Jumping Tree

by René Saldaña Jr.

Rey, a Mexican American living with his close-knit family in a Texas town near the Mexican border, describes his transition from boy to young man.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Coming Of Age

Library Binding

First published May 8, 2001

About the author

René Saldaña Jr. graduated from Georgia State University (Ph.D.) with degrees in English and creative writing. He and his family live in south Texas, where he teaches English and writing at the university level. He is the author of "The Jumping Tree "and "Finding Our Way."

Reviews

[Ariatna Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jumping Tree, Rene Saldana Jr.
Rating *****
Bookshelves ENGL 420
Status Read in May 6-7, 2014

In The Jumping Tree, Reynaldo, named after his father, tells his own story of growing up in Penitas, Texas, a town right across the border of Mexico. He writes of what it was like growing up in a Mexican home in the United States. In a series of short stories, Reynaldo invites the reader into his life. He writes of his family, whom he loves very much. He writes of his mother and father, of their example and of the sacrifices they make for their family. Reynaldo writes of his grandparents, cousins, siblings. He writes of climbing on a mesquite tree, of his several crushes. He talks of his two worlds: his neighborhood and school. Rene Saldana Junior takes us back into his childhood and tells of his adventures and experiences with his neighborhood friends and also those with his school friends. He tells of the death of his uncle, his godfather, as well as certain experiences in his life where he faces discrimination. The novel ends with Reynaldo hearing his father pace through the hall, worrying about keeping his family safe. “I so wanted to be like him,” is the last sentence in this novel. Rene Saldana Junior does a wonderful job of telling his and the story of many other Chicanos. Having lived and grown up in Mission, Texas, a neighboring city of Penitas, Texas, I was able to identify so much with the novel. As the reader learns of Reynaldo’s childhood, his or her own childhood is remembered and relived. I recommend this book to all readers! It is a new favorite!

[Brittany Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his typical short story format, Rene Saldana spins the tale of Rey Castaneda from his sixth grade to his eighth grade years in Nuevo Penitas, Texas. One side of Rey's family lives nearby in Mexico, the other half in Texas, and Rey is a perfect fit in both worlds, playing the role of the goof-off in the first and enjoying his status as an "A-lister" in Texas. As Rey grows up, he begins to learn the difficulties of becoming a man and in following the footsteps his father expects him to emulate. As he experiences the growing pains of leaving behind childish things, he also learns to be proud of his heritage and the life that was made possible for him by his loving and hard-working family. As is any good young adult book, this is a true coming-of-age story where Rey learns that you're never to young to appreciate the difficulties of growing up. Through humor and heartbreak, Saldana shows in each episodic story that figuring out who you are is always a challange, especially when you're from two different worlds. Because each of his stories can stand alone, this book can either be taken as a whole or read in parts, and either way, it makes for an interesting read.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Rene Saldana, who used to teach with me at Mission High School, wrote this delightful book on a child's life in the Rio Grande Valley. I could relate to so many of his stories -- playing in the canal, shopping across the border and jumping in the piles of clothes at Johnson's Ropa Usada. His dialog is authentically Tex-Mex -- "Nombre miss!" This book really cracked me up!

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this.
I have spent several years w/Latino's, Hispanic's and those from Central and South America.
I would compare this book to the Movie, "McFarland, USA."

[Jane Gomez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgic

Oh how I wanted to be able to rate this book a 5 star but I can’t. I am very familiar with the setting of the story having taught myself at Nellie Schunior Middle Schooling’s La Joya, TX which I thought would make me love the story. However, nostalgic as it was to envision the world of Penitas, the plot was ambling at best. The story doesn’t seem to have a point, a lesson, a takeaway. Beautiful for me but underwhelming as a novel.

[Karlin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank and hopeful. It's good to read a coming-of-age story where parents are positive models of virtue, and where family is important. Also, this gives me new appreciation for the unique identies of bi-cultural Americans.

[Jailynn]

m,m,
'
l'p;ll

[Bob Gustas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

[Linda Mangus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite book.

[Tara Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this coming-of-age novel that explores identity and family, among many other things, I found myself reading with a little bit of an accent, which was kind of fun. I really loved how Saldana used so many words in Spanish, but did it in a way that you could figure out what the English word was. Or he would give sentences in Spanish and then have characters repeat the sentences or answer in English in such a way that you could understand the gist of the Spanish phrases. That was a very clever idea and helped open up the eyes of the readers into what living in a bilingual world would be like to some extent. It was also interesting to see how Rey sort of struggled with his identity as a Mexican, but also as an American, and also which traits and characteristics he would attribute to each side of his identity. I didn't love this book, it was good, but I think the part I appreciated the most was the role of the teacher. She was a fairly minor character, but she had a significant impact on Rey and the other students and I found it refreshing to have a YA novel that actually shows a good teacher that helped the students grow into their identities. I would recommend this book to younger students and I think it really could be eye-opening to show how first-generation Americans face many struggles and are often very hard-working and legitimately good students. Rey was a very involved and dedicated student despite any obstacles his parents had to overcome and despite any language barriers.

[Maria Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jumping Tree
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s about a boy named Rey and his experiences while being in the sixth grade through eighth grade. Rey lives in Texas really close to Mexico. So in the book it goes on by showing us how the two cultures mix. I can really relate since I am a Mexican American. Rey had to distinguish how to be in school with the “American” culture and then at home to keep up with his demands of “Mexican” culture. I also loved how Rene Saldana added the Spanish (Mestizaje) better yet. The novel also flowed very well I think that a children would be able to follow and be intrigued to keep reading the book. The book was also very descriptive it gave you a clear image of what was going on throughout the book. Overall I really liked it and would definitely recommend to read it!

[English Education]

***spoiler alert***The jumping Tree tells the coming-of-age story of the twelve year old Reynaldo Castaneda, who lives in La Joya in Texas, really close to Mexico. As he has family in both countries, the teenager is used to cross the border. His main concern is how to become a good man, just like his dad. The story shows how Reynold’s understanding of being Chicano or Mexican-American changes throughout the years, and it emphasizes the importance of persevering one’s native language and culture. This book can be used in a unit about finding one’s identity, especially when being part of many different cultures. Many students will share the experience of feeling lost, not knowing where they belong to. In order to depict a female and a male perspective on this topic in the classroom, the novel could be combined with The Tequila Worm.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice book about growing up Chicano in south Texas. Rey is a U.S. citizen, as his father came over the border from Mexico years earlier, and these are stories of his 6th and 7th grade years. Roughhousing with his best friend Chuy, who works migrant labor in the fields; collecting cigarette butts to sneak smokes; accidentally locking his baby brother alone in the house! Boy stuff. He looks up to his hardworking father and uncles, and learns to be proud to be Chicano. I liked the mixing in of Spanish words (some of which are not too clearly defined by context) and culture, and his definition of the term "Chicano" as opposed to "Hispanic" or "Latino." Appropriate for 5th-6th graders, though in later chapters he's getting into "girls."

[James Gordon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Through a collection of life stories, Saldaña portrays young Rey’s life through his own eyes. Rey is not a boy any more, but he is far from being a man. He wants so much to be like his father, yet he yearns to fit in with the kids at school. Readers are taken through these few years of his life and given an insight to his decision-making, which mostly reflects his desire to please his family. Readers learn who Rey is as he figures out who he is as a Chicano boy living in Texas. Saldaña combines cultures through the stories and the text. He used many Spanish words throughout the book, and while it may interest some readers, it may also hinder others who have a hard time picking up on the clues to defining those foreign words.

[Dazaiesque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es un muy buen libro, te habla muy bien de los problemas que tienen los chicanos persiguiendo el sueño americano. Lo leí para la escuela y es una novela que expresa verdaderamente la cultura y los estereotipos mexicanos, es la historia de un joven chicano que está pasando de ser una niño a ser un hombre y todas las dificultades que la adolescencia trae consigo. Tiene que decidir que tipo de hombre debe ser, qué modelo quiere seguir. Debe ser como su padre, un hombre amoroso y que se sacrifica por su familia, o como los hombres de su cultura, hombres bebedores e irresponsables pero muy machos?

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

COming of Age/Latino Lit/YA

The Jumping Tree is the tale of a young Latino boy growing up in Southern Texas. It is arranged as a series of short stories, through which we come to learn who Rey is, and what it means for him to be Latino. We follow him as he learns what it is to be a man, to be Latino in America, to stand up for the things that you know are true. The plot meanders a bit, as each story has it's own theme, but throughout the whole we see Rey piecing together his self-image. Short but touching. A quick, easy read. Great for Middle Grade readers, up to adult.

[Lauren Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Race/Culture/Coming of Age

Reynaldo lives in a town on the border between Texas and Mexico. Through the novel, he learns to deal with his place as a Mexican-American, having both cultures. Reynaldo must balance the demands of his Mexican friends and his friends at school. His biggest desire is to be like his father. In the end, he learns to have pride in his culture. Saldana voice is excellent as he weaves Spanish and English together. Ultimately, this book is most suited for those in similar situations as Reynaldo, but it is also an interesting window into a different culture.

[Lj bunker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows the struggle of growing up and having to chose between being a man and making responsible decisions or having fun with your friends. In this book the main character Rey must make this very difficult decision. He hangs out with his friends and they put him in very bad situations that can get him in trouble. Luckily he finds his way back on the the best path of life.
This is definitely a book geared to older readers in 8th or 9th grade. It can be used to show how important choosing the correct friends are and how to deal with peer pressure.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I imagine stumbling across in a few years and being completely incapable of remembering what it was about despite being sure that I'd read it.

I understand the value of the coming-of-age novel . . . but then, this doesn't seem to work as a novel. If anything, it's structured more like a literary essay. A fictitious biography, if you will, with some culture added to it to keep it interesting.

Unfortunately, none of that lured me in.

[Charla Aranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rey is a Mexican boy who grows up in South Texas. This coming of age novel depicts his struggle with identity. He learns to embrace his heritage and feel pride for who he is, despite of the struggles he and his friends go through due to said culture.

I especially enjoyed reading this book since it's laden with Spanish phrases left and right. I love Spanish. The writing was pretty good, and I'd recommend this book to kids in junior high and up.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randomly picked this one off the shelf when visiting our new library. It was a nice story. It appealed to me because it deals with a culture I know very little about (Chicano). My brother and his wife are hoping to adopt 3 very adorable Tex-Mex kids, though, and so I wondered if it would give me some perspective. Mostly, though, it was the story of a boy that I felt could be any boy, anywhere. Very sweet.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, a book my students can relate to. I find that the book could have been better if there was more of a flow to the stories, makig them more connected (not the actual writing itself). The images the stories bring up are familiar and welcome. Great sense of culture without being preachy about it. Love that the author was my professor too!

[Cathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the main character Rey wants everyone to think he’s becoming a man, he is also testing his limits to find out what it means to be a man. Sometimes he takes the risk his brain tells him not to and other times, his conscience wins. In the end, Rey learns that being a man means being your OWN man; one you can live with and be proud.

[Jennifer Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a coming of age story about a young boy, Reynaldo, who grows up on the boarders of South Texas. His role model is his father. It is a collection of short stories about Reynaldo and gives a lot of information about the life of in Southern Texas.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, quick read. Features an 11 year old boy and the adventures he experiences in life living on both sides of the Mexican-USA border. Humorous at times, intriguing, and some good, solid life lessons.

Here is a booktalk I did featuring this title: http://www.screencast.com/t/ypnxv8kc

[Guillermo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one to Justin. He loved it. So good for children and young adults.

[Slug824 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a Mexican-Amarican boy and how he saw life.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really funny but poignant vignettes written by a local author. Full of great messages about courage, integrity, and growing up. My students couldn't get enough.

[Yovana]

to lear the reading

[Gabriela Martinez]

i think it is good book