Francisco Jimenez

This slim volume packs an extraordinary emotional punch. The stories Jimenez relates are autobiographical, depicting the life he and his family led as migrant workers in 1940s California. Told from the perspective of the second son in a strong, loving family, the stories carry the reader through about eight years of working “the circuit.”

What I particularly like about the book is that while Jimenez doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties of this life, he doesn’t dwell on the negatives, show more either. Yes, we suffer with the family when they cannot afford medical care for a seriously ill child, the father is injured on the job, or people take advantage of their circumstances. But what is more memorable to me is the enjoyment in reading about the pleasure of exploring a new setting, of inventing games to play, of laughing with your friends or family, of learning new skills, of achieving goals. I think it is an accurate depiction of how children see the world and their place in it. Jimenez was wise to choose this voice for his stories. I could not help but think of my father, or of cousins who “picked cherries every summer.” I cried, I laughed; I loved this family.

The ending is a kick to the stomach and I sat stunned for a few moments … looking at the last two blank pages and the back cover in disbelief that the book had ended. I know there is a sequel and I will definitely read it. show less

A memoir of life as an undocumented child of Mexican migrants picking crops in California in the middle of the 20th century. Very well written, captures the childhood experience of normalcy and excitement and the exhaustion that comes with maturation, crushing poverty, love, and lack of options. I found myself drawn to the implicit indictment of lack of birth control (4 more siblings in just a handful of years, starting from a place of soul-crushing poverty!), an educational system that left show more the author to coast without any language support and then demanded he repeat the experience the next year, and how chances to get ahead flee with each new slap of poverty and bad luck.

Powerful in its transference of the beloved middle school struggle story to the recent present and to a person's lived experience -- this short book seems to be well known in the 10-14 age group, and for cause. show less

I really enjoyed the characters and the message of this book. Because the main character, Panchito tells the story, the reader knows all of his thoughts. This gives the reader a glimpse of what the life of an illegal immigrant child is like. He faces many obstacles: interrupted and limited schooling, money, frequent moves, and fear of deportation. All of these factors put stress on his shoulders, even as a young child. Panchito describes desperately begging his father to pick cotton with him show more in order to earn money and support the family, a worry many children born in the U.S. have not experienced. Learning about the emotions of Panchito can promote empathy and consideration for others.

The overall message of the book is the unity and importance of family, but also the risks and struggles of illegal immigration. Throughout all the obstacles the family overcomes; sick children, lack of jobs and money, and unexpected disasters, they all stick together and support each other. This is an important concept for children to learn as families should always stick together and support each other in good and bad times. Also, this book challenges the stigma of illegal immigration today. Many may not realize how this affects the children emotionally and psychologically. Reading this book helped me understand what the life of immigrant children may be like in the United States. Gaining a better understanding of a student’s home life can foster acceptance and tolerance of different cultures and lifestyles in the classroom. show less

After reading the autobiography, I had mixed feelings because of the sad ending. I loved hearing about Francisco’s journey with his family as they moved around the coast of California making a living while working in the cotton fields. After all of the family’s progress, I found it difficult to enjoy because in a surprise twist, Francisco is deported back to Mexico. As a reader, you learn to root for the protagonist and feel empathy for them (especially because it was an autobiography). show more Then when tragedy strikes, you feel betrayal towards the author.
I liked the first person point of view. “I wanted to fall asleep and wake up to find it was only a dream.” Here, the reader can look inside Francisco’s mind and read his thoughts; It creates a connection between speaker and reader. Another thing I liked was the writing style. Jiménez occasionally throws in Spanish words such as “corridos,” “viejo,” and “carcachita” along with context clues to give the book an authentic feel.
The message I found in this story is family will always be there for you. Francisco reciprocates the sibling love Roberto showed him in caring for his five younger siblings. Even when the family had no money and were praying for their dying infant, the parents managed to give their children candy for Christmas. Also, moving from school to school, Francisco did not make many friends. Francisco’s older brother always made time to play with his younger brother. Family is who we can count on when life gets tough. show less