Breaking Through

In this Pura Belpré Honor–winning memoir, sequel to best-selling The Circuit, Francisco Jimenez tells his timely story about immigrant prejudice, keeping hope alive when there is none and his family’s journey to achieving their American dream.

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.

In the months and years that follow during the late 1950s-early 1960s, Francisco, his mother and father, and his seven brothers and sister not only struggle to keep their family together, but also face crushing poverty, long hours of labor, and blatant prejudice. How they sustain their hope, their good-heartedness, and tenacity is revealed in this moving, Pura Belpré Honor–winning sequel to The Circuit. Without bitterness or sentimentality, Francisco Jiménez finishes telling the story of his youth.

How does a boy hold on to his dreams when everything is taken away?

Based on a True Story: Follow the author's real-life journey after being deported to Mexico and his fight to return to California and continue his education against all odds.A Story of Family Bonds: Experience the powerful connection between Francisco and his brother Roberto as they navigate hardship together, and the resilience of a family determined to stay united.Poverty and Hope: A poignant look at the life of migrant workers in the 1950s, this memoir confronts the harsh realities of poverty and prejudice while celebrating the tenacity of the human spirit.Pura Belpré Honor Winner: Discover the award-winning sequel to The Circuit, celebrated for its honest, unflinching, and inspirational portrayal of the Mexican American experience.