Francisco, Panchito

Francisco is the narrator of this book. His family affectionately refers to him as Panchito. At the beginning of the book, he is a small child from a small village in Mexico. His family decides to illegally cross the border into California for migrant work opportunities. Francisco stays home to take care of his baby brother while Mama, Papa and his older brother Roberto pick crops in the field. Francisco is not happy that he stays behind. He does not go to school most of the time because he must help out his family. When he does go to school, he is frightened and intimidated because everything is in English. He cannot understand the teachers or his classmates. He has a hard time making friends. He also has a hard time because his family moves so often to find work. Francisco moves each crop season and cannot...