Hello! I'm Afoma.
  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · August 31, 2022

Review | Tumble

Book Review - Tumble

Summary: Tumble

In Tumble, we meet 12-year-old Addie, who lives with her pregnant mom and stepdad. Her stepdad wants to adopt her (but only if she wants) and Addie loves him but can’t shake the curiosity about her biological father, especially because her mom is so hush-hush about it. While investigating, she discovers that her father is part of a famous wrestling family living on a nearby New Mexico ranch. As Addy gets to know her father, Manny, her cousins, grandparents, and uncles, she learns that family can be complicated.

The Good

I liked the unique plot of this story and found Addie to be a strong-willed, realistic character. She has a warm relationship with her family, but there’s understandably tension as neither her stepfather nor her mother are open about Addie’s father and why he isn’t in her life. Addie’s family also runs a restaurant where she spends a lot of her time.

The inclusion of wrestling and Addie getting to meet her father’s family makes this book a sweet read. I also enjoyed the investigative process of locating her father and his family. She uses the library, yearbooks, old photos and even biographies to learn more about them.

When she finally finds them and her mom lets her spend time with them, a new window is open and she discovers new family issues like a history of absentee fathers, toxic masculinity, women being relegated to the background and so much more.

Ultimately, the most moving part of the story is the way Addie navigates the fact that her father’s dreams may be too big for him to even see her or be in her life the way she wants.

Overall: Tumble

Tumble is a poignant, exciting, and heartrending middle grade book about family secrets, wrestling culture, and identity. This unique middle grade book highlights the challenges of growing up with an absent biological parent and finding one’s place in a new family. This is a solid tween novel with a determined heroine and strong ties to Latin-American culture.


Buy This Book

Tumble

buy on amazon

More Book Reviews

  • Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia Perez
  • Bea Is for Blended by Lindsey Stoddard
  • Shine On, Luz Veliz! by Rebecca Balcarcel

Don't Forget to Share!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn

Related

Posted In: Book Reviews, Middle-Grade

Join My Newsletter

Like what you just read? Sign up for my Friday kidlit newsletter!

Privacy Policy

You’ll Also Love

Review | The Last Super Chef
Review | Smart Cookie
Bite-Sized Review: LOUISIANA’S WAY HOME

What do you think? Leave a comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

The Best Graphic Novels for 9 Year Olds

About Me
Hi, I'm Afoma! Thank you for stopping by. Learn more about me here.

Get 2 Months Free on Scribd


Follow on Bloglovin’

Follow

We’re Social Too!

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Stock photos courtesy of our partners at DepositPhotos 📸
✨a suspenseful middle grade book✨ ✨chapter books worth reading!✨ Welcoming a second baby? Here’s a delightful picture book with tips for big kids. Although there’s more text in this one than I’d like for a typical picture book, I love that the information is factual and can be very helpful for parents tackling these specific questions with their big kids ❤️ ❓What happened to Rachel Riley❓ As much as I love new releases, I like to make room in my reading plans for books released a couple (or more) years before. Here’s my current backlist stack for 2023. ✨life’s easier when you can be yourself ✨
  • Blog
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Reading Middle Grade · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...