work. The family survives from season to season by following the crops up and down the California coast, living in tent cities and shacks, avoiding la migra ("immigration authorities") and, throughout it all, finding a way to send the children to school. Jim nez presents his story in the first person as seen through a child's eyes, which lends an undeniable authenticity to the anecdotes. Originally published in English in 1997, sections of Cajas de carton have also appeared in periodical publications. The second book, first published in English in 2001, picks up the narrative as Panchito is getting ready for high school but first has to deal with the deportation of his entire family. From these dire beginnings, the story goes on to chronicle the success of the author as he timidly ventures beyond his social sphere, becomes the senior class president, and eventually earns a college scholarship. Both texts have been ably translated by the author. Named a Pura Belpr honor book, both Senderos fronterizos and its prequel belong in every library serving Mexican American populations. The straightforward narrative lends itself to classroom use as well as to independent reading, and it will appeal to adult readers as well as middle-schoolers.

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.