Breaking Through

by Francisco Jiménez

Book Overview

In this Pura Belpr Honor-winning memoir, sequel to best-selling The Circuit, Francisco Jimenez tells his timely story about immigrant prejudice, keeping hope alive when there is none and his family's journey to achieving their American dream.

At the age of fourteen, Francisco Jim nez, together with his older brother Roberto and his mother, are caught by la migra. Forced to leave their home in California, the entire family travels...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618342486
• ISBN13: 9780618342488
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.9" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

My review of Breaking Through

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.

Breaking Through Book Review

Breaking Through Book Review Breaking Through is about a family that had some tough times living money wise. The family is poor and lives on a ranch. This book is also a fiction book by Francisco Jimenez. You can learn that Mexican people weren't treated fairly. That's why you should read this book. In this book the theme is poverty, and some happiness. One thing that happens is Frankie's dad cuts off his finger. His family works in fields, and makes little money. Frankie and two of his brothers have jobs cleaning places. In Breaking Through Frankie goes to college. This book has a lot of characters in it like Frankie, Mama, Papa, Roberto, Rorra, Torito and Trampita. Frankie wrote the book about his life growing up with his family. Frankie is the main character but his family was there too. When Frankie had troubles his family would help him. Their family had to work together a lot to manage money. The setting in this book is on a little ranch with a couple of houses. One of the houses belonged to Frankie's family. There were stray dogs every were you looked. At their house is were everything mostly good and bad happened. The name of the ranch was Bonetti Ranch, and that's where they lived. I will recommend this book to any one who likes fiction books, and learning about other peoples lives growing up. If you are somewhat poor, then you can probably connect to this book. Otherwise if you lived on a ranch you've kind of got the setting yourself. Something else is the theme, if you are sad or happy you kind of like the theme in Breaking Through. I really hope you enjoy this book, because I had a really good time reading it too.

Es un muy bueno libro

No yo lo ponia abio. Es el sengundo parte de la autobiografia. El primero parte es "Cajas de carton" que es tambien un muy bueno libro. Los dos dicen el cuento de un joven muchacho y su famalia que venen a Califoria a hallar a mejor vida. Es muy triste en partes y muy divertido en otros. La familia tiene a muy dificil vida. Son muy pobre. Este cuento comienza cuando el escritor esta en el grado de ocho y termina cuando va a universidad. Pero mucho sucede entre. Leelo.

Break Through The Book

Breaking Through, by Francisco Jemises, was a fabulous book. It was full of fun and hardship. This book is an autobiography and was exactly what I was looking for. I would definitely rate this book with five stars. The lesson in Breaking Through taught you that if you put your mind to something it will happen. Francisco Jemises (Frankie) tells how he went from a picking strawberries to going to college. Frankie, a Mexican boy comes to California with his family to live a better life. His father has back problems and cannot pick strawberries and his other siblings are to young to go and pick strawberries in the fields so all the work is on Frankie and his older brother Roberto. Frankies dream is to go to college, but no one in his family has ever gone to college. His father does not want to lose his spot as the most intelligent man of the house. at first, Frankies father did not want him to go to college because Roberto already left with a family of his own and Frankies father cannot hold the farm up without them. Frankie goes on to become president of his class and goes to college. The author used a nice word choice when he used English and Spanish word in one sentence. Most of the time I did not understand what they meant when he used Spanish words. but it was still a fabulous book. his siblings,father and mother looked a lot different than I thought. The pictures were great. This a 5 star book worth your time. Breaking Through exhibits a great way to relate to life and hardship. You will love this book. The ages for this book are 9-13. This is a fabulous book. Read Breaking Through

Excellent sequel

"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!