Welcome AP Spanish students! This summer you get to read a full-length book called Cajas de cartón (in English, The Circuit) by Francisco Jiménez. This book is being assigned because it is an important story that depicts the lives and culture of one family of migrant farmworkers in the 1940s and 1950s. I want you to learn about this time in American history and gain an understanding of and appreciation for the lives depicted in the work. I believe that the value it has in terms of culture and depicting world challenges is important so that you can learn and think about this family’s life experiences that may be different from your own. Be sure to read the entire book, not just the short story of the same name. You will complete work about what you learned on the the first day of class when we return to school.
The author tells the stories of his lived experience in this memoir. He has a master’s degree and PhD from Columbia University, and taught many years at Santa Clara University.
You can pick up a used copy of Cajas de cartón (we have 13) in the front office until June 25, or get one at Bookshop Santa Cruz or on Amazon. The ISBN number is 0618226168.