A sweet story about Marco and Isaiah as they start middle school. They admire and are jealous of different things about each other, but their friendship is so lovely. At times, they reflect and have inner lives that seem mature and so thoughtful. Marco is tiny and wants to try to earn his dad's attention by trying basketball. Isaiah's dad has just left the house and is dealing with a drinking problem. The two boys try to help each other meet their goals and are steadfast in their loyalty and love for each other. ( )

Isaac and Marco are both starting middle school. Isaac wants to finally get better at school and learn to balance basketball with assignments. He also knows that he needs his best friend, Marco, since his parents are arguing all the time at home. Marco, who is a star student, needs Isaac’s help to earn a spot on the basketball team and finally win his distant father’s approval. Will the support and friendship of these best friends help them adjust to middle school and deal with problems at home?

This an ideal pick for sports fans and reluctant readers. Story highlights the importance of friendship and family. ( )

Recommended Ages: Gr. 4-7

Plot Summary: It's 6th grade, a new school, and Marco and Isaac are best friends trying to fit in. Marco finds a group of fellow gifted and talented kids who love to talk about coding. Isaac connected with a few kids from the basketball team. Yet during lunch, they still prioritize each other, even when they are uncomfortable and feel like they don't fit in with each other's new friends. Marco gets bullied by the best kid on the basketball team but when the coach finds out, the bully is kicked off. But not until after BFF tries to stand up for his buddy and ends up tripping the kid and he breaks a leg, preventing him from playing at all. Now there's a spot on the basketball team and Marco decides to put all his focus into finally learning how to play basketball, hoping it'll cause his dad to show up and actually be proud of him. Will Marco be able to do it?

Setting: ?

Characters:
Isaac - jealous of Marco's confidence, basketball player and fan, practices outside often, befirends Dos Equis at first
Marco - smallest kid in 6th grade, gets picked on by bullies, jealous of the food at Isaac's house, wants his dad to be a part of his life
Dos Equis - AKA Alexxander, huge Lakers fan

Recurring Themes: fitting in, friendship, basketball, hard work, perseverance, loyalty, bullying

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: As I was reading this and even as I type it up, I find I am confusing the main characters because the narrator switches between the two. While I like the different perspectives and points of view, I confuse which character is which, so it may not be correct above.

Genre: realistic fiction

Pacing: slow
Characters: fairly well developed, I occasionally confused which one was which since the chapters alternate narrator between Isaac and Marco
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: ( )

This 2023 Lone Star novel makes you laugh out loud and then sniffle at life's realities. I loved it! The novel is told from two perspectives: Isaac and Marco.

Isaac wants to make his mom proud of him. It's the first day of middle school, so he's determined to be on time and to make better grades and do his homework. His mother has taken her maiden name back, divorcing Isaac's father. This divorce is hard on Isaac because he knows that his parents still love each other. His mother believes that his father needs to take care of himself before he can be a husband and father. His decisions about liquor force her to kick him out and initiate a divorce. He now has an apartment, but he's not dependable or safe because of his drinking issues. Marco loves Isaac's mom; she makes great food and takes time to listen to Marco.

Marco wants his father to see him as more than a wuss. Marco is very short; he makes really good grades and enjoys all the academic clubs. His father was a great athlete, so Marco wants to succeed in athletics in hopes of getting his dad to care about him. There are amusing scenes with Marco and his mom whenever they talk about food. Marco's mother is a terrible cook! Marco's tenacity impresses me. He does NOT give up. He will research and study until he knows all that he needs to know, maybe more than he needs to know!

Isaac and Marco are best friends. Unfortunately, they don't have classes together to speak of. Marco sees how popular and easy Isaac navigates the jocks of the school while Marco deals with being jostled and teased--with a fairly good attitude, as he realistically knows why and expects it while rolling his eyes. What I enjoyed about their relationship is that they always choose to be friends. If Isaac sees any athletes picking on Marco or anyone else, he doesn't want to be that kid's friend. He always chooses Marco. Even some of Isaac's friends watch out for Marco, as he's prime bait for being picked on because of his smallness. Isaac is an amazing athlete, so Marco decides that he will go out for the basketball team in order to impress his father. Marco researches A LOT in order to learn the game while Isaac is busy. Isaac, with infinite patience, does work with Marco, learning that Marco is terrible at basketball. Isaac can't tell him that! Marco can do one thing well: free throw like a granny would. When tryouts happen, everyone assumes that if Marco can hang with Isaac, he must be a really good player. He doesn't even have to tryout (because of an injury with his finger), and he makes the team.

I've set up so much of the story, so you need to read it and see what all happens with Isaac's dad, Marco's dad, the basketball team, the bullies, and Isaac's pledge to be a good student. They succeed so well as friends; my favorite scene is the night Isaac stays up to help Marco while Marco sleeps. His actions show true friendship and that Isaac underestimates himself when it comes to schoolwork. Great book to spend your time reading! ( )

Isaac and Marco have been longtime best friends. Isaac is the jock but not academically solid, and often falls short of his mother's expectations. Marco is the brain, responsible, organized, and the one of the shortest kids in school. One of their common bonds is their tenuous relationships with their fathers: Isaac's father is an alcoholic while Marco's father is mostly absent and uninterested in Marco's activities. At their new middle school the boys try out for the basketball team. Marco's short stature means a lot of learning and practicing before the tryouts but he is determined to capture his father's attention by making the team. The boys support each other through school drama and father complications. What's most appealing about this book is the portrayal of a loyal friendship and emotional bond between boys. ( )