Daniela Tovar Melissa Parra Aideé Corral The Circuit Daniela Tovar Melissa Parra Aideé Corral

Author: Francisco Jiménez Born in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, in 1943, he is the second of two children in a family that would grow to nine. As a child he worked in the fields of California with no permanent home or regular schooling, Despite the odds, he now is a graduate of Santa Clara University, he also attended Harvard University and received both a Master's Degree and Ph.D. from Columbia University.  Francisco Jiménez emigrated with his family to California from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, and as a child he worked in the fields of California

 The Circuit  won awards such as the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction, it was named the American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, and he received a Jane Addams Honor Book Award, in addition to several other awards.

Main Characters Francisco Mamá: Francisco’s mother. Papá: Francisco’s father Roberto: Francisco’s older brother. Francisco (left) with Mamá and Roberto

Secondary Characters Juan Manuel/Torito Miss Scalapino: Francisco’s teacher. Jose Francisco/Trampita Arthur: Pancho’s school friend Avelina/Rorra Curtis: a popular boy at school. Evangelna/ Yerman Roberto/ Toto Ruben/ Carne Seca Miguelito: Pancho’s first best friend. Mr. Sims: the principle at Pancho’s school

Summary Panchito is a Mexican boy who lives with his older brother Roberto, and his parents. They are from a small village called “El Rancho Blanco. The family decides cross the American border towards the state of California. Panchito is left with his baby brother, Trampita, in the Carcachita. Panchito feels alone and responsible of his brother.

Torito, Panchito’s new baby brother acquires a rare disease Torito, Panchito’s new baby brother acquires a rare disease. The doctors gave no hopes, but the baby is miraculously cured. This particular Christmas is quite hard for the family, Panchito wanted a ball for that Christmas, but receives candies The house of the family is burned and they lost everything. The family starts to live more establish thanks to the job Roberto acquires like a janitor. The story ends when Panchito is taken by a Border Patrol and is deported.

Plot Francisco´s family moves to the United States, crossing the boarder illegally The author explains their situation; they are a very por family searching for a better life

Climax Francisco´s family works very hard in different labor fields trying to earn money for a living. The family keeps growing but not their economical income. They all try to work but sometimes they can´t because of many situations (taking care of children, illness, etc.)

Internal conflicts The characters do not know English so they can´t communicate well Francisco feels sad because he can´t get toys for Christmas He feels confused and self concious at school, he doesn´t have many friends Francisco´s father feels frustrated because he cant work when it´s raining or when his back hurts

External conflicts Francisco and his siblings´ education gets interrupted many times because they have to move to a different field to keep working Torito, Francisco´s brother gets very sick The family lives in bad conditions in dirty, old rooms and they can´t get a better job because they are illegal immigrants Francisco´s father is injured Francisco and his brother Roberto are deported

References: The Circuit, stories from the life of a migrant child http://www.learner.org/workshops/tml/workshop8/authors2.html