Reaching Out

In 2008, Francisco Jiménez published Reaching Out, the third in his series of autobiographical memoirs for young adults. The first two books in the series chart Jiménez’s childhood and teenage years as the son of Mexican immigrants in southern California. Reaching Out starts in 1962 as Francisco (known as Frank) travels with his family to the campus of Santa Clara University to begin college.

Attending university is a hard-won blessing for Frank, the fruit of many years of hard work and sacrifice. Immigrating to the United States illegally from Mexico shortly after World War II, the Jiménez family found work as migrant laborers, picking cotton and other crops in the fields of California. In 1957 they were deported back to Mexico and later re-entered the States legally. Frank is sustained by the love and dedication of his close-knit family, headed by a stern but good-hearted father whose health problems have forced him to stop working. The father’s uncertain physical and emotional condition casts a shadow over the family, eventually leading to a crisis when he decides to return to Mexico.

At college, Frank faces a number of challenges. The lack of money is a persistent worry, and Frank feels torn between his responsibilities at college and what he sees as the duties he owes his struggling family. In addition to feeling out of place socially compared with his peers, he also has continual feelings of self-doubt about his academic abilities. However, Frank is able to raise his grades through diligent study and excel in his subjects, especially Latin American literature, and makes a number of fast friends.

Most notable among these relationships is a romance that develops between Frank and fellow classmate Laura, who will eventually become his wife. Frank finds solace in his Catholic faith, and in the caring advice and support provided by the Jesuit priests who are his teachers and mentors. On their encouragement, Frank decides to attend graduate school and become a teacher—a path he hopes will allow him to give back to society and help his family financially. Frank’s membership in a religious fraternal society on campus leads him to take on commitments to assist the less fortunate, including joining a labor union movement led by César Chávez.

Reaching Out is an inspirational story touching on the ties of family and country, the importance of faith, and the transformative power of education. Although poor, the Jiménez family members are hardworking and support each other with caring and love, instilling Frank with an unerring moral compass that will carry him through life. 

In order to enhance the local color, the author frequently uses and translates Spanish phrases in the dialogue. Reaching Out consists of 24 chapters, with a concluding Author’s Note, and includes a section of black and white photographs of many of the persons that figure in the narrative.