Reaching Out

Summary: The final book in Francisco Jimenez's trilogy, this collection of vignettes takes us through Panchito’s experiences as a first-generation immigrant college student. After a long battle of wills with his father, and with support from his mother and a few overly involved teachers, Panchito, better know by his American peers as "Frankie" manages to enroll in college. While he finds the experiences of a college education liberating and empowering, his family’s economic struggles and his father’s insistence that he return home to help the family make guilt and doubt creep into Francisco’s mind, jeopardizing his future and the opportunity break the cycle.

CLD Students: At times passionate, this chapter in the author’s life is a great conversation starter and a beacon of hope to all CLD students who often struggle to see themselves as college material. While carefully crafted as an autobiographical narrative, it also serves as a non-conventional manual for first-generation minority college students to help them navigate the fears of the unknown, the struggles to keep one’s identity and ties with family while also expanding one’s horizons through an American education, which teaches him to question. While this book may be more secondary-level students, especially high school students, it is full of episodes that students are likely to encounter at home on a daily basis. A great resource for first generation college hopefuls to mitigate the fear of the unknown and a great conversation starter between student, teacher, and parents.

Related Materials/Resources:

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/francisco-jimenez-interview-transcript

Interview script with author

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/francisco-jimenez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWL2d_NYLKc

Interview with author part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaqvKOXr-d4

Interview with author part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1rzJOy-_yY

Interview with author part 3

Available Formats and Languages: Spanish, English, hardcover, paperback, kindle, audio CD

Age Range: 6-8th grade

ISBN: 978-0547250304