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Jul 01, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

I purchased a classroom set of this book prior to reading it. What relief to find that I did not make a huge and expensive mistake. The story is clear and simply written. The authenticity of the writer's voice is the strength of the story.

What captivated me as a reader was Jimenez' ability to bring honesty to a difficult relationship with his father and a challenging up bringing with such sensitivity to the people who experienced it with him. In particular, I was moved by the way he More...

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Jul 12, 2010

Julia rated it:

I first picked up this book because actually my Dad was reading it, and he recommended it to me. He told me the basic summary of it: how a boy was living in CA so many years ago, working jobs to support his family, and not even really thinking about himself. I got interested, so I decided to read this book.

The first time I read the book, my initial reaction was wow. I have read other books about how a child was the hero, unwittingly and a bit too boastful (and predictable), bu More...

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Jul 11, 2010

S10_Matthew rated it:

Sequel to 'The Circuit,' 'Breaking Through' is the second in three semi-autobiographical installments about the maturation of Francisco Jimenez. The book follows Francisco, or Frankie, from his time in 8th grade through his graduation of high school. And his teenage experience is simultaneously typical and anything but that. He makes friends, performs in the talent show, becomes student body president, and applies and is accepted into college. All common narratives in novels surrounding life dur More...

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Oct 02, 2010

Josiah rated it:

This book was so interesting. It was about the life of Fransisco Jimenez The beginning of the book was so confusing. They crossed the Mexican border illegally by digging a hole.They then went to school and finally got caught. After that incident they then easily got their immigration papers and got back to America. Even though they were legal in america their parents still wanted the to say that they were born in Colton California and not Mexico. He then got use to the culture. He started listen More...

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Jun 14, 2011

Laura rated it:

Second of three books about the life of Francisco Jimenez. Although this book is classified as fiction, it really is basically autobiographical. It covers the life of a Mexican immigrant an his families struggles to blend in and not be caught by immigration, which they eventually are. They get deported but then work to come back to the country legally. Francisco had to juggle a lot just to keep his family afloat. He was working all hours of the day and night to support his family, yet he was goi More...

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Oct 31, 2009

Ellen rated it:

Book Two of the trilogy of Francisco Jimenez' life story, covering his eight grade and high school life. The first book is The Circuit; the last is Reaching Out. Dr. Jimenez writes in a quiet, modest way, but he gives you all the details of how hard it was for his family (his mother never lived in a house), and the many jobs he worked in the early morning and after school to help support his family.
Frankly, I don't know how he made it through all the handicaps being a migrant worker, jani More...

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Dec 09, 2011

Emily rated it:

Breaking Through is Francisco (Pancho) Jiménez's autobiographical story about his and his family's struggles after immigrating to the United States. This is the second book in a three-part series, and it focuses on Pancho's junior high and high school experiences.

This book was a lot more positive, hopeful, and inspiring than I was expecting it to be, though that doesn't mean that Pancho's life growing up was not difficult. It was nice reading about someone getting lucky enough that More...

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Jul 30, 2009

Ningerbil rated it:

This is actually a sequel to Jimenez's other autobiographical book "The Curcuit." However, this book, which covers the author's teen years, stands well on its own. It opens with his family caught by immigration services. They managed to, through time and work, to get back into the United States through the proper channels. It's a nice coming of age story, as Jimenez overcomes hurdles such as rascism and poverty to earn scholarships to go to college. His relationships with his family ar More...

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Nov 19, 2011

Cindy rated it:

This is an autobiographical novel about a young Mexican boy, Francisco Jimenez, whose parents immigrated when he was very young to the U.S. He is an adolescent in the late 1950s, and has to deal with issues of poverty, illegal status and racism, besides the normal issues of adolescence. It is an eye opening story of his struggle to break through these barriers to make it to college so that he is not caught in the cycle of poverty which his family has had to deal with. He tells of encouraging tea More...

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Sep 27, 2011

Halle rated it:

I thought Breaking through was a good book to read because it tells of an immigrant family that has everyday struggles to make ends meet.It has an interesting plot and makes you think twice about what you have and how unfortune other familes are.Their two oldest boys have to get a job to help out with the families expenses. On top of that they have to go school right after they get out of work. Their whole family has to move every season to find work until they finally settle down in Santa Maria More...

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Jun 26, 2011

Ali rated it:

This was a great book that was assigned to my "z" level reading group this year by my 5th grade teacher. It really made you "think" as in how thankful you should be to have a home, food, nice clothes, schooling, and not having to live in poverty. In this book there are 5 children, that are Mexican's, the main characters name is Franscisco, and he is extremly poor, along with the rest of his family. His father and other brothers work for very little, to nothing. They reminded More...

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Aug 09, 2009

Shirleen rated it:

Second of three books about the life of Francisco Jimenez. Although this book is classified as fiction, it really is basically autobiographical. It covers the years from when the author is in the eight grade until when he graduates from high school. Though the family's struggles are incredibly severe, Frank is able to cope with hardship after hardship, partly because his family supportive family, and partly because his own hard work and diligence and desire to succeed. I loved that he was More...

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Jan 04, 2011

Emme rated it:

Breaking Through is a good book because it has faith, hope and trust. The setting of the book is in the Great Depression. This family worked in the fields picking crops. They had to move around to find work. This family is trying to get to California to get their jobs back. Their jobs were taken from them when they were sent back to Mexico by immigration officers. The kids have gotten a passport to America, but their parents could not get a passport, so the kids went to America so they could More...

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Dec 05, 2011

Ashleync rated it:

I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it to be particularly optimistic and inspiring.
Francisco Jimenez struggles to break though the hard life of migrant labor. Although he is an immigrant from mexico who doesnt speak english when he first enters the country, he works really hard exceeding in academics as well as being an outstanding human being.

While it was really amazing to read about such a happy success story, it also made me sad about how hard it is for immigrates in t More...

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Jan 23, 2010

Erin rated it:

The (second of three) autobiographical story of Francisco Jimenez about his family crossing the border illegally from Mexico to California when he was 4, getting deported at 14, and returning to California for the end of junior high and high school. The Circuit is about his younger years, this book is about his middle school and high school years, and Reaching Out is about his college years. Set in the 1950s and 1960s. While sometimes the dialogue and writing felt a little stilted and his 14-y More...

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Dec 08, 2011

Caroline rated it:

I truly enjoyed this book! It opened my eyes and mind to the situation of students and families in poverty. I also felt a special connection to the Mexican culture, especially the song "Cielito Lindo," due to my heritage. This novel is not eloquently written but has so much heart, spirit, love, and hope amidst this harsh and disheartening world. Wonderful book for anyone to read, but I would highly recommend this book to anyone in or planning to enter the teaching profession. I b More...

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Oct 10, 2011

Deborah rated it:

This moving, autobiographical book (sequel to The Circuit) is about the struggle of a young Mexican immigrant boy and his family to survive in the California migrant workers camps. It is also about a very, very poor family's love, faith, hard work, and desire to stay together, while "breaking through" to a better life in the United States. It is a touching book that should be read by all who think they know everything there is to know about immigration both legal and illegal, includi More...

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Jul 27, 2008

Katie rated it:

This autobiographical book by Francisco Jiménez was the winner of the Tomás Riviera Mexican American Children's Book Award in 2001. I just finished reading it and can't wait to buy it for my classroom literature circles. Many stories of Mexican immigration to the US are written by outsiders, but this story is Jiménez's personal account of growing up as an immigrant in the US. Francisco struggled with understanding prejudice as well as his father's traditional belief that he should never be qu More...

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Jun 13, 2007

LARRY rated it:

As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:

I bought *Breaking Through* without realizing that it was a sequel to *The Circuit*. Nonetheless, you aren't lost if you start with *Breaking Through* I loved this memoir because it was one of the best portrayal of a migrant family.

This memoir chronicled the life of Francisco Jimenez from the time that him and his family entered America from Mexico to his entrance into college.

The Jimenez family saved up some money and en More...

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Aug 09, 2009

Alix rated it:

I read this book to my son and found it to be an enlightening peek into the life and world of a Latino immigrant family who migrated to the U.S. illegally in the 1950's, filed for legalized status, and worked as migrant laborers in the strawberry fields of southern California. It is told from the point of view of a 14 year old boy and is based on the memories of the author's own childhood experiences.

It is written for an older-elementary student.

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Feb 09, 2011

Karely rated it:

I like thises book, because remainds me all the times i pass when i brittle can to here. It's was king of the same history like Fransicao. but differents is that he has two brother and one sister. Tah part taht i most like about these book is where he try to leran how to dance rocklond with he brother.
also another part that i lked is wherevery he move from school he has new firends. I like thise book beceause is about how the imigrant chenges there life. And these importan for me.

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Dec 06, 2009

Stefanie rated it:

This is the sequel to Circuit and Owen and I have plowed through this one as well. This follows the author and his family from the time the author is in middle school to college. It's an incredibly hopeful story--and speaks to the strength and will of the human spirit. The author travels an incredible journey and Owen (and I) absolutely loved this book. It's poignant, humorous and educational!! It's also solicited lots and lots of questions and discussion between Owen and I.

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Mar 09, 2009

Maddie rated it:

Funny Story.....after my teacher read this story, she went to see him in person. Now they are really good friends. He is now a professor at Santa Clara and is a successful book writer!! I loved this book!! Sometimes, some of this situations seemed so unreal that I forgot it was a true story. If you need a fast read but at the same time fantastic...read this book!

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Oct 22, 2009

Laura rated it:

This is straightforward and well-written account of Jimenez' experience in junior high and high school during the 1950s in southern California as the son of migrant workers. The syntax of the sentences is very regular and so would be a good book for ELLs or reluctant readers. I found Jimenez' story inspiring, and I enjoyed his frank honesty and positive attitude.

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Oct 27, 2011

Larwence rated it:

"Breaking Through" by Fransico Jimenez is a great book for all ages. when you read this book you will learn how fortune you are because of how you don't need to work out in the fields when your 12 years old or living alone and do every thing by yourself. I'll recommend this book to anybody who doesn't like reading because this book makes you want to read more and not stop.

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Feb 26, 2009

Cami rated it:

While the story itself is inspiring, about a Mexican boy and his family who have immigrated to the U.S. and the obstacles they overcome, I did not like the writing style. I found it dull and a bit choppy. Definitely a topic pertinent to American culture and society but I would have enjoyed it more had the writing been more fluid and interesting.

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Nov 03, 2007

Angie rated it:

This book describes the life of the author growing up as an immigrant from Mexico during the 60's. Although this book is a sequel, I read it by itself and thought it was good as a stand-alone. The author does make references to things that happened in the first book, but only in passing. I admire the author for his perserverance in pursuing his dreams in the face of such insurmountable odds. I also admire his willingness to think of others who could be in the same set of circumstances, no ma More...

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Feb 11, 2011

Tandy rated it:

This was a really heart wrenching true story of a young boy in junior high who came to America at first illegally & was deported. His family was able later to come to America legally but their American life was not without many challenges & hardships. I felt the writing was a little rough but it is a book for young adult readers. Very eye opening.

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Jan 22, 2010

CarolAnn rated it:

I liked this one much more than the first book of his. This is the sequel to "The Circuit". His writing is still very elementary, but I've learned to respect and love the characters. He and his family had to overcome so much and I'm looking forward to reading his third book about his college days.

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Oct 24, 2009

Angel rated it:

This book continues from where the first book end (which is a big surprise). The main character Francisco shows more work. The author shows more detail to the family and other people. I like the way the author shows the struggles more and more through out the book. I recommend this to all my friends.

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