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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ernesto Cisneros is quickly becoming a favorite middle grade author. His previous book, Efrén Divided, made my top 10 list for 2021.
Even though this one will not reach the same level, I really enjoyed it. Both boys felt like fully fleshed out characters with real issues to face that they faced in pretty realistic 6th grade ways. While the teacher in me finds some issues with the portrayal of school, an unfortunately frequent complaint for these sorts of books, I did really enjoy the teachers who made secondary character appearances.
I think this is a wholesome, well-written middle grades novel. If I still taught middle school, I would definitely purchase this book to keep in my collection.
Even though this one will not reach the same level, I really enjoyed it. Both boys felt like fully fleshed out characters with real issues to face that they faced in pretty realistic 6th grade ways. While the teacher in me finds some issues with the portrayal of school, an unfortunately frequent complaint for these sorts of books, I did really enjoy the teachers who made secondary character appearances.
I think this is a wholesome, well-written middle grades novel. If I still taught middle school, I would definitely purchase this book to keep in my collection.
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Basketball and school are the frames around which an inspiring friendship takes form. Just beautiful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Isaac and Marco are two best friends, and neighbors, that seem to be complete opposites in terms of athletics and academics. Isaac is really good at basketball, but falls behind with his school work. Marco is always the butt of the short jokes, but he is super smart.
Better grades will surely stop Isaac's parents from arguing all the time, and Marco believes earning a spot on the school's basketball team will earn his father’s approval. The two best friends must rely on each other in unexpected ways.
Themes: changing friendships, entering middle school, bullying, how to have difficult conversations with your parents, lying, and standing up for yourself and what's right for you
Rep: Both protagonists are Latinx. Isaac is Jewish and Mexican, and Marco is Mexican-American.
Isaac and Marco’s friendship was so inspiring to me. It’s so commonly written in books that friends break up (at least temporarily) when starting at a new school, so I appreciated how that wasn’t the case in Falling Short. Isaac tried to make friends with Marco’s new friends, and vice versa. They were always there for each other. I wish I had a neighbor friend whose window I could crawl through at any hour, and maybe they would do my homework too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought this story was such a sweet examination of a friendship between two 12 year old boys in a way that was really lovely to see. They were so supportive of each other and I thought the fact that they were comfortable talking about their feelings and insecurities was really refreshing and will be great for kids around middle school age to see. There was also lots of basketball and sports content for sports fans though the heart of the story is really Marco and Isaac's friendship. I do think that Isaac's father's drinking problem was handled a little too easily though. I applaud the author for taking care with the character so that the reader is really rooting for him to treat his addiction successfully, but I think the ending was tied up a little too quickly. Still, this book is really for 4th-7th graders and that's a tough balance to strike between being realistic without being too much for the reader to grapple with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Vomit, Car accident
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
So many middle grade books are about friendships breaking when kids enter middle school -- either from the need to be cool, or from self-discovery that causes kids to grow apart as they age, or from other outside pressures. The glory of this book is that there is a loving friendship between boys at the heart of it, and they never let each other down. They both have family challenges in their lives (one absent father, one who is struggling with alcoholism), loving mothers, and sincere doubts about their own abilities (Marco is short and struggles with anxiety, Isaac finds it difficult to keep up with homework). They also both spend a lot of time in this book genuinely supporting each other and appreciating each other's strengths -- from Marco's intelligence to Isaac's basketball skills. It's also one of the only middle grade books I've ever read where a school enforces an anti-bullying policy so that the kids don't have to. It's a really straightforward story about being in 6th grade and growing up and trying new things. It's a quick read and an engaging one, and it's just absolutely stuffed with heart.
Reminds me a lot of A Whole New Ballgame by Phil Bildner, which is another favorite of mine. Let's hear it for celebrating kids and their care for each other.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Reminds me a lot of A Whole New Ballgame by Phil Bildner, which is another favorite of mine. Let's hear it for celebrating kids and their care for each other.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Car accident, Abandonment
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Falling Short was a light-hearted read touching on some deep issues. Marco and Isaac could not be more opposite. Marco is in all GATE classes as he begins middle school. Isaac almost failed 5th grade. Isaac is a star on the basketball court. Marco needs to use the granny shot to make a free throw. Despite the differences they've been best friends since preschool.
Marco's dad has pretty much disappeared from his life. Isaac's father is dealing with some alcohol issues, causing him to be asked to leave the home.
This book is a wonderful example of friendship who have not yet discovered the angst of junior high. They kiss their moms goodbye. They're surprised to hear words that aren't said at home. They appreciate that they have a friend who accepts them unconditionally. And discover that sometimes family doesn't always look the same.
This book will be going in my classroom library quickly. I was gifted a preview copy of this book by Netgalley, but opinions are my own.
Marco's dad has pretty much disappeared from his life. Isaac's father is dealing with some alcohol issues, causing him to be asked to leave the home.
This book is a wonderful example of friendship who have not yet discovered the angst of junior high. They kiss their moms goodbye. They're surprised to hear words that aren't said at home. They appreciate that they have a friend who accepts them unconditionally. And discover that sometimes family doesn't always look the same.
This book will be going in my classroom library quickly. I was gifted a preview copy of this book by Netgalley, but opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol