Upper School Read 2013

“The Circuit: The Other Side of the American Dream,” aimed to explore the flip side of what we commonly consider to be the American dream.  Teachers encouraged students to consider the plight of migrant workers in America and to examine issues issues related to immigration through a number of engaging, hands-on workshops.  We addressed worker safety, family identity, and the ethics behind current immigration law.  The half-day of activities concluded with a Skype author visit from Jiménez where students could ask questions and receive feedback from the author himself.

Francisco Jiménez immigrated with his family to California from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, and as a child, he worked in the fields of California. Jiménez’s semi-autobiographical book, Cajas de Cartón, was published in 1997 and later translated into The Circuit. The book won many awards from literary critics and social justice groups. Along with two other titles in the trilogy (Breaking Through and Reaching Out) Jiménez’s work has become a staple in classrooms nationwide, and has even been translated into Chinese and Japanese.