Leaving his home in a migrant community, Francisco sets off for college, carrying memories of years of poverty and prejudice. This volume is the autobiographical account of the author's transition from migrant living on California's central coast to the life of a college student. He chronicles his college years and introduces the people who befriended him as well as those who had prejudices against Mexicans. Throughout his story, the difficulties...

During his college years, the very family solidarity that allows Francisco to survive as a child is tested. Not only must he leave his family when his goes to Santa Clara University, but while Francisco is there, his father abandons the family and returns to Mexico.