After dark in a Mexican border town, a father holds open a hole in a wire fence as his wife and two small boys crawl through. So begins this collection of twelve autobiographical stories by professor Francisco Jimenez, who at the age of four illegally crossed the border with his family in 1947. "The Circuit" is the story of a young, wise and sensitive boy, Panchito and his trumpet. These independent but intertwined stories follow the family through their circuit, from picking cotton and strawberries to topping carrots—and back again—over a number of years.The little family of four grows into ten and impermanence and poverty define their lives. But with faith, hope, and back-breaking work, the family endures. Beautifully and authentically rendered by actor and playwright Adrian Vargas, these stories tell of the almost unendurable journey most migrant campesinos undertake to find the American Dream. The recording concludes with an afterword recorded by the author. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.
Cajas de Cartón
Relatos de la Vida Peregina de un Niño Campesino
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 1, 2012 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780792791836
- File size: 105329 KB
- Duration: 03:39:26
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Languages
- Spanish; Castilian
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Reviews
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September 4, 2000
Gr 4-8-Jim nez has created a moving autobiography that some critics have compared to John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. The story, originally published in English as The Circuit, begins in Mexico when the author is very young and his parents inform him that they are going on a very long trip to "El Norte." What follows is a series of stories of the family's unending migration from one farm to another as they search for the next harvesting job. Each story is told from the point of view of the author as a young child. The simple and direct narrative stays true to this perspective, never falling into moralistic or clich d patterns. The backbreaking work and the soul-crushing effect of the endless packing and moving are portrayed through a child's dismay at having to leave a school where he has just gotten comfortable or, worse, having to miss several months of a school year in order to work. Panchito's desire to help his family by working in the fields often clashes with his academic yearning. In this case, as in the case of many Mexican migrant farm workers, the American dream never comes to fruition. Lifting the story up from the mundane, Jim nez deftly portrays the strong bonds of love that hold this family together. An afterword recorded by the author gives even more background on his family. Vargas's narration offers an authentic and strong Mexican voice. Highly recommended for all collections and bookstores. MOB
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