Breaking Through

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Lasting from approximately 1910 to 1920, the Mexican Revolution is considered by many historians to be the defining event in modern Mexican history. What was the war about? Who were the major players, and what were they fighting for? What was the outcome?

Teaching Suggestion: As noted in the resource below, the Mexican Revolution was “a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted ultimately in the end of a 30-year dictatorship in Mexico and the establishment of a constitutional republic.” As such, many Mexican families—like Jiménez’s family—immigrated to the United States in search of a better life and to escape from relentless cycles of poverty in Mexico. If students are unfamiliar with this event in history, it may be helpful to explore these or other resources on the subject before tackling the questions.

• “Mexican Revolution” is an encyclopedia entry that provides an overview of the conflict—its origins, beliefs about the revolution, and outcomes of the conflict on Mexican society and the world at large.
• “The Mexican Revolution Explained in 10 Minutes” is a video by Captivating History that gives a concise, visual summary of the conflict.

2. Since America’s earliest days, people have been migrating to the US from around the world. In the 1940s, what were some of the main reasons people from Mexico migrated to the US? What was happening in Mexico and/or the US at this time to influence this move?

Teaching Suggestion: The Jiménez family migrated to the US in 1944. This prompt will help students see the family’s move as part of a larger pattern of migration for many individuals, one that began at the turn of the century and continued throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Students might brainstorm world and national events leading to this era with the intent of focusing on immigration, Mexico, and the US.

• “A Growing Community” is an article from the Library of Congress, which is part of their “Immigration and Relocation in US History” series and describes the Mexican Revolution’s effect on immigration at the beginning of the 20th century.
• “Expansion and Expulsion” drills down on legislation and world events that affected Mexican immigration into the US in the 1940s.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and one of the most prominent leaders in the American civil rights movement, once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” What do you think he means and what does this quote mean to you?

Teaching Suggestion: The Value of Spirituality and Faith in fostering a sense of hope/optimism is a major theme throughout the book. Regardless of students’ personal religious beliefs, by exploring this quote, students will reflect on their own experience of how holding onto hope—even in the most dire and difficult of circumstances—is a survival strategy.

• “Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. with 15 of His Most Powerful Quotes,” a People Magazine article, explores quotes that deal with topics related to hope, optimism, and faith.
• This Harvard Gazette article explores the connection between religious communities and social justice movements.