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A review by zinelib
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
5.0
full disclosure: the author is my BFF
Tumble is a middle grades novel, but I think the 1st person narration is so mature that the book will appeal to YA readers, as well. Protagonist Adela (Addie) is faced with a dilemma: her stepfather Alex has proposed adoption, which Addie eventually realizes will necessitate her birth father, whom she doesn't remember meeting, giving up his parental rights. It's not like she should take this unidentified man into account when making her decision, but she is curious about who he is...
When Addie and her friend discover a breadcrumb, they follow a trail that leads them to the local historical society (archives nerdery ensues) and to Addie's father, wrestler MANNY BRAVO! Alex is a wrestling fan, so Addie has grown up with knowledge of the luchadores, but not of the Bravos specifically.
As the rest of the novel unfolds, Adela comes to know her Bravo half and also deepens her understanding of her mother, and the father who raised her. She also learns some wrestling moves.
This is a layered book, with multiple themes and even a gay uncle who helps reinforce a regular Celia C. Pérez theme about finding and being yourself. Normally I dog ear pages to remember favorite passages, but I didn't want to mess up my signed copy, so I didn't. Ergo, I can't share the quotations that impressed or moved me.
Tumble is a middle grades novel, but I think the 1st person narration is so mature that the book will appeal to YA readers, as well. Protagonist Adela (Addie) is faced with a dilemma: her stepfather Alex has proposed adoption, which Addie eventually realizes will necessitate her birth father, whom she doesn't remember meeting, giving up his parental rights. It's not like she should take this unidentified man into account when making her decision, but she is curious about who he is...
When Addie and her friend discover a breadcrumb, they follow a trail that leads them to the local historical society (archives nerdery ensues) and to Addie's father, wrestler MANNY BRAVO! Alex is a wrestling fan, so Addie has grown up with knowledge of the luchadores, but not of the Bravos specifically.
As the rest of the novel unfolds, Adela comes to know her Bravo half and also deepens her understanding of her mother, and the father who raised her. She also learns some wrestling moves.
This is a layered book, with multiple themes and even a gay uncle who helps reinforce a regular Celia C. Pérez theme about finding and being yourself. Normally I dog ear pages to remember favorite passages, but I didn't want to mess up my signed copy, so I didn't. Ergo, I can't share the quotations that impressed or moved me.