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Falling Short
A novel about two best friends who must rely on each other in unexpected ways.
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?
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?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2022
91 people are currently reading
3,926 people want to read
About the author
Ernesto Cisneros
5books236followersErnesto Cisneros is a veteran English teacher currently serving the colorful city of Santa Ana, California. He holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine; a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach; as well as a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University.
Whenever his knees will allow it, he enjoys playing basketball, running, and swimming. He likes to read contemporary books with realistic characters and meaningful storylines full of heart. He is an avid music and ketchup lover, and he still follows the Lakers—even post Kobe.
As a writer, he believes in providing today’s youth with honest depictions of characters with whom they can identify. He believes the real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to reflect and bring those stories to life. He latest book, EFRÉN DIVIDED is scheduled for release in 2020 by Harpercollins.
Whenever his knees will allow it, he enjoys playing basketball, running, and swimming. He likes to read contemporary books with realistic characters and meaningful storylines full of heart. He is an avid music and ketchup lover, and he still follows the Lakers—even post Kobe.
As a writer, he believes in providing today’s youth with honest depictions of characters with whom they can identify. He believes the real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to reflect and bring those stories to life. He latest book, EFRÉN DIVIDED is scheduled for release in 2020 by Harpercollins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
July 20, 2021
I wrote this book and happen to be pretty fond of it. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it as well.
August 12, 2021
Very readable middle grade story about two unlikely but steadfast friends. Although academic and orderly Marco and scatterbrained and athletic baller Isaac are different, they’ve been friends and supported each other throughout elementary school. Now they are starting sixth grade with challenges at school and at home. While the story moves quickly, the dialogue and social situations are realistic and believable. The boys� support for each other is admirable and Marco’s ability to shake off what most others think is commendable. Great sports as well as “life lessons� book. I’ll definitely be recommending this to my students in my library.
April 16, 2022
I adored both these boys and rooted for them almost as hard as they rooted for each other. Maybe a little bit Disney Channel feel-good sports movie, but there are times when that is exactly what I want. Cisneros’s writing lends plenty of genuine texture to expected outcomes.
Popsugar #47: A book with two POVs
Popsugar #47: A book with two POVs
January 21, 2023
If you like cheering for the underdog, you'll love this story about best friends, Isaac and Marco. When Marco starts middle school, he decides he needs to do a sport to impress absent father. Even though, he is one of the shortest (if not the shortest) student in his class, he decides basketball will be his sport. This is the same sport that his friend Isaac excels. Can Marco learn everything there is to know about basketball in the short time before tryouts? How will this affect Marco and Isaac's friendship?
Not only Marco's story, Isaac is adjusting to his parents' recent separation. His parents are concerned about his grades. Marco is concerned he will turn out like his dad with his temper and excuses. What will it take for Marco to be a better student? Will he fail 6th grade?
Not only Marco's story, Isaac is adjusting to his parents' recent separation. His parents are concerned about his grades. Marco is concerned he will turn out like his dad with his temper and excuses. What will it take for Marco to be a better student? Will he fail 6th grade?
April 19, 2022
“You see, sometimes it’s a lot easier to do things for people you love than it is for yourself. Drinking has a way of hiding who a person is. I didn’t feel there was much of me I wanted the world to see.�
I first read last year when I read . I really liked this middle grade novel so when I heard there was a new book coming out by Cisneros, I knew I wanted to read it. This book was a lot of fun and covered a wide range of topics and challenges, some of which I wasn't expecting initially.
Isaac and Marco are best friends and are entering sixth grade. Isaac is a basketball star and plans on staying more on top of his homework so he doesn't have to rely on Marco so much. Isaac's parents have recently split up and Isaac's dad is struggling with his alcohol consumption. Isaac knows his dad drinks too much but it isn't until his dad has to pick him up from school drunk that Isaac really starts to worry about how much his father is drinking. Marco, on the other hand, is a straight A student who wants to do nothing more than impress his absent father. His father makes a lot of promises to spend time with Marco but he doesn't seem to be all that impressed with the activities Marco spends time doing. When Marco tries out for the basketball team, he is sure that will get his father's attention.
This was a really cute middle grade book that tackled a lot of important topics and themes for young readers: 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. I appreciated how effortlessly Cisneros was able to work in all of these topics while keeping the book at a short length for middle grade readers. Basketball players and fans will love this book. This will be an excellent addition to classroom libraries for upper elementary and middle grade readers, particularly those readers who enjoy male friendships and/or basketball.
TW: alcoholism (parent), bullying, car accident, panic attack, parental abandonment
I first read last year when I read . I really liked this middle grade novel so when I heard there was a new book coming out by Cisneros, I knew I wanted to read it. This book was a lot of fun and covered a wide range of topics and challenges, some of which I wasn't expecting initially.
Isaac and Marco are best friends and are entering sixth grade. Isaac is a basketball star and plans on staying more on top of his homework so he doesn't have to rely on Marco so much. Isaac's parents have recently split up and Isaac's dad is struggling with his alcohol consumption. Isaac knows his dad drinks too much but it isn't until his dad has to pick him up from school drunk that Isaac really starts to worry about how much his father is drinking. Marco, on the other hand, is a straight A student who wants to do nothing more than impress his absent father. His father makes a lot of promises to spend time with Marco but he doesn't seem to be all that impressed with the activities Marco spends time doing. When Marco tries out for the basketball team, he is sure that will get his father's attention.
This was a really cute middle grade book that tackled a lot of important topics and themes for young readers: 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. I appreciated how effortlessly Cisneros was able to work in all of these topics while keeping the book at a short length for middle grade readers. Basketball players and fans will love this book. This will be an excellent addition to classroom libraries for upper elementary and middle grade readers, particularly those readers who enjoy male friendships and/or basketball.
TW: alcoholism (parent), bullying, car accident, panic attack, parental abandonment
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April 12, 2022So much to love about this book! FALLING SHORT is very different from Ernesto Cisneros’s first novel, EFRÉN DIVIDED, in many ways, but as I read it, I had the same feeling I remember having as I read EFRÉN: that this is the work of an author who truly understands and loves the kids he’s writing for.
There are two equally endearing point of view characters—athletic Isaac and cerebral Marco—and there’s so much basketball, humor, and heart in this moving and entertaining friendship story. There’s also a fun EFRÉN DIVIDED Easter Egg in a bathroom scene! So many many kids are going to adore this one.
There are two equally endearing point of view characters—athletic Isaac and cerebral Marco—and there’s so much basketball, humor, and heart in this moving and entertaining friendship story. There’s also a fun EFRÉN DIVIDED Easter Egg in a bathroom scene! So many many kids are going to adore this one.
August 6, 2022
Ernesto Cisneros has a gift for writing books that feel like they're set in the real world, with just a little more kindness, showing us how things could be if we all led with the best parts of our nature.
Isaac is a star hoopster and Marco is a brilliant student. These neighbors and best friends still have plenty in common, as neither one's home life is ideal. Isaac is dealing with a dad who has had to move out because of his drinking, while Marco is all but ignored by his own father who has moved on to a new family with a more athletic son. But just when middle school looks like it could break these besties apart, they double down on their friendship, with Isaac putting himself on the line to help Marco join the basketball team and Marco working to help Isaac bring up his grades. And in the end, their examples inspire the people around them to be better too.
This book gives Middle Grade readers the same vibes that watching "Ted Lasso" offers TV viewers. I don't know what's next for Cisneros, but his books will forever be my go-to when I want to feel hopeful and remind myself that kindness is a light that does wonders everywhere it touches. Make sure young readers read this and Cisneros' brilliant debut, EFREN DIVIDED!
Isaac is a star hoopster and Marco is a brilliant student. These neighbors and best friends still have plenty in common, as neither one's home life is ideal. Isaac is dealing with a dad who has had to move out because of his drinking, while Marco is all but ignored by his own father who has moved on to a new family with a more athletic son. But just when middle school looks like it could break these besties apart, they double down on their friendship, with Isaac putting himself on the line to help Marco join the basketball team and Marco working to help Isaac bring up his grades. And in the end, their examples inspire the people around them to be better too.
This book gives Middle Grade readers the same vibes that watching "Ted Lasso" offers TV viewers. I don't know what's next for Cisneros, but his books will forever be my go-to when I want to feel hopeful and remind myself that kindness is a light that does wonders everywhere it touches. Make sure young readers read this and Cisneros' brilliant debut, EFREN DIVIDED!
March 24, 2022
This book is perfect as many of us might be glued to our TV right now for March Madness 🏀 If your kids are fans of basketball or just great friendship fiction, then they will love 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧� 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭.
Issac and Marco are best friends; Issac is good at basketball, and Marco has always done well academically. Both boys have trouble at home. And now, as they enter into sixth grade, the landscape at school is a bit different too.
Marco wants to get on the basketball team to earn his distant father’s approval, and Issac is determined to do better at his schoolwork so his parents won’t fight so much.
The story centers around friendship, respect, and family. It also builds upon the reality that we all have different strengths, different personalities, and yes, we come in different sizes, and that they should all be celebrated.
𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 also reminds kids that we all have troubles, and it’s important to find those who support and encourage you.
Thank you to @harperkids @theshelfstuff and @harpercollins for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
Issac and Marco are best friends; Issac is good at basketball, and Marco has always done well academically. Both boys have trouble at home. And now, as they enter into sixth grade, the landscape at school is a bit different too.
Marco wants to get on the basketball team to earn his distant father’s approval, and Issac is determined to do better at his schoolwork so his parents won’t fight so much.
The story centers around friendship, respect, and family. It also builds upon the reality that we all have different strengths, different personalities, and yes, we come in different sizes, and that they should all be celebrated.
𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 also reminds kids that we all have troubles, and it’s important to find those who support and encourage you.
Thank you to @harperkids @theshelfstuff and @harpercollins for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
October 31, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC for allowing me early access to the sophomore book of Ernesto Cisneros!
In this dual POV book, Marco and Isaac are friends that could not be more different in realms that they excel in - academics and athletics. Marco is a bright student with ambitions to join the basketball team, and Isaac is a student that has continuously struggled with his academics despite being a phenomenal athlete. They realize that they need each other to meet their goals.
While I would potentially not recommend this for a grade beneath grade 4, I would say that this book would do extremely well in the middle school world due to the personal issues that both boys are working through in the book.
Overall, another well done book by Ernesto!
In this dual POV book, Marco and Isaac are friends that could not be more different in realms that they excel in - academics and athletics. Marco is a bright student with ambitions to join the basketball team, and Isaac is a student that has continuously struggled with his academics despite being a phenomenal athlete. They realize that they need each other to meet their goals.
While I would potentially not recommend this for a grade beneath grade 4, I would say that this book would do extremely well in the middle school world due to the personal issues that both boys are working through in the book.
Overall, another well done book by Ernesto!
March 19, 2022
Ernesto Cisneros solidified my love for his work with this book. His first book Efren Divided covered the difficult topic of deportation, so while this book covered heartbreaking issues like alcoholism and butthole parents, it still felt less heavy. This was told in 2 POVs and it was done very well. Each character had their own, sometimes hilarious, feel to them. I wasn’t sure if I would like this one because I thought I might not exactly fall into the key demographic, but I was wrong. It was a fast, fun read! A great addition to my middle grade collection.
September 11, 2022
A fantastic middle grade read on friendship, identity, and determination. I want all students to read this book as an exemplar on how to navigate long term friendships as they grow and change. Marco and Issac acknowledge their differences and help each other with their strengths. I just love their caring, respectful friendship ❤️
Oh, and a great nail biter with the big basketball game at the end!
Oh, and a great nail biter with the big basketball game at the end!
January 28, 2023
Oh my goodness, this was sooooo cute! I love books where the protagonists are boys, but I was a tad skeptical with this one since they were in 6th grade. Though, it ended up being such a fun read about not giving up and also being supportive to others. I will say that towards the middle of the book, the pace went a bit too fast for my taste and it seemed like the rest of the story just zoomed, but overall, it was lovely. :)
October 21, 2022
i think this book is good because its my opion
November 17, 2022
Great realistic fiction for 5th-8th grade students. Friendship, family, school, and sports.
March 31, 2022
Thank you @shelfstuff @harperkids for this hilarious and heartfelt novel about two best friends
TITLE: FALLING SHORT
AUTHOR: Ernesto Cisneros @cisne.writes
PUB DATE: 03.15.2022 Now Available
I love basketball 🏀 and reading about it in books. I am so excited to have had the chance to read Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros, a local author and teacher from Southern California, earning his degrees from UC irvine and Cal State Long Beach. What is wonderful about his books is the inclusion of diverse and identifiable characters that leap off the pages with humor and heart.
In Falling Short, we learn the story from the two protagonists in alternating point of views capturing their foibles, anxieties, insecurities, family and societal issues, as both Marco and Isaac try to survive sixth grade with each other’s help. This is a slam dunk of a read I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.
TITLE: FALLING SHORT
AUTHOR: Ernesto Cisneros @cisne.writes
PUB DATE: 03.15.2022 Now Available
I love basketball 🏀 and reading about it in books. I am so excited to have had the chance to read Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros, a local author and teacher from Southern California, earning his degrees from UC irvine and Cal State Long Beach. What is wonderful about his books is the inclusion of diverse and identifiable characters that leap off the pages with humor and heart.
In Falling Short, we learn the story from the two protagonists in alternating point of views capturing their foibles, anxieties, insecurities, family and societal issues, as both Marco and Isaac try to survive sixth grade with each other’s help. This is a slam dunk of a read I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.
May 30, 2023
Very, very good Middle Grade novel about two Best Friends who are complete opposites. Isaac and Marco are in 6th grade. They have very different home lives and personalities. Isaac is an All-Star basketball player who has a hard time with school. Marco is the studious one who has never played a sport in his life, but he's determined to finally make his (awful) Dad proud by joining the basketball team. Both of the boys are great at their own things, but both have areas they are "falling short" in.
Marco is picked on a lot because of his size. The way Isaac treats him is just wonderful. The way the two support each other with their differences and rely on each other is great. Their friendship is an excellent example at how kids should treat one another, and it's a beautiful thing to read on page. I love that it has humor, and of course basketball! There are also themes of always doing your best and never giving up. I think my son would adore this book when he gets a little bit older!
Marco is picked on a lot because of his size. The way Isaac treats him is just wonderful. The way the two support each other with their differences and rely on each other is great. Their friendship is an excellent example at how kids should treat one another, and it's a beautiful thing to read on page. I love that it has humor, and of course basketball! There are also themes of always doing your best and never giving up. I think my son would adore this book when he gets a little bit older!
March 20, 2022
It has been a joy to introduce the character of Efrén Nava in Efrén Divided, the debut novel by Ernesto Cisneros, to my son and to my upper elementary students during the past year. I have never seen a book that is hugged so often by its readers. Teachers want a student like Efrén. Kids want a friend like Efrén. I am both astounded and delighted that Ernesto Cisneros has created two more characters in his second novel, Falling Short, who are similarly relatable, fascinating, and joyfully likeable. I can't wait to introduce Marco and Isaac to students in my elementary library!
One a gifted athlete who struggles academically due to what appears to be ADHD, the other a diminutive and clumsy boy who wins every possible academic prize, Isaac and Marco share a strong feeling of falling short of parental expectations or needs. Cisneros allows us to deeply feel each boy's emotional anguish, while retaining a sense of fun and delight throughout the novel with enough likeable, trustworthy characters and scenes of triumph to keep a reader smiling. Readers who might reject the prospect of a "friendship book" will be hooked because Falling Short also stands tall as an engaging basketball book
As the daughter of an alcoholic dad, I connected deeply with Isaac's love for and sense of protectiveness toward his troubled and loving father. It is rare for an MG book to include a protagonist with a parent who fights substance abuse, and those characters with addictions are often drawn like cardboard caricatures of overtly abusive "bad guys," which checks the box for "problem many children have" but is not relatable for kids whose parent is loving but suffering and unreliable. Cisneros deftly sketches a realistically flawed parent that will be recognizable by so many children of alcoholics: one who is loving and has the best of intentions, but himself falls short, and copes with every negative emotion (including shame for falling short as a parent) with alcohol.
Readers young and old will cheer with joy for the fiercely loyal friendship between Isaac and Marco, especially for how they navigate the unfamiliar waters of middle school by turning even more deliberately toward the friendship which buoys them and sustains them through their deepest hurts. Isaac and Marco are models of masculinity, courage, and strength that I am delighted to offer to my own son as he develops his own identity and navigates difficult social and emotional challenges.
Falling Short is a must-buy for all elementary and middle school libraries.
One a gifted athlete who struggles academically due to what appears to be ADHD, the other a diminutive and clumsy boy who wins every possible academic prize, Isaac and Marco share a strong feeling of falling short of parental expectations or needs. Cisneros allows us to deeply feel each boy's emotional anguish, while retaining a sense of fun and delight throughout the novel with enough likeable, trustworthy characters and scenes of triumph to keep a reader smiling. Readers who might reject the prospect of a "friendship book" will be hooked because Falling Short also stands tall as an engaging basketball book
As the daughter of an alcoholic dad, I connected deeply with Isaac's love for and sense of protectiveness toward his troubled and loving father. It is rare for an MG book to include a protagonist with a parent who fights substance abuse, and those characters with addictions are often drawn like cardboard caricatures of overtly abusive "bad guys," which checks the box for "problem many children have" but is not relatable for kids whose parent is loving but suffering and unreliable. Cisneros deftly sketches a realistically flawed parent that will be recognizable by so many children of alcoholics: one who is loving and has the best of intentions, but himself falls short, and copes with every negative emotion (including shame for falling short as a parent) with alcohol.
Readers young and old will cheer with joy for the fiercely loyal friendship between Isaac and Marco, especially for how they navigate the unfamiliar waters of middle school by turning even more deliberately toward the friendship which buoys them and sustains them through their deepest hurts. Isaac and Marco are models of masculinity, courage, and strength that I am delighted to offer to my own son as he develops his own identity and navigates difficult social and emotional challenges.
Falling Short is a must-buy for all elementary and middle school libraries.
April 27, 2022
Time to join the neighbors and friends as Isaac and Marco navigate the challenges of middle school, divorced parents, and basketball tryouts. Oh yes and Marco is really short for his age and all that encounters in the brutal world of middle school.
Isaac Castillo and Marco Honeyman are headed into sixth grade…Middle School! The boys are more like family than friends yet they possess very different personalities and interests. Their differences are quite apparent. You see, Isaac’s a talented basketball player who struggles academically, while Marco’s a straight-A student who prefers chess to contact sports. Still, they have been inseparable besties since kindergarten. Isaac knows how to talk Marco through his panic attacks and ease his mind concerninghis absent and uninterested father, and Marco calmly listens to Isaac’s fears about his father’s not-so-secret alcoholism.
A misunderstanding prompts Marco to get a sudden interest in competing in basketball. Maybe this will get him attention from a father who appears to be a bit ashamed of his short and unathletic son. Isaac’s former teammates convince Marco he could be their middle school basketball team’s next Muggsy Bogues. You remember this amazing player. He was the smallest player in NBA history, they even begin to call Marco Mugs, a moniker he adores. Well the only attribute the two possess really is being short. Marco and Isaac dedicate themselves to getting him a spot on the team, even though he’s never played before.
This rather tense story is told in two points of view. There is much encouragement, collaboration and generosity going on here. But alas, there are also the meanies and seems they may have gotten this attitude from the very folks who are raising them. How can the parents boo a young boy on the court who is clearly working to his maximum. .
The plot is quick-moving and points out the various ways preteens and their parents fall short of their goals only to end up stronger because of their resilience and grit.
The game at the end of the book seemed a little unlikely but was hugely satisfying.
Both protagonists are Latinx: Isaac is Jewish and Mexican, and Marco is Mexican American. The team has a leading female player in the background of the story, but she is clearly a strong leader on her team. Cisneros� touching novel is an ideal pick for sports fans and will appeal to reluctant readers.
An exciting basketball filled exploration of friendship, teamwork, and Mamba Mentality, (Kobe Bryant reference). Sports Fiction. 9-13
Isaac Castillo and Marco Honeyman are headed into sixth grade…Middle School! The boys are more like family than friends yet they possess very different personalities and interests. Their differences are quite apparent. You see, Isaac’s a talented basketball player who struggles academically, while Marco’s a straight-A student who prefers chess to contact sports. Still, they have been inseparable besties since kindergarten. Isaac knows how to talk Marco through his panic attacks and ease his mind concerninghis absent and uninterested father, and Marco calmly listens to Isaac’s fears about his father’s not-so-secret alcoholism.
A misunderstanding prompts Marco to get a sudden interest in competing in basketball. Maybe this will get him attention from a father who appears to be a bit ashamed of his short and unathletic son. Isaac’s former teammates convince Marco he could be their middle school basketball team’s next Muggsy Bogues. You remember this amazing player. He was the smallest player in NBA history, they even begin to call Marco Mugs, a moniker he adores. Well the only attribute the two possess really is being short. Marco and Isaac dedicate themselves to getting him a spot on the team, even though he’s never played before.
This rather tense story is told in two points of view. There is much encouragement, collaboration and generosity going on here. But alas, there are also the meanies and seems they may have gotten this attitude from the very folks who are raising them. How can the parents boo a young boy on the court who is clearly working to his maximum. .
The plot is quick-moving and points out the various ways preteens and their parents fall short of their goals only to end up stronger because of their resilience and grit.
The game at the end of the book seemed a little unlikely but was hugely satisfying.
Both protagonists are Latinx: Isaac is Jewish and Mexican, and Marco is Mexican American. The team has a leading female player in the background of the story, but she is clearly a strong leader on her team. Cisneros� touching novel is an ideal pick for sports fans and will appeal to reluctant readers.
An exciting basketball filled exploration of friendship, teamwork, and Mamba Mentality, (Kobe Bryant reference). Sports Fiction. 9-13
March 18, 2022
Love this new MG book by @cisne.writes !
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This is a wonderful book about basketball, friendship, family, and how to be a team player. Both boys are Mexican American; their culture and language is infused throughout the book. Highly recommended for all middle school libraries. This book will appeal to reluctant readers and sports fans.
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Marco and Isaac are best friends and next door neighbors, but they are very different. Isaac is obsessed with basketball and struggles to focus on school. Marco loves school and has never done athletics before. What they do have in common are difficult relationships with their fathers. Isaac’s father is recently estranged from his mother and struggling with alcohol abuse, but wants a relationship with Isaac and is working to get his life together. Marco’s father is barely involved in his son’s life at all.
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The two boys are starting middle school and have a very close friendship; they eat at each other’s houses, carpool to school together, and confide in each other when they are down. When Marco is mistaken for a basketball player by Isaac’s friends, Marco decides to try out for the team. He finds that basketball is much harder than he realized, which gives him newfound appreciation for how hard Isaac works at his sport. Isaac helps Marco train and both boys make the team, in part because Marco’s finger is injured and doesn’t have to do a full tryout. Marco is not prepared to be on the team; he doesn’t know how to dribble and can only make granny shots. What he has in spades, though, is heart and dedication. This book is fast-paced and alternates perspectives between the two boys.
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
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This is a wonderful book about basketball, friendship, family, and how to be a team player. Both boys are Mexican American; their culture and language is infused throughout the book. Highly recommended for all middle school libraries. This book will appeal to reluctant readers and sports fans.
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Marco and Isaac are best friends and next door neighbors, but they are very different. Isaac is obsessed with basketball and struggles to focus on school. Marco loves school and has never done athletics before. What they do have in common are difficult relationships with their fathers. Isaac’s father is recently estranged from his mother and struggling with alcohol abuse, but wants a relationship with Isaac and is working to get his life together. Marco’s father is barely involved in his son’s life at all.
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The two boys are starting middle school and have a very close friendship; they eat at each other’s houses, carpool to school together, and confide in each other when they are down. When Marco is mistaken for a basketball player by Isaac’s friends, Marco decides to try out for the team. He finds that basketball is much harder than he realized, which gives him newfound appreciation for how hard Isaac works at his sport. Isaac helps Marco train and both boys make the team, in part because Marco’s finger is injured and doesn’t have to do a full tryout. Marco is not prepared to be on the team; he doesn’t know how to dribble and can only make granny shots. What he has in spades, though, is heart and dedication. This book is fast-paced and alternates perspectives between the two boys.
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
January 14, 2024
Would probably give it a 4.5! I really liked this one. About two friends going into middle school, one short but excels academically and the other taller and more athletic. Both boys, Marco and Isaac have differing situations with their fathers and it was interesting to see how those relationships played out. I really enjoyed reading about two really good friends that are truly supportive of one another. I liked the basketball aspect of the book as well and think that this will be a popular read.
May 29, 2022
A wonderful tale of perseverance and male friendship. It has heart.
April 2, 2023
3.5 A little formulaic but lots of heart.
September 17, 2024
Isaac and Marco are best friends, even though they don't have a ton in common except living next door and having tough family situations (Marco's parents just divorced and his dad ignores him, Isaac's parents are in the process because of Isaac's dad's drinking problem). They are starting middle school and each is both excited and anxious for different reasons. Marco is excited for the bigger academic challenges and opportunities, and he wants to try a sport for the first time. However, he's super short and he doesn't like the girls calling him cute and the boys making fun of him for his stature. Isaac is excited for better basketball and further developing his game. He is worried about keeping his grades up; he's always forgetting things and academics doesn't come naturally for him. The two friends will need each other's help to make it through the challenges of middle school, from basketball to academics to their family situations.
This was a sweet story of two opposites being good friends through thick and thin. Through a series of misunderstood conversations, Marco ends up on the basketball team and Isaac has to figure out how to help him be a contributing member of the team without hurting his feelings. Isaac needs Marco's help with homework and getting through what's going on at home. They are a great example of good friends. I liked how Cisneros managed to write something that could be very serious with heart and humor. There's a scene with Marcos and the principal talking that made me unexpectedly laugh out loud, it is comedic gold for the way they completely misunderstand each other and the unexpected results of that. It's also humorous how Marcos gets on the team. Cisneros handled the topic of a parent dealing with alcoholism tactfully and in a way appropriate for the target reader group; he doesn't disparage Isaac's dad but does convey how the problem affects the whole family. There are positive steps in that area by the end of the book. A great contemporary fiction read for middle graders.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There's some bullying, and Marcos gets picked up at one point, but others intervene before it gets bad. Isaac pushes a bully and a sprained ankle results; both are sobered by the event. An accident puts a character in the hospital.
Ethnic diversity: Both boys are Hispanic American.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Alcoholic parent, bullying, divorce, a distant father who doesn't pay attention to a child unless they succeed athletically.
This was a sweet story of two opposites being good friends through thick and thin. Through a series of misunderstood conversations, Marco ends up on the basketball team and Isaac has to figure out how to help him be a contributing member of the team without hurting his feelings. Isaac needs Marco's help with homework and getting through what's going on at home. They are a great example of good friends. I liked how Cisneros managed to write something that could be very serious with heart and humor. There's a scene with Marcos and the principal talking that made me unexpectedly laugh out loud, it is comedic gold for the way they completely misunderstand each other and the unexpected results of that. It's also humorous how Marcos gets on the team. Cisneros handled the topic of a parent dealing with alcoholism tactfully and in a way appropriate for the target reader group; he doesn't disparage Isaac's dad but does convey how the problem affects the whole family. There are positive steps in that area by the end of the book. A great contemporary fiction read for middle graders.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There's some bullying, and Marcos gets picked up at one point, but others intervene before it gets bad. Isaac pushes a bully and a sprained ankle results; both are sobered by the event. An accident puts a character in the hospital.
Ethnic diversity: Both boys are Hispanic American.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Alcoholic parent, bullying, divorce, a distant father who doesn't pay attention to a child unless they succeed athletically.
February 12, 2022
What worked:
Characters misinterpret the apparent self-confidence of others. Marco’s best friend Isaac is an outstanding basketball player, and Marco thinks Isaac fits right in with everyone else at school. However, Isaac struggles with his grades, he almost failed fifth grade, and he thinks he’s the cause of his parents' impending divorce. He admires how easily Marco has adapted to sixth grade and how quickly he’s able to make friends. He’s unaware that Marco feels like he doesn’t belong with the other students due to his small size. He’s taking honors classes so he’s isolated from his elementary-school friends, and he’s being bullied by eighth-graders. His decision to try out for the middle-school basketball team changes the story for both Isaac and Marco.
The book explores the emotions of middle-grade boys in a way that’s not often done. Marco and Isaac have troubled relationships with their fathers but for different reasons. Marco’s father has divorced, remarried, and is enjoying life with his new son. Marco craves that kind of attention and affection from his father. Isaac’s father wants to spend time with his son, but he has a serious drinking problem. It’s the reason behind the looming divorce even though he keeps promising he’s trying to get better. Isaac is forced to keep secrets, and it takes a near-disaster to initiate any evidence of change. Marco and Isaac share deep feelings with each other, and they aren’t afraid to shed a few tears in the process. Having alternating chapters share their different points of view is a very effective strategy.
The story incorporates Mexican culture, as Spanish vocabulary is used by the parents, some teachers, and others. Readers are able to use context clues to figure out most phrases, and none of the words are critical to understanding what’s going on. The use of Spanish keeps the story feeling authentic and allows the characters to stay true to their heritage. Isaac’s mother and father are referred to as Apa and Apo, and his Abuelita often speaks in Spanish. The Mexican culture doesn’t take over the story, but it’s a big part of the characters� lives.
What didn’t work as well: The opening doesn’t have a great hook to draw readers in. The boys have issues adapting to sixth grade in a new school (fitting in, bullies, etc.) but nothing makes their situation stand out from other middle-grade books. However, that changes when Marco decides to play basketball, and his determination to succeed is contagious. Readers will not want to miss the emotional journey to make sixth grade successful and memorable for two unlikely best friends.
The Final Verdict:
Best bros forever! The story may not immediately grab readers, but it’s a very entertaining, emotional narrative about two best friends. The feelings and worries of sixth-grade boys aren’t often shared this effectively, and I highly rec
Characters misinterpret the apparent self-confidence of others. Marco’s best friend Isaac is an outstanding basketball player, and Marco thinks Isaac fits right in with everyone else at school. However, Isaac struggles with his grades, he almost failed fifth grade, and he thinks he’s the cause of his parents' impending divorce. He admires how easily Marco has adapted to sixth grade and how quickly he’s able to make friends. He’s unaware that Marco feels like he doesn’t belong with the other students due to his small size. He’s taking honors classes so he’s isolated from his elementary-school friends, and he’s being bullied by eighth-graders. His decision to try out for the middle-school basketball team changes the story for both Isaac and Marco.
The book explores the emotions of middle-grade boys in a way that’s not often done. Marco and Isaac have troubled relationships with their fathers but for different reasons. Marco’s father has divorced, remarried, and is enjoying life with his new son. Marco craves that kind of attention and affection from his father. Isaac’s father wants to spend time with his son, but he has a serious drinking problem. It’s the reason behind the looming divorce even though he keeps promising he’s trying to get better. Isaac is forced to keep secrets, and it takes a near-disaster to initiate any evidence of change. Marco and Isaac share deep feelings with each other, and they aren’t afraid to shed a few tears in the process. Having alternating chapters share their different points of view is a very effective strategy.
The story incorporates Mexican culture, as Spanish vocabulary is used by the parents, some teachers, and others. Readers are able to use context clues to figure out most phrases, and none of the words are critical to understanding what’s going on. The use of Spanish keeps the story feeling authentic and allows the characters to stay true to their heritage. Isaac’s mother and father are referred to as Apa and Apo, and his Abuelita often speaks in Spanish. The Mexican culture doesn’t take over the story, but it’s a big part of the characters� lives.
What didn’t work as well: The opening doesn’t have a great hook to draw readers in. The boys have issues adapting to sixth grade in a new school (fitting in, bullies, etc.) but nothing makes their situation stand out from other middle-grade books. However, that changes when Marco decides to play basketball, and his determination to succeed is contagious. Readers will not want to miss the emotional journey to make sixth grade successful and memorable for two unlikely best friends.
The Final Verdict:
Best bros forever! The story may not immediately grab readers, but it’s a very entertaining, emotional narrative about two best friends. The feelings and worries of sixth-grade boys aren’t often shared this effectively, and I highly rec
May 12, 2023
What do you do when you feel like you're falling short? Isaac feels that he's failing his parents because of his grades, but is great at basketball. Marco is a straight-A student but feels like he needs to be good at sports to have his father's approval. Will these best friends be able to support and help them through their struggles?
This book had such a good concept! Two kids are desperately trying to be better at either their grades or a sport to make their parents happy. It's a heavy subject, but a very real one that kids encounter, especially if you're in middle school. Even more so if your father is an alcoholic or has abandoned you. It wasn't until over halfway through the book that my excitement towards the book started to falter. I felt like the book focused a lot on Marco learning to play basketball, but we never really saw Isaac trying to get better grades. I felt like it was imbalanced because I thought we were going to see each kid go through their individual struggle to realize that they don't have to change. I know that both boys got to the same conclusion, but I would've liked to see Isaac take his journey there. One thing I will note is that Marco and Isaac are very supportive of each other, and that was heartwarming to see. Otherwise, it was your typical tween novel filled with middle-school humor. Now, do I think the basketball game would've gone on if most of the team got explosive diarrhea? Haha no, but we suspend disbelief when we read books sometimes!
This book had such a good concept! Two kids are desperately trying to be better at either their grades or a sport to make their parents happy. It's a heavy subject, but a very real one that kids encounter, especially if you're in middle school. Even more so if your father is an alcoholic or has abandoned you. It wasn't until over halfway through the book that my excitement towards the book started to falter. I felt like the book focused a lot on Marco learning to play basketball, but we never really saw Isaac trying to get better grades. I felt like it was imbalanced because I thought we were going to see each kid go through their individual struggle to realize that they don't have to change. I know that both boys got to the same conclusion, but I would've liked to see Isaac take his journey there. One thing I will note is that Marco and Isaac are very supportive of each other, and that was heartwarming to see. Otherwise, it was your typical tween novel filled with middle-school humor. Now, do I think the basketball game would've gone on if most of the team got explosive diarrhea? Haha no, but we suspend disbelief when we read books sometimes!
May 16, 2023
The concept of two supportive friends helping each other learn skills to gain validation from their fathers was a heartbreaking concept that drew me in. I wanted to know how each boy's relationship with their father was different, I wanted to see them both have equal grown and page presence, I wanted to see their friendship be challenged and grow. But there wasn't much delivery on these things. While Isaac and Marco each had unique relationships with their fathers, and each were motivated differently to change something about themselves, I felt like that was one of the only one of my aforementioned curiosities satisfied. The boy's were unconditionally supportive of each other, but while they had personal growth, their friendship stayed the same. And as for both of them having a page presence, I felt like Isaac, who had my whole heart, did not get any development of skills like the book's blurb promised. His development came from his interactions with his father, but the blurb felt misleading in this way, and he put in so much less work than Marco and was all the sudden good at school. All that being said, I think middle school and the transition from elementary school to middle school was done very well here. Marco was so awkward and had no idea how to exist and that was a struggle many kids can relate too. I thought this was done exceptionally well. I, for one, got secondhand embarrassment for him, but never wanted him to change.
October 26, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Marco and Isaac have been best friends for year, and as 6th grade approaches, they have big plans. Marco, who excels academically, hopes to play basketball in order to attract the attention of his father, who doesn't visit much and who doesn't think he is "manly" enough. Isaac struggles with his school work, and hopes to be better at remembering to turn in assignments, hoping that this will cause fewer fights among his parents, who are getting divorced. Isaac's father is an alcoholic who can't be relied on to take care of Isaac or to be sober when he has to pick him up. Middle school gets off to a decent start, and Marco finds some new friends in his able and talented classes, classes Isaac is not in. Isaac finds some friends on the basketball team, but they are not always kind to Marco, who tends to rock his dweebishness without apology. The only class the two have together is gym, which includes the stressful locker room experience. Byron, who is a good basketball player, is particularly unkind, which eventually causes the coach to bar him from playing.
Strengths: There are SO many middle grade books with parents and siblings who die, but really, the biggest issues that actual middle grade readers face are ones like affect Marco and Isaac. Parents have issues that affect them, like alcoholism or divorce. It's tough to balance school work and extracurriculars. Friendships shift, friends pursue other interests, and groups of friends don't always get along. Physical changes make it hard to just... navigate the world. Yet, these problems rarely make it into the literature. I get it. They are subtle problems that are harder to depict that the obvious trauma of death and loss. Cisneros clearly understands what 6th graders experience, and does a good job at incorporating things that actually occur in middle school, rather than things people did in middle school 30 years ago, like school elections and newspapers. There are still locker rooms, though no showers. Lunch time and choosing where to sit is a HUGE issue. Staying up late to do homework and then being tired in the morning is a problem. Even transportation back and forth from school can be a subject of stress. The best part of the book is that, despite all of the different stressors the boys experience, they manage to stay friends. That's a great message, and one that is very reassuring to readers.
Weaknesses: Was this intramural basketball? I didn't think about it too closely. Basketball doesn't start at the beginning of the school year in Ohio, and 6th graders can't participate in school sports. I was also confused by the fact that Byron was able to go to another school and get on their team so quickly. Maybe things are different where Cisneros teaches, and I was willing to ignore this because I liked the story so much.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, although I sort of wish there had been a basketball on the cover and that the boys had been in 8th grade, so that older readers would find it more appealing. The height differences become even more pronounced by this age, and it would make more sense for them to be playing on a team. This is the sort of book I'll buy multiple copies of, and they will never make it back to the shelf because students will recommend the book to each other. Another great book from the author of Efren Divided.
Marco and Isaac have been best friends for year, and as 6th grade approaches, they have big plans. Marco, who excels academically, hopes to play basketball in order to attract the attention of his father, who doesn't visit much and who doesn't think he is "manly" enough. Isaac struggles with his school work, and hopes to be better at remembering to turn in assignments, hoping that this will cause fewer fights among his parents, who are getting divorced. Isaac's father is an alcoholic who can't be relied on to take care of Isaac or to be sober when he has to pick him up. Middle school gets off to a decent start, and Marco finds some new friends in his able and talented classes, classes Isaac is not in. Isaac finds some friends on the basketball team, but they are not always kind to Marco, who tends to rock his dweebishness without apology. The only class the two have together is gym, which includes the stressful locker room experience. Byron, who is a good basketball player, is particularly unkind, which eventually causes the coach to bar him from playing.
Strengths: There are SO many middle grade books with parents and siblings who die, but really, the biggest issues that actual middle grade readers face are ones like affect Marco and Isaac. Parents have issues that affect them, like alcoholism or divorce. It's tough to balance school work and extracurriculars. Friendships shift, friends pursue other interests, and groups of friends don't always get along. Physical changes make it hard to just... navigate the world. Yet, these problems rarely make it into the literature. I get it. They are subtle problems that are harder to depict that the obvious trauma of death and loss. Cisneros clearly understands what 6th graders experience, and does a good job at incorporating things that actually occur in middle school, rather than things people did in middle school 30 years ago, like school elections and newspapers. There are still locker rooms, though no showers. Lunch time and choosing where to sit is a HUGE issue. Staying up late to do homework and then being tired in the morning is a problem. Even transportation back and forth from school can be a subject of stress. The best part of the book is that, despite all of the different stressors the boys experience, they manage to stay friends. That's a great message, and one that is very reassuring to readers.
Weaknesses: Was this intramural basketball? I didn't think about it too closely. Basketball doesn't start at the beginning of the school year in Ohio, and 6th graders can't participate in school sports. I was also confused by the fact that Byron was able to go to another school and get on their team so quickly. Maybe things are different where Cisneros teaches, and I was willing to ignore this because I liked the story so much.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, although I sort of wish there had been a basketball on the cover and that the boys had been in 8th grade, so that older readers would find it more appealing. The height differences become even more pronounced by this age, and it would make more sense for them to be playing on a team. This is the sort of book I'll buy multiple copies of, and they will never make it back to the shelf because students will recommend the book to each other. Another great book from the author of Efren Divided.
March 31, 2022
Isaac and Marco are best friends and also complete opposites. Isaac is excellent at basketball but has trouble focusing in school. Marco is outstanding at school but never has been good at sports. Each one feels that their families would appreciate them more if they were more like the other. The best friend dynamic is really sweet as they each help the other to succeed. They keep their reasons secret from each other, however, which makes sense as middle school boys. A very realistic look at family dynamics and the stress that comes with middle school and trying to change how you are perceived. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
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September 2, 20243.5+
2024-25 Iowa Children’s Choice Award nominee
Dual-pov. Starting 6th grade. Absent parent, alcoholism.
Kids who enjoy sports stories may be drawn to this one, but you don’t have to be a basketball enthusiast to be hooked on Marco and Isaac’s story. It’s a relatable middle school story focused on friendship, family, and growing up.
This novel highlights the deep friendship between two boys and shows them being vulnerable with each other on a level that we don’t normally see in middle grade.
And of course, there was upper elementary/middle school potty humor that probably made me laugh more than it should have.
2024-25 Iowa Children’s Choice Award nominee
Dual-pov. Starting 6th grade. Absent parent, alcoholism.
Kids who enjoy sports stories may be drawn to this one, but you don’t have to be a basketball enthusiast to be hooked on Marco and Isaac’s story. It’s a relatable middle school story focused on friendship, family, and growing up.
This novel highlights the deep friendship between two boys and shows them being vulnerable with each other on a level that we don’t normally see in middle grade.
And of course, there was upper elementary/middle school potty humor that probably made me laugh more than it should have.
September 19, 2023
MCBA nominee. Marco is brilliant but the smallest kid at school. Isaac, his neighbor and bestie, is a star basketball player. Sixth grade is the year that they learn the depth of their friendship as they help each other through new aspirations and many challenges.
Cisneros allowed his tween male characters to experience a range of emotions, and let them struggle through social and family pressures around dealing with them. The boys� friendship and unconditional support for each other was the real MVP
Cisneros allowed his tween male characters to experience a range of emotions, and let them struggle through social and family pressures around dealing with them. The boys� friendship and unconditional support for each other was the real MVP
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