The Disappointing But Promising Ending

Ernesto Walking away and trying to find something better for himself than the job he had is proof that Ernesto has grown quite a lot and is able to think critically about what his job should look like. This shows his intellectual growth and proficiency with the many things he has learned during his travels. He is able to assess his own situation and decide that it is not good enough for him.

The Ending of Barrio Boy was a little disappointing. I was hoping for more of a solid conclusion to Ernesto's epic travels and experiences but instead it leaves us on a cliffhanger. I really want to know what Ernesto does after he leaves that last job! Its pretty frustrating to not be able to know whether or not your main character even makes it or not. However, he is writing this autobiography so hopefully he turned out okay!

Overall, I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed most of the book, but there were parts (especially in the beginning) that did not grab me at all. The writing was very descriptive, and sudden. I was not expecting that plot twist with Neron, which hit so close to home because of my own experience with my dog's near-death. That part definitely influenced me the most, and made me begin to identify with Ernesto. I would recommend this book to someone, but give them a warning that the descriptions can drone on a bit.

Galarza, E. (2011).  Barrio boy.  Notre Dame, IN:  University of Notre Dame Press.

pp. 349

Telegram = Knowledgeable

Ernesto's experience writing a telegram to his family members to send Jose's immigration papers ends up exciting his family very much. It seems as if his family did not expect a letter written in English from him. I would have thought they could trust him to do that, because his schooling had been going decently and Jose's freedom was on the line. Ernesto's ability to send this telegram with the operators help impressed his family so much that they made copies of the telegram and kept it as a keepsake. 

It seems as if Ernesto's telegram was a sort of starting point for him going out on his own. He had already been doing stuff out on his own with friends, but not academically. Because he was able to do this very simple task, his family made him feel like he had arrived at a place where he could be comfortable At. at least, that was the way it seemed to me. I'm unsure if Ernesto's story would have turned out differently if he had taken advantage of this success and built upon it, rather than just viewing it as a single success story.

Galarza, E. (2011).  Barrio boy.  Notre Dame, IN:  University of Notre Dame Press.

pp. 264

Homeschooling As A Lifestyle

One of Ernesto's first experiences with teaching was his homeschooling. His mother would use an abacus to teach him math and would teach him words by having him repeat them slowly after her. Ernesto got a lot out of these lessons with his mother, because they were very personalized and focused on helping solely Ernesto. 

A lot can be said for homeschooling as an effective method of instruction. The unparalleled amount of attention the child gets compared to public school kids is crazy. I resonated with this a lot because I was homeschooled throughout grade school, and I absolutely loved it. However, Ernesto's mom did not have access to the kind of textbooks that my mom did, so her instruction was rather rudimentary. If Ernesto had not ended up going to public school in sacramento, he would not have been able to gain as much knowledge as he did.

Galarza, E. (2011).  Barrio boy.  Notre Dame, IN:  University of Notre Dame Press.

pp. 104

My Emotions Whilst Reading Barrio Boy

 

I was impacted quite a lot while reading part 1 of Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. Ernesto describes his surroundings so completely that one is left with a very vivid picture of what his original home looked like. I was drawn in quickly, especially when Ernesto started talking about the dog that he was supposed to look after and grow up with, Neron. He recounts many fond memories of the dog, and was casually talking about him when all of a sudden he had been bitten and contracted rabies. 

This surprised me to an extent. I had been expecting Neron to be Ernesto's guide, his friend throughout life. Instead, he had to be put down by the people who loved him the most. It was extremely emotional for me, because my dog almost died last year and I know that pain must have been brutal for him. It sounds bad, but this is what really made me get into the book. This dramatic event drew me in and made me realize that this story is going to be an amazing one!

Galarza, E. (2011).  Barrio boy.  Notre Dame, IN:  University of Notre Dame Press.

pp. 32