Francisco Jiménez

Because he can only speak Spanish, Francisco, son of a migrant worker, has trouble when he begins first grade, but his fascination with the caterpillar in the classroom helps him begin to fit in.

Continuing the best-selling life stories told in "The Circuit, Breaking Through, "and "Reaching Out, "Francisco Jimenez chronicles his efforts and struggles as he continues his education at Columbia University. In this fourth book in the award-winning memoir series, Francisco Jiménez leaves everything behind in California, a loving family, a devoted girlfriend, and the culture that shaped him, to attend Columbia University in New York City.

These independent but intertwined stories follow a migrant family through their circuit, from picking cotton and strawberries to topping carrots - and back again - over a number of years. As it moves from one labor camp to the next, the little family of four grows into ten. Impermanence and poverty define their lives. But with faith, hope, and back-breaking work, the family endures.

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