Anticipation Guide for Breaking Through

 

FRANCISCO JIMÉNEZ was born in 1943 in Mexico, and emigrated to the United States with his family in 1947. Jiménez has written works both in English and Spanish. He has said that his ability to express himself bilingually is a great privilege. At ease in both languages and cultures, Jiménez considers bridging the gap between the two cultures his primary goal. The son of a farm laborer, he successfully brings Mexican-American culture to life in his story, Breaking Through.

 

What would it be like to work all day in the fields instead of going to school?

 

What would it be like if you could hardly express yourself in English?

 

What would it be like if your home was an old garage with a dirt floor, and your furniture was some old boxes?

 

What would it be like if, just as you felt a little hope of escaping this life of poverty, you were pulled away, and sent back to the fields to labor under the hot sun?