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jennybeastie 's review for:
Falling Short
by Ernesto Cisneros
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.