Bump

November 1, 2020

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.

November 23, 2020
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.

November 15, 2020
Maya Jocelyn Medina, MJ for short, became a huge professional wrestling fan after being introduced to the sport by her late Papi. Papi may not be around anymore, but her love of wrestling, specifically Mexican-style wrestling, or lucha libre, still runs deep and helps her feel connected with him. When a chance meeting acquaints her with Mr. Arellano, the owner of a local luchador wrestling school, MJ does everything she can to convince both him and her skeptical mom that she belongs in the program. At 12, she becomes the youngest wrestler at Victory Academy, and she must work hard to prove that although she's small, she can grapple with the best of them. MJ learns how to throw down with other wrestlers whom she comes to care about and trust. Her growing strength in the ring also translates into more confidence in sixth grade, where she encounters bullies and racism. MJ suspects that the string of costly code violations from the State Athletic Commission that plagues the academy may be part of a larger conspiracy to close its doors for good. MJ's tenacity leads to a thrilling conclusion in a story filled with action and sensitive character development, and readers, whether lucha libre fans or not, will be drawn into her story. MJ and many members of the wrestling community are Mexican American. This touching story of grit and luchadores wrestles with themes of loss and chosen family. (Fiction. 8-12)

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January 1, 2021
Grades 3-6 Before his untimely death, MJ's papi instilled in her a love of professional wrestling. At 12, she struggles to cope with his passing, her mother's overburdened schedule, and a bully on the gymnastics team--until she learns that her neighbor, a retired luchador, runs a school for aspiring wrestlers. After convincing him and her mother to let her train, she finds peace and belonging in the grueling art form and its community. And when a bitter bureaucrat attempts to have the school shut down, she must find the confidence to stand up for her newfound family--and herself. In his middle-grade debut, Wallace draws upon his own pro-wrestling experience to give a backstage glimpse of all the work, athleticism, and creativity that goes into the oft-misunderstood art form. 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.

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