Francisco Jiménez (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francisco Jiménez
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Jiménez in 2018
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| Pronunciation | if different from name above --> |
| Born | June 29, 1943 |
| Education | Santa Clara University (BA); Columbia University (PhD) |
| Alma mater | Santa Clara University |
| Occupation | Writer and academic |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Jiménez |
| Children | Francisco "Pancho" Jiménez, Miguel Jiménez, Tomás Jiménez |
Francisco Jiménez, born on June 29, 1943, is a famous Mexican-American writer. He was also a professor at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. He is best known for his books that share his experiences growing up as a migrant farm worker.
Contents
Francisco Jiménez's Early Life
Francisco Jiménez was born in 1943 in Tlaquepaque, Mexico. He was the second oldest of eight children in his family. Until he was four years old, he lived in a small town in Jalisco, Mexico. His family then moved to California to work as migrant farm workers.
Moving for Work
When Francisco was six, he started working in the fields with his family. They often moved from place to place to follow the seasonal crops. This meant he missed many months of school each year. It was a challenging way to grow up.
Settling Down in California
When Francisco was in eighth grade, his family had to return to Mexico. A few months later, they came back to the U.S. legally. They settled in a migrant labor camp in Santa Maria, California. His father could no longer work due to back problems. So, the family stopped moving around.
High School and Hard Work
During high school, Francisco and his older brother, Roberto, worked hard. They were janitors for 35 hours a week to help support their family. Their dedication helped them get through tough times.
Education and Family Life
After high school, Francisco Jiménez earned several scholarships. These scholarships helped him attend Santa Clara University. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Spanish Studies in 1966. He became a U.S. Citizen during his third year at Santa Clara.
Continuing His Studies
He then received a special scholarship called a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship. This allowed him to attend Columbia University. There, he earned both a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature.
Meeting His Family
At Santa Clara University, Francisco met Laura Facchini, who would become his wife. They got married while he was studying at Columbia University. They have three children: Francisco Andrés, Miguel Antonio, and Tomás. Tomás Jiménez is a professor at Stanford University. Francisco Andrés is an artist and teaches at Santa Clara University.
Francisco Jiménez's Career
Francisco Jiménez began his teaching career as a professor at Columbia University. Later, he moved to Santa Clara University. He taught in the Department of Modern Languages and Literature there until 2015. He has won many awards for his excellent teaching. These include the Dia del Maestro Teacher of the Year Award and the US Professor of the Year award.
Important Roles at the University
He also held several important leadership roles at Santa Clara University. He was a director, an associate vice president, and a department chair. He also directed the Ethnic Studies program.
Helping Others Learn
Jiménez also helped start The Bilingual Review. This is a special journal that studies English and Spanish languages and literature in the United States. He has also served on many important groups and commissions. These groups work to improve education and support communities.
His Famous Books
In 1997, Francisco Jiménez published his first autobiographical book. It was called The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. The Spanish version is Cajas de Carton. This book tells the story of his early life. It covers his journey across the border and his time working in the fields.
The Four-Book Series
The Circuit is the first of a four-book series about his life.
- Breaking Through (Senderos Fronterizos in Spanish) is about his high school years.
- Reaching Out (Más Allá de Mí in Spanish) tells about his time at Santa Clara University.
- Taking Hold: From Migrant Childhood to Columbia University (Pasos firmes: Desde niñez migrante a la Universidad de Columbia in Spanish) describes his time in graduate school.
This four-book series has been recognized as some of the best young adult books ever.
Books Adapted for Stage and Screen
A short film called "The Unbroken Sky" was made in 2023. It was based on parts of his book Breaking Through. This film has won several awards at film festivals. Breaking Through and The Circuit have also been turned into plays. These plays have been performed at schools and theaters.
Picture Books for Younger Readers
Jiménez has also written picture books for younger children. These include La Mariposa (1998) and The Christmas Gift/El regalo de Navidad (2000). In La Mariposa, he writes about the challenges of not speaking English in first grade.
Awards for His Writing
He has received many awards for his writing. Some of these include the John Steinbeck Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. His books have been translated into many languages, including Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. His stories have also appeared in over 100 textbooks. A graphic novel version of The Circuit was released in 2024.
Honoring His Legacy
Several awards and scholarships have been created in his name. These are at Santa Clara University and other local schools. They include the Francisco Jiménez Scholar Award and the Breaking Through scholarship. In 2015, a new school in Santa Maria, California, was named after him and his late brother: The Roberto and Dr. Francisco Jiménez Elementary School.
Francisco Jiménez has been recognized by the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Education. He was named one of the 100 Most Influential Latinos in Silicon Valley in 2007. He is now a Professor Emeritus at Santa Clara University. This means he is a retired professor who is still highly respected.
Selected Works
- Senderos fronterizos (Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2025)
- The Circuit Graphic Novel (HarperCollins, 2024)
- Cajas de Cartón (Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2023)
- Pasos firmes: De niño migrante a la Universidad de Columbia (HarperCollins, 2022)
- The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (1997)
- La Mariposa (Houghton Mifflin, 1998)
- The Christmas Gift/El regalo de navidad (Houghton Mifflin, 2000)
- Breaking Through (Houghton Mifflin, 2002) (sequel to Circuit)
- Reaching Out (Houghton Mifflin, 2008) (second sequel)
- Taking Hold: From Migrant Childhood to Columbia University (Houghton Mifflin, 2015)
- Stories Never to be Forgotten, English translation of Historias para tener presente. Arizona State University: The Bilingual Press, 2015.
- Cajas de Cartón y Senderos Fronterizos. Secretaria de Cultura, Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco, 2008.
- Cajas de Cartón: relatos de la vida peregina de un niño campesino. Boston: School Division, Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003.
- Más allá de mí. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2009.
- Senderos fronterizos, Trade Division, Houghton Mifflin, Co., 2002.
- Ethnic Community Builders: Mexican Americans in Search of Justice and Power (The Struggle for Citizenship Rights in San Jose, California. AltaMira Pres (co-authored with Alma Garcia & Richard Garcia), 2007
- Casse di cartone: Racconti dalla vita di un piccolo contadino emigrante. Italian Translation of The Circuit, published by Achille, 2007. Translation by Victor B. Vari and Nello Proia
- Under that Sky, Japanese translation of Breaking Through published by Tokyo: Komine Shoten Ltd., 2005.
- Cajas de Cartón. Comunicación y Lenguaje III. Guatemala: Editorial Kamar, S.A., 2005.
- The other side of the Road. Japanese Translation of The Circuit, published by Tokyo: Komine Shoten Ltd., 2004.
- Little Immigrant's Sky. Chinese Translation of The Circuit: Stories from the life of a migrant child, The Eastern Publishing Company Co., Ltd. 1999.
- Poverty and Social Justice: Critical Perspectives, Arizona State University: Bilingual Press, 1987.
- Hispanics in the United States: An Anthology of Creative Literature, Vol. II. Eastern Michigan University: The Bilingual Press, 1982.
- Mosaico de la vida: prosa chicana, cubana y puertorriqueña. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981.
- Hispanics in the United States: An Anthology of Creative Literature, Vol I. Eastern Michigan University: The Bilingual Press, 1980.
- The Identification and Analysis of Chicano Literature. New York: The Bilingual Press, 1979.
- Los episodios nacionales de Victoriano Salado Alvarez. Prologue, Andrés Iduarte. Mexico: Editorial Diana, 1974.
