The Circuit

Daniela Tovar
Melissa Parra
Aide Corral

Author: Francisco Jimnez

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.

 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
Mam: Franciscos mother.
Pap: Franciscos father
Roberto: Franciscos older brother.

Francisco (left) with Mam and Roberto

Secondary Characters

Juan Manuel/Torito
Jose Francisco/Trampita
Avelina/Rorra
Evangelna/ Yerman
Roberto/ Toto
Ruben/ Carne Seca
Miguelito: Panchos first best friend.
Mr. Sims: the principle at Panchos school

Miss Scalapino: Franciscos teacher.

Arthur: Panchos school friend
Curtis: a popular boy at 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, Panchitos 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
Franciscos 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
Franciscos 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 cant
because of many situations (taking care of children,
illness, etc.)

Internal conflicts
The characters do not know English so they cant communicate well
Francisco feels sad because he cant get toys for Christmas
He feels confused and self concious at school, he doesnt have many
friends

Franciscos father feels frustrated because he cant work when its

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, Franciscos brother gets very sick
The family lives in bad conditions in dirty, old rooms and they
cant get a better job because they are illegal immigrants
Franciscos 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/authors
2.html