Victor Rodriguez

The Bell Ringer is the autobiographical story of Victor Rodriguez, former superintendent of the San Antonio school district. Victor grows up in poverty on the South Texas border and is assigned the task of "the bell ringer." He must run two miles every morning (chased by wild dogs in the dark) and ring the bell by 5am in order to wake up the town. In the process, he becomes an excellent runner. His athletic abilities eventually lead him to a magnificent show down at a district track meet, show more the highlight of the book.

Later in the book, Victor faces the obstacles of poverty and racism, but eventually becomes a successful educational leader. This book is a wonderful example of the American dream featuring a young hispanic hero. Althought this is an excellent book for English Language learners or migrant students, Victor is an outstanding role model for all young readers, and he shows that hard work leads to success. show less