Plot Summary

The story Jesse by Gary Soto is about two young Mexican American men; Jesse and his older brother Abel. The story takes place during the early 1970's in Fresno. In the beginning, Jesse decides to drop out of high school, move out of the house where he lived with his mother and drunken stepfather and tries to get out of the life of poverty. Jesse’s father had passed away from an industrial accident when Jesse and Abel were both young. Jesse decided to moves in with his older brother Abel. Both of the boys enroll in a community college where Abel switches between studying between Spanish and forestry and Jesse studies art. The boys move into a small broke-down apartment where the windows were grimy, the screen doors were ripped, and a filthy line of moss bred where the swamp cooler leaked but they paid a cheap rent of $110. From social security, they each receive $90 because of their father’s death. With the $90 they received, they spent on rent, college tuition, and to buy food and clothing. Since extra cash was needed, the boys worked on farms during weekends or found things in alleys and tried to sell at flea markets. Jesse earned $16 a weekend by working on a farm.
The story continues though Jesse's first semester at the community college. The year continues when an unexpected romance occurs and a surprising ending that leaves Jesse living by himself. Can Jesse afford everything and handle living by himself without Abel?

Comments by Camille's

We really enjoyed this story about Jesse because it showed the struggles he went through to try to make himself have a better life. We think that this shows that if anyone tries hard enough they can make a change in their own lives just like Jesse was trying to do. We admire Jesse by how he had the courage to move out of his home without the help of his family.
We also enjoyed reading the book and being able to understand the Spanish words within the text including abuela (grandmother), arroz (rice), feo (ugly), ¿entiendes? (do you understand?), etc. We liked how Gary Soto included Spanish words to add to the feeling of the Spanish culture. It really helped us feel connected to the characters in the book.

CamilleR's Discussion Question #2

At the end of the book, how do you think Jesse handled living by himself without Abel?

CamilleR's Discussion Question #1

Do you think if Jesse and Abel try hard enough that one day they could be very wealthy?

Cami L's Discussion Question #2

Put yourself in Jesse’s and Abel’s shoes: an unsupportive drunken stepfather and living by yourself in a broke-down apartment with barley and money. Would you have handled everything the way the brothers did in the book?

Cami L's Discussion Question #1

Why do you think it is so hard for Jesse and his brother Abel to have a better life? Do you think it is because they are young Mexican-American men that it makes it harder for them to live a better life?