Tumble (ToolKit)

Celia C. Péréz

Age Rec: 4-7th Grades

Themes: Family, Estranged Parents, Friendship, Luchadores (Mexican Wrestlers), & Theater

This heartfelt novel has such a unique spin on a complicated family trying to reconnect after many years apart.  Mexican wrestling is weaved throughout this book both for family lineage and also for cultural context. Meet Adela, a 12 year old girl, whose mom has proposed that her step-dad, Alex, adopt her in advance of her little brother’s birth.  “Addie” has never known much about her biological family. She begins connecting the dots and learns she is the daughter of a local legend wrestling family, the Bravos. The entire Bravo family are famous New Mexican luchardores, Lucha Libre wrestlers. Addie grapples with the realization that being a great wrestler doesn't always align with being a great father. Meanwhile, the middle school play casts her as Marie in "The Nutcracker," directed by her best friend, Cy. As her biological father, Manny, continues to disappoint, the rest of the Bravo family embraces her, guiding her as she carves her own path.