Reaching Out is part of a series of autobiographical works by Francisco Jiménez, starting with the childhood memoir Breaking Through and ending with Taking Hold, about his early adult years. Do you find that the book makes sense and is effective without having read the previous volumes? Why or why not?

Does Reaching Out have an antagonist?

Do Smokey Murphy and Frank’s dorm mates have a positive or negative influence on him overall? Do they help or hinder his growth?