I just read of a young latino poet inspired to write his own novel after reading Jack Kerouac’s On the Road.  Tim Z. Hernandez who grew up in the Central Valley saw something he knew in one of Kerouac’s characters. He identified with a beautiful Mexican fieldworker woman named Terry.  He came up with this idea to search for the real “Terry.”  He hired a private detective to help him locate the real-life woman who the real-life Kerouac briefly romanced. That’s his story right there.  

Our students need to know the stories we read are based on real people, real places, and real events.   If they need to learn anything, it’s how to make their own connections.   Tim Z searched two years for his Kerouac character.  I found mine living right next door to me.