Falling Short: A Hilarious Middle Grade Novel about Sixth Grade Best Friends, Basketball, and Family for Kids (Ages 8-12) - Hardcover

Cisneros, Ernesto

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062881728 ISBN 13: 9780062881724

Publisher: Quill Tree Books, 2022

Synopsis

Ernesto Cisneros, Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Efrén Divided, is back with a hilarious and heartfelt novel about two best friends who must rely on each other in unexpected ways. A great next pick for readers who loved Ghost by Jason Reynolds or The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez.

Isaac and Marco already know sixth grade is going to change their lives. But it won’t change things at home—not without each other’s help.

This year, star basketball player Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac’s parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, straight-A Marco vows on finally winning his father’s approval by earning a spot on the school’s basketball team.

But will their friendship and support for each other be enough to keep the two boys from falling short?

About this title

About the Author

Ernesto Cisneros was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still teaches. He is the author of Efrén Divided, which won the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award, and Falling Short. He holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine; a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach; as well as a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from National University. As an author, he believes in providing today’s youth with an honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify. The real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to reflect that. You can visit him online at ernestocisneros.com.

Reviews

Gr 4-7-Marco Honeyman and Isaac Castillo are next-door neighbors and best friends, despite their apparent differences: Jewish-Mexican Marco is small and book-smart, while Isaac, who is also Latinx, is a gifted and hard-working basketball player who struggles to manage his homework. Part of Marco and Isaac's bond is their desire for approval from their divorced parents. Isaac hopes his mom won't give up on him the way she gave up on his dad because of his drinking, and Marco wishes his dad would come back and be proud of him. When they enter middle school, Marco and Isaac stand by each other, despite different classes and friend groups. When Marco decides to try out for the baseketball team to impress his father (despite never playing before), Isaac coaches him. The boys' bond of friendship is the core of the story; they have honest conversations, admire each other's good qualities, and support each other through anxiety attacks and family problems. After a tough tournament game, Isaac concludes, "Life is like a game of basketball...it pretty much comes down to the hustle we put in." VERDICT At every turn, Isaac and Marco support each other in this affirming story of basketball, middle school, friendship, and family, and choosing kindness and determination over easy cowardice or cruelty. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.-Jenny Archα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Quill Tree Books
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062881728
• ISBN 13: 9780062881724
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304