School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--Best friends Isaac Castillo and Marco Honeyman have been bouncing back and forth between each other's houses for years. Isaac is Latinx, a basketball star who struggles in the classroom, whose parents' ongoing divorce is exacerbated by his father's alcoholism. Marco, described as "half-Jewish, half-Mexican," is an academic standout, although "even the short kids tower over [him]"; he longs for a closer relationship with his absent dad. Middle school, of course, will be a game changer for them all. With Spanish spoken throughout, the narrative's fluency is enhanced by the fact that Timothy Andrés Pabon as Isaac and Gary Tiedemann as Marco are bilingual. Pabon's voice is a bit more controlled, as if trying to keep Isaac's struggles and hopes from bursting; Tiedemann reads with his signature slight lilt, appropriately imbuing Marco with more open emotions. VERDICT Pura Belpré Award--winning Cisneros's sophomore effort gets undoubtedly boosted from this dynamic veteran narrator duo.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Cisneros (Efrén Divided) follows up his Pura Belpré Award--winning debut with a playful and perceptive middle grade contemporary tale about two best friends that's dedicated to "everyone who has ever felt like they fall short of what the world expects of them." It's the start of sixth grade at California's Mendez Middle School, and best friends Isaac Castillo, who is of Mexican descent, and Marco Honeyman, who is "half-Jewish, half-Mexican," have big goals for the school year. Though Isaac is a gifted basketball player who displays excellent sportsmanship on the court, he struggles to get good grades. Meanwhile, Marco, a short-statured, self-professed "geek" and straight-A student, has no natural aptitude for sports. But with renewed efforts--and each other's help--they aim to become all-rounders on and off the court ("Win or lose, you gotta keep shooting the ball--because eventually, it will go in"). Told through animated alternating first-person chapters, Cisneros's story not only captures the anxiety--and at times, humor--of trying to measure up to expectations, it also tackles delicate subject matter, such as parental absence and alcohol reliance, with profound sensitivity and nuance. A narrative slam dunk for fans of Donna Barba Higuera and Meg Medina. Ages 8--12. Agent: Deborah Warren, East/West Literary. (Mar.)
Horn Book Review
The first day of sixth grade at Mendez Middle School is coming up, and Isaac Castillo's Ama expects him to become "mas responsable": "no more forgetting my lunch, no more missing homework, no more detentions, no more bad grades. And most importantly, no more tears for Ama -- at least not because of me." Isaac's parents are getting a divorce, and he hopes that his good behavior can keep the family together. Isaac's best friend, Marco Honeyman ("half-Jewish, half-Mexican"), lives next door, and his parents are divorcing, too. Unlike Isaac, he's a top student: "all geek awards, nothing my dad can brag about." Maybe if Marco plays a sport, he can make his father proud. Alternating first-person narrations effectively offer Isaac's and Marco's perspectives on their own experiences and on each other's. Isaac teaches Marco to play basketball, and Marco -- who's truly bad at offense but is a scrappy defensive player -- makes the team; the latter part of the novel features exciting basketball action. By the end, Isaac has indeed become more responsible, and his schoolwork is better. He has learned how much basketball is like life and school: "It pretty much comes down to the hustle we put in." Though their families don't come back together the way that they'd hoped, the boys do indeed make their loved ones proud. A well-told story of family, friends, basketball, and life. Dean Schneider March/April 2022 p.(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Together, neighbors and friends Isaac and Marco navigate the challenges of middle school, divorced parents, and basketball tryouts. Brand-new sixth graders Isaac Castillo and Marco Honeyman are more like family than friends. Despite their apparent differences--Isaac's a talented basketball player who struggles academically, while Marco's a supershort straight-A student who prefers chess to contact sports--they have been inseparable besties since kindergarten. Isaac knows how to talk Marco through his panic attacks and discussions of his absent father, and Marco calmly listens to Isaac's fears about his father's not-so-secret alcohol abuse. After a misunderstanding leads Isaac's former teammates to convince Marco he could be their middle school basketball team's next Muggsy Bogues (the smallest player in NBA history), Marco and Isaac dedicate themselves to getting him a spot on the team, even though he's never played before. The dual point-of-view story repudiates toxic masculinity and encourages collaboration and generosity. The quick-moving plot also spotlights the various ways preteens and their parents fall short of their goals only to end up stronger because of their resilience and grit. Both protagonists are Latinx: Isaac is Jewish and Mexican, and Marco is Mexican American. Cisneros' touching sophomore novel is an ideal pick for sports fans and will reel in reluctant readers. A touching exploration of friendship, teamwork, and Mamba Mentality. (author's note) (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
From Pura Belpré Award--winning author Cisneros comes a touching new novel about expectations. Marco and Isaac are best friends who are complete opposites. Marco is short, excels academically, and is bad at sports. Isaac is tall and athletic, but he struggles in school. Now that they're starting middle school, Marco decides to join the basketball team in the hopes that it will draw his father back into his life. Isaac wants to improve his grades so his parents will have one less thing to worry about during their separation period. Together, the boys will attempt to navigate middle school and their own personal family issues, all while trying to avoid falling short of their goals and success. In this novel told through the alternating points of view of both protagonists, readers will closely follow the struggles and insecurities both characters experience while also observing a beautiful and endearing friendship. Cisneros has once again written an inspiring story that will have an immense emotional effect on all who read it.
