Who is the narrator in cajas de carton
Dylan Hughes
Published May 10, 2026
Panchito is the narrator. He works in the fields with his father and older brother. Strawberry season is over and Panchito and his family are preparing to move again. “Yes, it was that time of year again….
Where is the narrator of cajas de carton from?
When The Circuit starts, we don’t know our narrator’s name yet, but we do find out that he’s got some seriously big dreams. You see, when he was a kid in the late 1940s, he lived in Mexico in a town called El Rancho Blanco, but his family has been chatting about moving to California. And you can bet he’s excited.
What is the story cajas de carton about?
A powerful account of a family’s journey to the fields of California—to a life of constant moving, from strawberry fields to cotton fields, from tent cities to one-room shacks. Seen through the eyes of a boy who longs for an education and the right to call one place home, this is a story of survival, faith, and hope.
Who is Gabriel in cajas de carton?
There’s a hotheaded fellow in this book, and he goes by the name Gabriel. This chap shows up in Santa Maria where Francisco is picking strawberries with his dad and big bro. Gabriel has three kiddos and a wife, but he doesn’t get to see them much because he’s working so hard.What is the problem in cajas de carton?
There’s just one problem: a humongous barbed wire fence patrolled by guards with guns. – Plus the conductor always waves at them, and once he even drops a bag of fruit and candy out the window as a gift, which is actually pretty cool.
When did the story cajas de carton take place?
So begins this collection of twelve autobiographical stories by Professor Francisco Jimenez, who at the age of four illegally crossed the border with his family in 1947. The Circuit is the story of a young, wise and sensitive boy, Panchito and his trumpet.
How much older was Roberto than Francisco?
Even though Roberto is only four years older than Francisco, he is more responsible and mature, likely because he is forced to take on the role of being a provider (along with his parents) since the family needs the extra money. Roberto works in the fields and is a very hard worker.
Who works with Francisco's family the first day what do they learn about him during lunch?
He meets a new bloke named Gabriel, who’s picking strawberries for the first time. They all eat lunch together and learn that their new pal is a seriously hard worker who has three kids whom he sends money to each week.Where are Panchito and his family from?
Panchito and his family were Immigrants from Mexico. A path or trip around something. Panchito and his family would travel from Santa Maria to Fresno to Corcoran to pick the different crops at different times during the year.
How was Panchitos first day of school?On his first day of school, Panchito is uncomfortable when his teacher Mr. Lema, asks him to read aloud in English. Mr. Lema is eager to help, and soon Panchito comes to consider Mr.
Article first time published onWhy did the author name the book Cajas De Carton?
In this story Jiménez recounts a life lived out of cardboard boxes, the title he gave the Spanish version, “Cajas de Carton.” Moving from one tent labor camp to the next, Francisco, the main character, describes the loneliness of never settling down. “ ‘Ya esora’ (Quitting time) [Ito] yelled in his broken Spanish.
What is the boys name in cajas de carton?
Gabriel. There’s a hotheaded fellow in this book, and he goes by the name Gabriel.
What did Fito tell Roberto about California?
Noting that Papá had closed his eyes, I turned to Roberto and asked, “What’s California like?” “I don’t know,” he answered, “but Fito told me that people there sweep money off the streets.” … Keep an eye out for whether California ends up being all that the characters want it to be.
How did cajas de carton end?
Climax: The family luckily escapes La Migra and now live at Santa Maria 3/4th’s of the year. The family gets better jobs and all of the kids now go to the school. Ending : Robers is at school and so is his oldest brother, La Migra shows up at his class. La Migra walks up to him and tells him to get his belongings.
Who gives Francisco the 1910 penny?
Who gives Francisco the 1910 penny? His dad gives him the 1910 penny so he can remember the year his dad was born in.
What is the name of the boy in the circuit?
Francisco is the protagonist and narrator of The Circuit. He is a little boy of around four at the beginning of the book and grows into a young teen by the novel’s conclusion.
Who is Roberto in the circuit?
Roberto is Francisco’s big brother, and a majorly supportive big brother at that. He’s the oldest sibling in his family, so he’s always looking out for everyone, Francisco included, and he works hard at school and in the fields.
Who is the antagonist in the circuit?
There’s no other way to say it: when it comes to Francisco’s family, Border Patrol is the enemy. It’s the absolute worst.
When and where did cajas de carton take place?
Terms in this set (31) When does the story take place? The end of August, around the 1950’s.
How many chapters are in cajas de carton?
A 59-page illustrated reader’s guide to the 12 chapters of Francisco Jiménez’s poignant memoir Cajas de cartón. Each chapter contains proficiency-focused, vocabulary-boosting activities paired with comprehension and critical-thinking questions for each of the book chapters.
Why does the narrator Panchito consider Mr Lema his best friend?
Panchito considers Mr. Lema his best friend because he was very helpful and supportive to him. Mr. Lema would help him with English at lunch and help him play an instrument.
Who is Panchitos teacher?
Mr. Lema, Panchito’s teacher, befriends him at school and offers to teach Panchito to play the trumpet.
What kind of work does Panchito's family do in the story the circuit?
Panchito, a young migrant farm worker in Francisco Jiménez’s story “The Circuit” has to move often. Migrant worker families can never live too long in one place. They must go wherever the work is. They find jobs picking fruit, harvesting crops, or doing manual labor.
What is significant about the Lincoln head penny the narrator has in his collection the circuit )?
So the pennies represent relationships and important connections for Francisco. And when it comes to his friendship with Carl, the penny isn’t just a reminder of what the two boys had between them—it was key to their friendship forming in the first place.
What happened in chapter 2 cajas de carton?
After his parents and Roberto come back for their lunch break, Panchito is by himself again. But this time he makes a big decision: he’s going to prove that he can pick cotton too. … He’s all set to make his parents proud, which means we know that his parents are going to be seriously ticked off. And they are.
What is Mr Lema like?
Mr. Lema is Francisco’s sixth-grade teacher when Francisco briefly attends a school in Fresno, California. Mr. Lema makes a big impact on Francisco’s life since he is very friendly and welcoming, and he helps Francisco with his English during their lunch breaks every day.
Why does the family leave the shack near Ito's farm?
Why does the family leave the shack near Ito’s farm? The family leaves the shack to find work, because the strawberry season is finished. … The family’s living conditions are poor, the family has not much money and they live in whatever they can find near work.
Why is the story called the circuit?
As a title, The Circuit references all of the moving around the characters do in this book. After all, a circuit is basically a journey that goes around and around—and then around some more.
Is cajas de carton a true story?
Career. Jiménez started his career as a professor teaching at Columbia University. … In 1997, Jiménez published his first autobiographical short novel, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (Cajas de Carton in the Spanish version).
Who is the protagonist in cajas de carton?
The winner of numerous literary awards and the first in a series of three, the book illuminates the realities of migrant life through the eyes of wise and observant protagonist young Panchito, and shares a universal story of hope, faith, and endurance.
How many siblings does Francisco Jimenez have in cajas de carton?
Francisco has four younger siblings: three little brothers—Trampita, Torito, and Rubén—and one little sister, Rorra.