Francisco Jiménez's memoir entitled Reaching Out opens on the day he leaves home to attend college at the University of Santa Clara in California. He describes the heartaches, fears, joys, and discoveries that characterized his first years away from home, while also depicting the difficulty of pursuing his education with the knowledge that his absence is negatively affecting his family in many different ways. Over the course of the memoir, the narrative touches on themes such as marginalization, family bonds, and the complexities inherent in immigrating to the United States.
