Bump

The characters and events are rendered with all the beautifully unambiguous melodrama of a wrestling angle: loathsome bad guys, dramatic promos, and undeniably exciting action. Young fans will cherish gaining a deeper understanding of “sports entertainment”—and of the Mexican-wrestling tradition of lucha libre—and newcomers, too, will find in MJ a baby face worth cheering for.

"The characters and events are rendered with all the beautifully unambiguous melodrama of a wrestling angle: loathsome bad guys, dramatic promos, and undeniably exciting action. Young fans will cherish gaining a deeper understanding of “sports entertainment”—and of the Mexican-wrestling tradition of lucha libre—and newcomers, too, will find in MJ a baby face worth cheering for."

Gr 3-7—A "bump" is the act of a wrestler hitting the mat. While this can appear painful to the audience, 12 year- old MJ knows what can really hurt. She has felt a whole lot of hurt this past year with grief, mean girls, and moving homes. The only thing MJ loves is professional wrestling and when she finds out her new neighbor is a former luchador and runs a wrestling school, she feels a sense of hope returning to her life. While she practices her new wrestling abilities, her pain begins to fade with the introduction of friendships and courage. Just as she is finding her place, an unknown enemy threatens to take down the school and her courage must be tested. MJ's character will resonate with readers as she learns to be proud of herself, navigate her grief, and build new relationships. While parts of the story lack fluidity, the climax of the plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, cheering on this young heroine. VERDICT A unique middle grade story celebrating family, culture, and, of course, lucha libre wrestling. Hand this title to fans of Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl or Jason Reynolds's Ghost.—Julie Jesernik, Warrenville P.L., IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Channeling preteen drama into the larger-than-life sensibility of lucha libre, Wallace, making his #OwnVoices middle grade debut, tells the heartfelt story of MJ Medina, a Mexican American 12-year-old struggling to recover from her father's sudden death. After the racist white girls on her gymnastics team reject her, MJ finds solace training as the youngest wrestler at Mr. Arellano's Victory Academy. Soon, she's stealing the spotlight and helping Mr. Arellano find closure following the death of his 15-year-old wrestler grandson, known as Lightning Boy. Donning his mask and performing as Lightning Girl, MJ lives up to her persona in and out of the ring, going up against a villainous state athletic inspector intent on sabotaging the academy. Like a good lucha antagonist, the inspector all but twirls a mustache; though more about his grudge comes to light, the melding of grandiose plot twists and character-driven realism can feel uneven at times. Nevertheless, the novel makes a convincing and celebratory case for wrestling as catharsis. Ages 8-12. Agent: DongWon Song, Howard Morhaim Literary. (Jan.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.