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Glam Journal

Where does breaking through take place

Author

Ava White

Updated on April 17, 2026

“Breaking Through is the sequel to Francisco Jimenez’s acclaimed The Circuit. This second novel is based on Jimenez’s own life experience begins in Francisco’s fourteenth year with his deportation from Santa Maria, California, to Mexico.

Where does the book Breaking Through take place?

Forced. At the age of fourteen, Francisco Jiménez, 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 all night for twenty hours by bus, arriving at the U.S. and Mexican border in Nogales, Arizona.

Why do Francisco and his family cross the border?

The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez is about a Mexican boy named Francisco and his family. They cross the border from Mexico to California for a better life as migrant workers. They pack up and move each season to find work only to endure hardships and the struggle of having to start over every few months.

Why did Roberto and Francisco live alone?

Their younger siblings and parents stayed with Papa’s sister in Guadalajara, Mexico, until Roberto and Francisco could send enough money over time to bring everyone over. As Francisco and Roberto lived on their own they became more interested in American culture.

Is breaking through by Francisco Jimenez a true story?

It won many prizes and was a Booklist Editors’ Choice. This moving sequel is a fictionalized memoir of Jimenez’s teenage years in the late 1950s, when the family finally stayed in one place and Francisco and his brothers worked long hours before and after school to put food on the table.

Why did Francisco and his friends perform an Elvis song during recess?

Why did Francisco and his friends perform an Elvis song during recess? Francisco’s teacher thought that it would help him practice his English. The other students voted for them to perform.

Who are the main characters in breaking through?

*Main Characters* The members of the Jimenez family are the main characters, which include Papa, Mama, Roberto, Francisco, and Trampita, excluding Torito, Rorra, and Ruben because they are rarely mentioned in the book.

How much older was Roberto than Francisco?

Even though Roberto is only four years older than Francisco, he is more responsible and mature, likely because he is forced to take on the role of being a provider (along with his parents) since the family needs the extra money. Roberto works in the fields and is a very hard worker.

How many pages does breaking through have?

ISBN-13:9780618342488Pages:208Sales rank:58,401Product dimensions:5.00(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.53(d)Lexile:750L (what’s this?)

Why does papa not want Roberto and Francisco to attend the dance?

Why does Papa not want Roberto and Francisco to attend the dance? He does want Francisco and Roberto to go the Vets to dance because he does know what it is and he thinks that if they go they will learn to disobey him. Also, they might join gangs or smoke like Papa.

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Who is Roberto in the circuit?

Roberto is Francisco’s big brother, and a majorly supportive big brother at that. He’s the oldest sibling in his family, so he’s always looking out for everyone, Francisco included, and he works hard at school and in the fields.

Where does cajas de carton take place?

Since almost every story in this book starts with a move to a new city, you can bet this one isn’t any different. It’s time to move from the grape vines in Fresno back to Corcoran for cotton. The good news is that at one of the cotton fields, Francisco and his family find work and a cabin to call home.

How does cajas de carton end?

Climax: The family luckily escapes La Migra and now live at Santa Maria 3/4th’s of the year. The family gets better jobs and all of the kids now go to the school. Ending : Robers is at school and so is his oldest brother, La Migra shows up at his class. La Migra walks up to him and tells him to get his belongings.

Why is it called tent City the circuit?

Francisco tells us a bit about the place in Santa Maria where he lives. They call it Tent City because it’s a bunch of tents, but it’s not exactly it’s own city; adding to its charm is the fact that the city dump is nearby. … They even go dumpster-diving to find wood to make a floor in the tent.

When was breaking through written?

Originally published in English in 1997, sections of Cajas de carton have also appeared in periodical publications. The second book, first published in English in 2001, picks up the narrative as Panchito is getting ready for high school but first has to deal with the deportation of his entire family.

Who is Darlene in breaking through?

Portrayed by Brooke Butler who perfectly captures the character’s intensity, young Darlene interrupts Jacob’s date to bluntly tell him the two ways his life can go. Either he can settle down this this woman or someone equally boring or he can take a chance on her.

Who is Trampita?

Trampita is Francisco’s younger brother. When Francisco is around five years old, he is left to care for Trampita, who is a baby at this time, while Mamá, Papá, and Roberto go to work in the fields.

How many suitcases did the Jimenez family have when they crawled under the wire?

The family manages to fit all their belongings into one suitcase, which shows readers how little they own and is a reminder of the family’s poverty.

Why is Papá so worried?

By the end of the book, Papá is suffering from some serious back pain, and he’s unable to work in the fields. It’s a big bummer on a practical level, plus all that pain gives Papá another reason to be grumpy and stressed, which isn’t cool.

What does Francisco put in his blue Librito?

What does Francisco put in his blue librito? Francisco put words and their definitions that he does not understand. He also puts math rules and other rules in his notepad.

What is Mr Lema like?

Mr. Lema is Francisco’s sixth-grade teacher when Francisco briefly attends a school in Fresno, California. Mr. Lema makes a big impact on Francisco’s life since he is very friendly and welcoming, and he helps Francisco with his English during their lunch breaks every day.

How old is Francisco in The Circuit?

Francisco is the protagonist and narrator of The Circuit. He is a little boy of around four at the beginning of the book and grows into a young teen by the novel’s conclusion.

What is the baby's name in The Circuit?

Gabriel. There’s a hotheaded fellow in this book, and he goes by the name Gabriel.

How many siblings does Francisco Jiménez have in cajas de carton?

Francisco has four younger siblings: three little brothers—Trampita, Torito, and Rubén—and one little sister, Rorra.

When and where did cajas de carton take place?

Terms in this set (31) When does the story take place? The end of August, around the 1950’s.

What is the main idea of cajas de carton?

The winner of numerous literary awards and the first in a series of three, the book illuminates the realities of migrant life through the eyes of wise and observant protagonist young Panchito, and shares a universal story of hope, faith, and endurance.

What is the message of cajas de carton?

Cajas de cartón contains twelve stories of a Mexican-American migrant family, told from the viewpoint of one of the children, Panchito. Authentically told, the stories detail hard times like poverty, hunger, and backbreaking work. Still, there is always the message of hope and perseverance.

Is cajas de carton a true story?

Career. Jiménez started his career as a professor teaching at Columbia University. … In 1997, Jiménez published his first autobiographical short novel, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (Cajas de Carton in the Spanish version).

What is the theme of the circuit?

Change and Instability The Circuit, a collection of autobiographical linked stories by Francisco Jiménez, follows the Jiménez family as they weather one big life change after another, starting with their move to California from Mexico in search of a better life.

What kind of work does Panchito's family do?

Panchito, a young migrant farm worker in Francisco Jiménez’s story “The Circuit” has to move often. Migrant worker families can never live too long in one place. They must go wherever the work is. They find jobs picking fruit, harvesting crops, or doing manual labor.