Paco Yunque facts for kids

Paco Yunque is a famous children's story written by the Peruvian poet César Vallejo. It was first published in 1951, after his death. This story teaches us about fairness and how people are sometimes treated differently.

What Happens in the Story?

The story begins with Paco Yunque, a young boy whose mother works as a maid for a wealthy English family. The head of this family is Dorian Grieve, who is also the town's railway manager and mayor. Mr. Grieve has a son named Humberto, who is the same age as Paco.

Paco's First Day at School

Paco and Humberto both start school on the same day. Paco Yunque is a quiet and hardworking boy. He quickly makes a friend named Paco Fariña, who is kind and protective of him.

Humberto the Bully

Humberto, however, is a very mean and spoiled boy. He acts like a bully towards Paco and other students. Sadly, the teacher often lets Humberto get away with his bad behavior. This is because Humberto's father is an important person in the town.

The Unfair Test

One day, the teacher gives the class a test. Paco Yunque works very hard on his paper, making sure to do his best. Humberto, on the other hand, doesn't try at all. He just draws silly pictures in his notebook.

When it's time for a break, Humberto does something terrible. He secretly steals Paco's completed test paper. Then, he erases Paco's name and writes his own name on it.

The Sad Outcome

After the break, Humberto hands in Paco's excellent work as if it were his own. Paco Yunque is left with no paper to turn in. He tries to explain what happened, but the teacher doesn't believe him.

Because of this, Paco Yunque is punished with a detention. Meanwhile, Humberto receives a very good grade and praise from the teacher for Paco's hard work. Paco Yunque feels incredibly sad and helpless. His friend, Paco Fariña, tries his best to comfort him.