Francisco Jiménez (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francisco Jiménez
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Jiménez in 2018
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| 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 June 29, 1943) is a Mexican-American writer and professor. He is famous for writing books based on his own life. His stories tell about his childhood experiences moving from Mexico to the United States and working in the fields of California.
Contents
Early Life and Family
A Childhood in Two Countries
Francisco Jiménez was born in Tlaquepaque, Mexico. He was the second of eight children. When he was four, his family moved to California. They were looking for a better life and found work as migrant farm workers.
This meant the family had to move often to follow the seasons for different crops. Because they moved so much, Francisco missed a lot of school. He started working in the fields with his family when he was only six years old. It was a difficult life, but it gave him important experiences that he would later write about.
Overcoming Challenges
When Francisco was in eighth grade, his family had to return to Mexico for several months. When they came back to the United States, they were able to do so legally. They settled in a town called Santa Maria, California.
His father could no longer work because of a bad back, so the family stopped moving. To help support his family, Francisco and his older brother, Roberto, worked as janitors. They each worked 35 hours a week while also going to high school.
Education and Becoming a Teacher
From High School to University
Despite the challenges, Francisco was a great student. After graduating from high school, he received scholarships to attend Santa Clara University. A scholarship is money given to a student to help pay for school. During his junior year of college, he officially became a citizen of the United States. He graduated in 1966 with a degree in Spanish Studies.
Earning His Ph.D.
Francisco's education didn't stop there. He won a special award called a fellowship to study at Columbia University in New York City. There, he earned two more advanced degrees, a Master's and a Ph.D. A Ph.D., or doctorate, is the highest degree you can get from a university. His focus was on Latin American Literature.
While at Santa Clara University, Francisco met his wife, Laura. They have three sons: Francisco, Miguel, and Tomás. His sons have also become very successful in their own careers as an artist, a finance director, and a professor.
A Career of Writing and Teaching
A Beloved Professor
After finishing his studies, Dr. Jiménez became a professor. He first taught at Columbia University and then returned to Santa Clara University. He taught in the Department of Modern Languages and Literature for many years until he retired in 2015.
He was known as an excellent teacher and won many awards for his work with students. These included the U.S. Professor of the Year award, a very high honor for a university professor. He also held several important leadership positions at the university.
Sharing His Story Through Books
In 1997, Francisco Jiménez published his first book, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. The book is a collection of short stories based on his own childhood. It tells about crossing the border, working in the fields, and going to school.
This book was so popular that he wrote three more books to continue his life story:
- Breaking Through is about his experiences in high school.
- Reaching Out tells the story of his years in college at Santa Clara University.
- Taking Hold describes his time as a graduate student at Columbia University.
Together, these four books have been named among the 50 Best Young Adult Books of All Time by the American Library Association. His stories have also been made into plays and even a short film. He also wrote picture books for younger children, like La Mariposa, about a boy in first grade who doesn't speak English.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Jiménez has received many awards for his writing. These include the John Steinbeck Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. His books are loved by readers all over the world. They have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Spanish.
His work has inspired so many people that a new school in Santa Maria, California, was named after him and his late brother. It is called The Roberto and Dr. Francisco Jiménez Elementary School.
Major Books for Young Readers
- The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (1997)
- La Mariposa (1998)
- The Christmas Gift/El regalo de navidad (2000)
- Breaking Through (2002)
- Reaching Out (2008)
- Taking Hold: From Migrant Childhood to Columbia University (2015)
- The Circuit Graphic Novel (2024)
