My Name Is Jorge

by Jane Medina

A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book
A NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts

The moving poems in this timely, bilingual book for young readers are written in both Spanish and English and are told from the point of view of Jorge, a young immigrant from Mexico who struggles to make a new life in a new country. Poignant and powerful, this award-winning title is a thought-provoking choice to share with children at home or in the classroom, and is an ideal book for children who are learning a new language or navigating between languages.
 
Jorge is trying to learn the ways of his new country on the other side of the river from his home in Mexico. He wants to fit in at school, but he doesn't want to forget his homeland. His family is still doing things as if they're in their old country, but Jorge is curious to find out everything he can about his new country. Learning a new language, getting a library card, taking tests, and making friends are challenges for Jorge. And just when Jorge finds a new friend in Tim, his life changes once again. Author Jane Medina and illustrator Fabricio Vanden Broeck bring Jorge to life in this timeless, accessible tale.

Genres: Poetry, Cultural, Childrens, Spanish Literature, Fiction, Picture Books, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Rfrancik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely collection of poems told from the viewpoint of a young monolingual Spanish speaking boy newly arrived from Mexico as he navigates and integrates his way into an English speaking school.

Jorge's distate at the mispronunciation of his name, "my teacher makes it sound like a sneeze" to his joyous experiences leaping down the halls on the way to see a language specialist, we feel what Jorge feels and share his emotions. The reader will be just as deflated as Jorge is when reading the cruel comments of classmates who say, "only the "Stupid kids" go to that room".

This poetry rings true from both a student and teacher's perspective. A poignant look at the misunderstanding and miscommunications that so often result when we gather together with our varied cultures, linguistics and experience.

Reading levels and experiences are both accessible to 4th grade on up but the tale's poignancy may be best understood by those who teach.

Reviewed by
1) School Library Journal (February 2000) who opine;
"not as sprightly as Francisco X. Alarc-n's Laughing Tomatoes/Jitomates Risue-os (Children's Book Press) or as deeply moving and celebratory as Alma Flor Ada's Gathering the Sun (Lothrop, both 1997), this book does carry significant emotional poignancy." Review is useful because it gives the reader several other books to compare.

2)Children's Literature who also notes the books serious theme and black and white illustrations but gives no review as to who the book appeals to or recommendations.

[Dr. Laura Meyers]

Check out the poem "T-Shirt" (in English & Spanish). It's a wonderful tool to use when discussing multiple perspectives and the importance of names, cultural nuances, respect, etc.

[Anna Schlesinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry

"My Name is Jorge" is a simplistic, but powerful story for grades 3-5 told through poems both in English and Spanish. Jorge has arrived at a new school in the United States where everyone is now calling him George, which makes him upset. Jorge thinks school is very different than it was in Mexico and doesn't understand why he is considered dumb now. He talks about the judgment he feels from people because of his ethnicity; Jorge just wants to fit in. Jorge starts to become friends with a boy at school, Tim, while his other friends get suspended-- but school is still tough for Jorge. When Jorge's grandmother dies, he returns to Mexico with his family and with a new idea about how it feels to become adjusted to another country.

I think this book is ideal for grades 3-5 because it can reach any student beyond their grade level. I would use this book as a community building exercise to help my students understand that we all come from different backgrounds and that's what makes us great. I think it would be helpful to read this book at the beginning of the school year to make sure all students feel welcome in my classroom. I also think this book could be used in a poetry unit; the entire book is written in poems in both Spanish and English. Students could have to construct similar poems to how they felt when they first came to school.

For me this is a wow book because of how powerful the story is even when you don't realize it. When I first started reading it, I did not imagine the impact it could have. I thought it would simply be about a boy not fitting in at school, but this book reaches more broad topics of racism and immigration. I also liked that this book included the Spanish versions of each poem; I think since the book was about a boy who speaks Spanish that it was necessary that it includes how the words would sound to him. This story includes powerful metaphors like "we throw his baseball. It is hard and white. It stings my fingers. But then I get used to it and it doesn't hurt so much. This hard, white country stung at first, too." This book is an important book for all teachers to read to ensure they are supporting and welcoming of all students.

[Lizeth Matzir · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Name is Jorge: On Both Sides of the River, by Jane Medina and illustrated by Fabricio Vanden Broeck, is a bilingual book consisting of poems about a boy named Jorge and his life after immigrated to the US. He goes through many hardships, which are depicted in the poems, many of which undocumented immigrants go through. After arriving in the US, there are many situations he goes through which constantly remind him of his journey across the Rio Grande. Different scenarios are portrayed in the poems in the book in order to show the different perspectives sees in the US. He goes through a hard time at school because he doesn’t feel as intelligent as he did in Mexico. Jorge tries his best to succeed in school and learn the new language to do so. The author does a great job in showcasing both the positive and negative parts that come with immigrating to a new country, especially at such a young age like Jorge. This book provides an authentic view on immigration and can help children in similar situations see themselves in these poems. Even though there were a couple, illustrations are lacking in the story and could have made a bigger impact in the poems.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My writing class in college read one poem from this book about Jorge's feelings when people were calling him George instead of his actual name. The poem held deep meaning for me and I need to remember to finish reading it, but the activity we did with it was one that I thought was beneficial for teachers who use this book. One of my classmate's views was that people mispronouncing his name made Jorge feel smaller, and we began sharing some of the things or times in our lives when other people made us feel small. I think this is a great oral activity that you could do with upper elementary or higher students maybe near the beginning of the year to get to know each other better and feel more like a classroom community.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a young Mexican immigrant named Jorge, who does not like that his classmates and teachers call him George. His experiences are related through poems - each told in Spanish and then English. This would be a great teaching tool on differences and might be a great resource when working with ESL students.

[Christie Suh · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good bilingual book (spanish and english). There are different excerpts with Jorge as the narrator. He explains how he feels about coping to a new country.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good poems about a boy who is the same wherever he goes and in this case on both sides of the river. He

[Sophie Moffatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Name is Jorge: On Both Sides of the River by Jane Medina is a collection of poems written in both English and Spanish from the perspective of a small boy named Jorge. This book is a great choice for many grades, especially those between grades 3-6, with it being a little more challenging for those in the younger grades since it is a 530L Lexile reading level. What I love about this poetry book is that it is bilingual, making it a great choice for a classroom that has many Spanish-speaking ELLs. The themes throughout the book, about acceptance, kindness and cultural diversity, can be very relatable for many students, allowing them to feel seen and represented in their text readings. The various poems explain different aspects of Jorge's experiences in an American school after crossing the border including the mispronunciation of his name, peer bullying and the hardships of assimilating to the American life. I was really shocked at how moving these poems were. By having the story be from a little kid's point of view, it shows such a sad and hard truth about immigration and how much students may be going through in their home lives. I love that the story is in both English and Spanish because not only does that help native Spanish speakers, but it also can encourage English speakers to learn some Spanish terms which is fantastic. I also love the balance of poems showing Jorge's home life and school life, demonstrating how one can drastically impact the other (such as having to take a test after hearing about his abuelita) and how, as teachers, it is important that we get to know students outside of school, integrate their experiences into the classroom and be as welcoming and empathetic as possible (not like the teacher in the book that constantly mispronounced Jorge's name as George).

One way I would like to use this in the classroom is to facilitate discussion about diversity, kindness and acceptance. Because this book deals with some strong and personal topics, it is important that the discussion is appropriate and being respectful of student backgrounds, ideas and experiences is essential. This read aloud could be used to integrate social studies into the curriculum, talking about immigration and also about different languages, which nicely ties in with reading instruction as well. The glossary in the back of the book could be posted on the word wall to introduce Spanish terms into the classroom, which would be extra beneficial if there are Spanish-speaking students in the class. Another way I would like to use this book is during a poetry genre unit. Students can analyze the author's poetic style, how the verses/lines are set up and what characteristics they observe. To follow up this discussion, students can create their own poem following a similar theme or poem structure to introduce themselves. The titles of these poems could be "My Name is ___" and then they can talk about their own personal experiences, similar to an "I Am" poem but with more diversity. A third way this book could be used in the classroom could be to dissect a poem. This could be done in a fishbowl discussion format where there is a circle of desks around a smaller circle of desks, with the middle circle discussing a topic while the outer circle observes the discussion. To do this, I would assign one poem from the book per group to discuss for 5 minutes allowing them to talk about anything they feel is important to the poem/author (i.e.: structure, details, theme, etc.). The outer circle would observe discussion techniques such as respecting others, taking turns, contributing meaningful ideas, etc. This way, students get to explore different poems in more depth, without having to do a formal analysis.

This book was WOW book for me because it immediately caught my attention by starting off with a Spanish poem. At first, I was unsure if I should keep reading since I do not speak Spanish, but I am so glad I did because I really felt moved from these poems. Jorge's experiences were so real and his poems were so full of emotion that it made you feel really connected to his story. As a person who has been the new kid in many schools, I understand the anxiety and nervousness that comes from joining a new class, but with his diverse background he went through even harder times than I could imagine. The poem T-Shirt was one that I really enjoyed because at first I was so sad that his teacher was not understanding about the ways different cultures show respect, but I loved the twist at the end with Jorge then asking her to pronounce HIS name correctly! Jorge has so much character and I feel like I got to live his year with him, which I think is very rare to feel so connected to a storybook. This is why I chose this as a WOW book, because it was the first time that I have read a story of poems that all really made me feel something.

[Savannah Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This bilingual poetry text portrays a young boy, Jorge’s, experience trying to learn the ways of a new country. Jorge’s experience is portrayed through a series of both Spanish and English poems and illustrations. This text absolutely reflects the anti-bias criterion by reflecting and giving credit to student’s experiences that may be similar to Jorge’s as well as offering a new perspective to those who may never experience anything similar to Jorge. Although this text is targeted for children, Medina touches on very complex topics such as the importance of names, microaggressions, culture, identity, and so much more. Throughout the series of poems, Jorge is developed into a rich, complex character that draws in it’s readers through his experiences, feelings and relatable crisis’s. All of the pages are minimal, black and white with little to no illustrations. The simplicity and lack of illustrations speaks to the complex and heavy topic. All poems are written in both Spanish in English. The Spanish poems are consistently ordered before the English poems and I think that reflects Jorge’s identity and experiences as someone who moved from a Spanish speaking area to a mostly English-speaking area. The back of the book includes a glossary of selected terms that are depicted in both Spanish and English. This text would be optimal to keep in a classroom for both educators and students to read and reread.

[Melia Bents · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Spanish on the left and English on the right, this book of short poems tells a story about a boy named Jorge who has recently moved to a new country. He struggles with many things that other students do not and the reader gains a new perspective on what this might feel like from the shoes of Jorge. He encounters frustrations, friendships, discoveries, and unfamiliarities, but in the end, he must return home. Age level: 3rd grade and up. I would use this book in the classroom to discuss the topic of immigration and how hard it is for immigrant students to transition to a new place. This book is written by a white woman who never personally experienced immigration, but she has knowledge in the area. This could be seen as problematic and some of the language used is questionable, but it tells a realistic story of what life is like as an immigrant student.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book consists a collection of poems about a boy named Jorge who's trying to figure out his way in America as he learns English and gets familiar with the new world around him. Jorge's journey talks about how people keep mispronouncing his name and not being able to speak English makes life at school harder than it should be. Through the midst of confusion and conflict, Jorge still finds joy when he makes new friends.
The genre of this book would bilingual poetry fiction because it is written both english and spanish. This story has simple poem lines that are appropriate for children and interesting enough to gain their attention. There weren't many illustrations in this book and the ones that were there are plain and only in black in white. Throughout the poems, there are no stereotypes that negatively represent a cultural group.

[Heather Lugar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of poems about a boy living a life in a new country. The poems are both in Spanish and english. One of the poems is about the boy's name is Jorge but people call him George. He does not like being called George. This could be a great book to discuss the importance of names.

[Zoe Timms · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this book a 3/5 and would have this book in my classroom. Through Jorge's voice, Medina explores themes of language barriers, cultural identity, and resilience. This heartfelt book offers a powerful, authentic perspective on the immigrant experience.

[Patience Temple · Rating 4 out of 5]

The importance of a name.

[Sarah Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is in both English and Spanish. The book is a collection of poems written about Jorge, and from his perspective, and his life in America.

[Camryn Kerrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Poems in both English and Spanish
- Shows perspective of how children feel when they move to a new country
- Helps teachers get practice and insight (doesn't have to be shared to class)

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

-poems in english and spanish.
-good for kids that are from mexico or other countries
-jorge is from mexico
-names are important!!

[Rachel Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has poems listed in English and Spanish.
The first poem reminds us the importance of names and how they shouldn't change.

[Hannah Wesson · Rating 5 out of 5]

full of poems in English and Spanish. Students can see both languages.
Talks about new life in a new country.

[Lauren DeVore · Rating 5 out of 5]

-poems in English and Spanish
-Jorge is from Mexico
-As a teacher, good to think about your own practice, make sure everyone's name is pronounced correctly

[Courtney Byrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

English and Spanish
Fitting in
Family Practices of different cultures
Struggles of a new life and a new country
Importance of names and culture
Reflects on own practices of teaching

[Kayla Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

-walks reader through experiences of what it is like for people traveling from south america to the US
-has poems written in Spanish and English which would be beneficial for EL students

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in verse that contains the poems in both Spanish and English tells the tough story about a 6th grader's year in American before he returns to Mexico.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely poetry.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in consideration of classroom use. Still percolating ideas.

[Seth Schleicher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: My Name is Jorge: On Both Sides of the River
Author/Illustrator: Jane Median
Reading Level: J

Book Level: 4.3

Book Summary: Jorge is a young boy that is new to this country from Mexico. He loves his home country and doesn’t want to forget his family traditions. Jorge struggles with all that he must learn for his new life in a new country, especially the struggle of being called, “George.”

Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits:

Sentence Fluency: Unpack more about Jorge’s feelings about moving to a new country by writing five sentences from the book that use words showing emotions. Draw a picture of Jorge using facial expressions he may be using at that time next to the sentence.

[Olivia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot Summary: My Name is Jorge: On Both Sides of the River is a story about a little boy who recently left his homeland of Mexico to travel to his new home in America. While reading this well written collection of poems, Jorge describes his struggles in adjusting to the new world: being in an unfamiliar place, learning English, not fitting in anywhere and no one will pronounce his name correctly. Although Jorge focuses on the faults at first, making new friends and discovering the value in his ‘new home’ helps him adjust and appreciate this new place.

Literary Merit:Authenticity & Accuracy: Jane Medina is an advocate for multicultural children’s literature and believes that her personal experiences and stories can help immigrant children adjust to society. Although Jane was born in the United States, her husband and most of her family and friends immigrated here from Mexico. In an interview Medina states, “I have lived the immigrant experience through my husband, friends and students. Jorge was one of my students in my fourth grade classroom. One year later, I saw him sitting on a bench. He did not look very happy. He told me that his new teacher called him George. He did not like it at all. It was then and there when I decided to write this book.” Based off one of Jane’s students, this book reveals the unfortunate but authentic struggle immigrant children face when arriving in a new place. I think Medina also realized the importance of accurate and authentic stories when she states, “An immigration story needs to be three dimensional in order to be authentic. To say that to immigrate to another country is easy and wonderful is a lie. To say that to immigrate to another country is the worst thing that could ever happen to you is a lie too. To be genuine, an author must show the good things, the bad things, and also the ambivalent. The author needs to write a real story.” Jorge’s character and story allows children to understand the struggles an immigrant child faces and also gives immigrant children a chance to connect with a book on a personal level.

Classroom Connection: This story gives children a chance to see the perspectives and sides to a story that one may not consider. It encourages children to think about what other’s may be going through, and consider how others feel in certain situations. I think it would be fun to make our own collection of poems describing situations and times that the students in the classroom have felt like Jorge. (not fitting in, being in an unfamiliar place, having to make new friends, problems in school, ect) I would have my students think of a personal time, or a situation that didn’t happen to them that they think might be important to think about, and ask them to turn this situation into a short poem. They would type their poems, and create an illustration to go along with or extends their poem. We would then analyze our own struggles that we’ve faced, and think about how we felt during those instances and how a child who may have just arrived in America would feel in those situations. The point of this activity would be for children to empathize with other children who may be in a difficult or unfamiliar situation, and remember their personal poem and how they felt the next time they see anyone in a difficult scenario.

**Text Set: Immigration

[Liliana Solorzano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this poetry book about a young boy who tries to fit in her in America but also does not want to forget his motherland. This book does a great job of describing how Jorge felt about being in a new place with a totally different culture than his. He describes feeling invisible and just not welcomed. I think this book would be a very good read for kids in that they will ask many questions on the whole immigration topic. Jorge describes his challenges of wanting to fit into the American culture, but his parents still doing everything the way it was done back in Mexico. The book depicts a problem and solution by Jorge finding a friend a new friend, but again the story ends tragically when Jorge has to go back home. This book is very authentic because it clearly depicts the feeling many kids have when crossing the border to come to the United States something that many other books do not hold. The author Jane Medina makes the book very authentic because she feels as if she has personally experienced this having a husband who immigrated from Mexico and also having many immigrant students and friends. The descriptions in this book will clearly make students knowledgeable of the difficulties many people go through to get to the United States. Immigration is a topic not very much discussed to young children, although many can relate to it. Having no knowledge of it silences the voices of the many immigrant kids that have experienced it, thus this book is very authentic and does a great job in explaining it poetically.

[Delicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Fiction, Poetry

Audience:

Topic: immigrant children; assimilation; beginning a new school; finding friends

Theme: friendship; identity; the struggle between adapting and maintaining your cultural heritage;

Use: Read Aloud, Independent reading

Reading Level: Late early/early transitional

Illustrations: There are almost no illustrations. The few that exist are black and white images of characters from the poem.

Literary Elements: Poetry

Thoughts:

My Name is Jorge is a collection of poems. The poems are written from the point of view of a young, immigrant boy from Mexico. The poems tell the story of his struggle to maintain his identity while fitting into the school culture and forming friendships.

This book does an excellent job of describing the struggles these children face when they first begin school. The poems are written twice: once in Spanish and once in English. The Spanish poem comes first and then the English poem. The English poems also contain scattered Spanish words.

This book is black text on white paper but the words jump around on the page. The poems are set up to create shapes which can make it difficult to follow at times.

This book would make an excellent book for a classroom.