I loved Adela and her curiosity about her biological father and his family.
I loved that when she found them her abuela Rosie welcomed her with open arms.
I liked that her uncle and cousins welcomed her and helped be a part of the family.
I liked that she took time to think about her relationships with her father Manny, and her stepdad Alex and what they each meant to her.
I loved Addie's mom and how we slowly learn about her past and how that affected her relationships. I liked that she and Addie were able to see that sometimes parents decisions to try and protect their children might be right in the moment, but don't always hold up in the long run.
I loved the look at wrestling and how it's a part of her family and her history.
I love the illustration of the mask on the front.
A lovely middle grade novel about finding who you are as you learn more about your family.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Twelve-year-old Addie has no memory of her biological father and currently her stepfather Alex has asked Addie how she feels about adoption. Though she loves her stepfather, Addie wants to get to know her biological father- Mannie- before deciding. Unfortunately, Addie's mother is reluctant to tell her about her father so Addie takes matters into her own hands. With her best friend's help and support, she learns her father's family lives nearby and that they play a big part in the wrestling world Addie's mom allows her to get to know her father and family who warmly welcome Addie. Weekend visits bring her closer to her father's side of the family but not so much her father who is busy trying to make his comeback. Addie begins to realize that adults make mistakes, adults can let you down and life can be messy. A bit on the long side but an engaging coming-of-age story with fun characters throughout. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Before even talking about the plot and characters, I have to point out this book has such a gorgeous cover! the bright colors and eyes staring out at the reader is sure to reel in middle school kids just wanting to know more. Then the humor, the yearning, the excitement, the hope, the longing for belonging that Addie experiences will keep them engaged till the end. So many kids come from blended families, and many of those families have an absent parent. Tumble expresses what it's like to be in that situation. There are other books that address the issues faced by children through difficult circumstances like Addie's, but the concessions she has to make, the forgiveness she has to bestow, and the resilience that she gains through her hardships help her grow, and these are the character traits that others can learn to emulate as they read Addie's story. I also love that everything doesn't necessarily tie up in a pretty bow, because that's not how families are, though Addie does come out with a positive ending in general. Pérez writes another amazing tale with Tumble, and after traveling through the Roswell area of New Mexico a few times, I could picture the scenery and people she writes about vividly. Her descriptions are perfect. I predict this one will be checked out as soon as I receive my library copy this fall! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for the opportunity to read this eGalley!

Adelita lives with her mom and stepfather, Alex. Her mom is pregnant with her half-brother and Alex has just asked Adelita if he can adopt her and her biological father is. . . non-existent. Her mother has never talked about him. Adelita decides she must find out who her "real" dad is before she can answer Alex's request and knows her mother will never give her an answer. She enlists her best friend, Cy, to find an answer about who he is and why he has never been around. They soon find a clue that leads to more questions and finally a name.

Soon Adelita has more questions than answers and learns that she had more than she realized.

I like this story of self-discovery. Adelita learns that people make mistakes. She learns that people do what they think is best. She learns that people love differently. She learns that she can do more than she previously thought. She learns about people she thought she knew.

I enjoyed reading this book and plan to share it with my students when school resumes. It not only teaches about what a preteen girl learns in her life, but also about a culture and a lifestyle that may be different than that of my students.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tumble by Celia C. Perez is a delightful story about Adela, a twelve-year-old who is just learning the true meaning of family. Her step-father, Alex is the only father figure she has ever known and she loves him But when he asks if he can adopt her, she begins to question in earnest who her father is and why he may be willing to give up his rights to being her father without ever having known her. Her search for her family results in a wonderful cast of characters in her extended family who are (or were) lucha libre professional wrestlers. It is a thought-provoking, yet fun story.

4 stars

This was one of the more unique coming-of-age stories I've read in middle school-age books. Addie/Adela has grown up in NM with her mother and stepfather and she loves them both. My husband grew up in NM, so I always enjoy finding books that are set in that part of the country. What I was not familiar with was the world of wrestling and I loved learning about the culture of wrestling and what it is and what it is not. I would definitely say that my opinion of wrestling went up with this book and I appreciated the education. In particular, I loved the comparison to dance/storytelling, and it made me realize how it can also be beautiful.

What I also liked about this story was the emphasis on family and that you could love your family even if you couldn't have the relationship you wanted with them. I really enjoyed Addie's search for her father and his family, as well as her coming-of-age journey as she grows closer to them and learns that you can love your family but you can't change them, but you get to choose what kind of relationship you want.

Along these lines, I enjoyed Addie's friendships, especially with Cy, but also with other adults, like Marlene. The only reservation I have about this book is that it is on the long side for some of my more reluctant readers, but I would still encourage my students to read it, especially if they enjoy wrestling.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Adela has a big decision to make when her stepfather asks her permission to adopt her. However, Adela has many questions about her biological father and her mom just won’t cooperate. So Adela takes matters into her own hands and with her best friend Cy, they set out to find Adela’s mysterious father.

This is a cute coming of age novel about finding yourself and the importance of family. The character development was on point and the storyline engaging. I would highly recommend this to any fourth through seventh grader who was looking for a novel with an enticing story mixed with a little intrigue.

Enjoyable middle grade novel. Like the other work by this author, the book manages to cover a number of big topics including racial bias, single parenthood, animal rights, student activism, latinx experience, and blended families. It would be suitable for both a pleasure read and the jumping off point for all sorts of ethical and social discussions.

Good messages for Everyone, kids and adults. Fun to read and good family connections. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Absolutely loved this book! The combination of family challenges, middle school struggles, lucha libre culture, and the relationships that help you get through it all…coming to the realization that adults aren’t perfect and that people let you down…all of this culminates in a funny, thoughtful, real story that is relatable to all, whether or not you came from a family full of Mexican wrestlers or not. I would absolutely recommend this book to upper elementary or middle grades students trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in this bit, wide world.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book-this review is based on an eARC and may not match the final version.

Adela’s stepfather wants to adopt her, but Adela wants to know and meet her biological father first. After doing some research, she meets her paternal family, who are a family of luchadors, and learns about family, herself, and wrestling.

Adela is a relatable protagonist. Her search for herself and understanding, not because her life is not generally positive and fulfilling, but because there is a loss and feeling of abandonment is true for many adoptees, and a part of the story that is often left out. The book is colorful and detailed, with the background of Mexican-style wrestling and Adela’s Hispanic culture providing a cultural backdrop that will both be familiar and representation for many students and provide understanding and a route to learning for others, and would appeal to middle grade students from a range of backgrounds.

This is a book that should be included in school and community libraries and would be an excellent discussion starter.

The initial mystery and Adela's steps to discover her father's true identity pulls you into the story immediately, but the story stays intriguing even after that puzzle is solved. The book is populated with a colorful cast of characters in a setting you could live in, and even those with no prior knowledge of wrestling will be able to follow along. Like Adela, you hope that Manny will have changed his ways, even as he shows time and again that he isn't who she needs him to be. The subplot with the worms feels bit superfluous, but otherwise this is a very solid book.

What it’s about: Adela has been happy with how her life has been going - her mother is smart and loving, her stepfather is kind and likes many of the same things Addie does. Everything seems good.

But when her stepfather reveals that he'd like to officially adopt Addie, she's thrown for a bit of a loop. It turns out that in order to be adopted, Addie's biological father has to legally sign away his parental rights. Addie has never met her father, and she's intensely curious about him; her mother never talks about him.

Through some sneaky digging and clever detective work, Addie finds out that her father's family lives in the next town over, and that they're part of the wrestling dynasty composed of the Bravos - and her father is Manny "the Mountain" Bravo, a heralded wrestler from days past.

But as Addie gets to know that side of her family, she finds herself learning more than she ever would have believed. Her loving grandmother was a wrestling champion herself; and she holds a secret connection to Addie she never knew. Her uncles weren't able to fulfill their father's dreams of creating a Bravo wrestling championship dynasty. And her father may be back, but he's very good at slipping away.

Addie must learn what "family" means to her - and who she is at her core.

What I thought: I've read 2 of Perez's books, and both of them have pulled me into a wonderful world of warm families, even when there are family problems that need to be dealt with.

Why I chose those shelves: trigger: Addie's father abandoned Addie & her mom; diverse, Latinx, minority: Addie and her family are Mexican-American; mystery: Addie is trying to figure out who her father is; performing arts: Addie and friends are part of the school's annual play, and they also get involved in professional-style wrestling; school: Parts of the story are in and about being a middle schooler; coming of age: Addie is trying to figure out who she is, and is growing up;

Why I rated it like I did: This was a really enjoyable story, and it has lots of great messages for kids and their adults - treating each other with respect, not withholding information from each other, finding ways to love and support your friends and family in their pursuits, the importance of showing our loved ones that we care.

Tumble is a great coming of age novel, especially for children who have never met one of their parents. All of the questions are finally answered when Adela finds her father and his luchador family. Along with her best friend Cy, a 7th grade school play, and trying to discover herself through these missing pieces of family, Adele finds out how strong her mother is, and a little more of where she fits in her space.

A great story about what makes family and being able to make your own choices. Addie’s story reminds me of so many of my students’ stories. I can’t wait to share this one with them!

Adela Ramirez never knew her father. But, when her stepfather asks to adopt her, Addie knows she wants to find out about her father and his family. After finding a photo hidden away in her mom's things, Addie decides to put her detective skills to work. With the help of her best friend, Cy, Addie enters the world of professional wrestling, where she learns she is part of the legendary Bravos. Rosie and Pancho are her grandparents, her Uncle Mateo designs fabulous lucha couture, her twin cousins Eva and Maggie show her their world of tag-team wrestling, and her biological father, Manny, continues to aim for the spotlight. Spending time with her newfound family, balancing 7th grade and working on the school play, and learning how she chooses to define friendship and family all come together in this heartwarming story of a girl who decides that she can make her own path and tell her own story.

Middle grade readers will flock to this gorgeous cover and they won't be disappointed. Tumble is a great name for a book that is a mix of several different ideas. Middle schooler Adela struggles with feelings of abandonment from her birth father along with the changes her current family is undergoing. Her mom is pregnant and her stepdad would like to adopt her. Readers will enjoy following along as Adela meets an extended family whose lives are consumed with the lucha libre wrestling circuit. Meanwhile, there is also a subplot going on at the middle school that involves the performing of the Nutcracker, friendships and the rights of living creatures.

My only quibble with the amazing cover illustration is that the mask described in the book is a lucha libre mask, "I slipped the mask on over my head, pulling it down tight around my face, and ran my hand along the soft fabric." In other words, it isn't a Mardi Gras style mask as it is depicted on the cover.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/8923901-ami-schroder

This was a sweet read about families, born and chosen. Adela's stepfather offers to adopt her, which prompts her to search out who and what her birth father is. I really appreciate that this isn't a story perfect ending. Adela wants her father to prioritize her, but unfortunately that is the whole reason her mother separated from her father in the first place-he chased his dreams over his family. But he's a sympathetic character, and while she doesn't get the relationship she was hoping from him, she does get A relationship. And more than that, she connects with his extended family, a rich heritage and lovely people previously unknown. It also improves her relationship with her mother, who'd been steadfast in never telling her the truth or really anything about her own past. And Alex, her stepfather, was truly the MVP of this story. What a guy-I absolutely adored him.

Overall, I really enjoyed "Tumble." There were some Spanish words I didn't understand and wasn't able to piece together using context clues, but it added flavor instead of being particularly distracting. Overall it felt like a vibrantly painted world, one I appreciated reading, and I think it's a great book for a JF section in a library handling the topic of complex family situations with grace while also being of interest to those with more "traditional" families. I'm sure those who enjoy wrestling and other related sports will enjoy as well!

12-year-old Adela is coming to terms with the fact that her biological father is the famous wrestler "Manny the Mountain." Her mother has kept her father's identity a secret and Adela has been raised by her mother and her stepfather, Alex who run a diner in Thorne, New Mexico. When Adela finds a photo as herself as an infant in a strange man's arms, she decides to track down her biological father. Finding out that she is the daughter of a locally famous wrestler who comes from the most famous family of wrestlers in both Mexico and New Mexico, sets Adela on the road to discovering who she is and who she wants to become. Wanting to be a part of the large, loving and active Bravo family gives Adela something she has always missed being an only child. However, her dreams of having a loving and present father in Manny aren't panning out as she had hoped. Written from the perspective of Adela, a 7th grader caught between childhood wishes and wants and the maturing young lady she is becoming, "Addie" comes to understand that not all wishes can come true. As much as she wants her father to be a part of her life on a daily basis, Manny is not yet mature enough himself to give her what she wants. Finding the love and security she needs at home with her mother and Alex, Adela also now embraces the extended family she's come to love as well, with our without her biological father. A very nice coming-of-age story with a twist, focusing much of the action and dialog around the world of pro wrestling. Give this to fans of the pro wrestling circuit as well as middle schoolers whose families are undergoing change.