Tumble

In Celia C. Pérez's Pura Belpré Author Honor Book, 'Tumble,' twelve-year-old Adela 'Addie' Ramírez is at a crossroads. With her stepfather proposing adoption and a new half-brother on the way, Addie feels overwhelmed and seeks answers about her past. A mysterious photo leads her to a New Mexico ranch and the legendary Bravo family, a vibrant clan of professional luchadores, including her biological father. This novel beautifully explores themes of identity, family, cultural heritage, and the courage it takes to find your place, making it perfect for middle-grade readers navigating their own complex family dynamics and self-discovery.

From the award-winning author of The First Rule of Punk and Strange Birds, a dazzling novel about a young girl who collects the missing pieces of her origin story from the family of legendary luchadores she’s never met. A 2023 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book Twelve-year-old Adela “Addie” Ramírez has a big decision to make when her stepfather proposes adoption. Addie loves Alex, the only father figure she’s ever known, but with a new half brother due in a few months and a big school theater performance on her mind, everything suddenly feels like it’s moving too fast. She has a million questions, and the first is about the young man in the photo she found hidden away in her mother’s things. Addie’s sleuthing takes her to a New Mexico ranch, and her world expands to include the legendary Bravos: Rosie and Pancho, her paternal grandparents and former professional wrestlers; Eva and Maggie, her older identical twin cousins who love to spar in and out of the ring; Uncle Mateo, whose lucha couture and advice are unmatched; and Manny, her biological father, who’s in the midst of a career comeback. As luchadores, the Bravos’s legacy is strong. But being part of a family is so much harder—it’s about showing up, taking off your mask, and working through challenges together.