35 pages 1 hour read

Gary Soto

Taking Sides

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1991

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Taking Sides by Gary Soto, 12-year-old Lincoln Mendoza moves with his mother from San Francisco’s diverse Mission District to the suburban city of Sycamore, where he joins his new school's basketball team. As a game against his old school approaches, Lincoln grapples with his cultural identity and loyalty while navigating new friendships and the challenges of fitting in. The book addresses themes of burglaries and racial prejudice.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Reviews of Taking Sides by Gary Soto highlight its relatable portrayal of a teen facing cultural and personal conflicts. Readers appreciate the authentic depiction of a bicultural experience and the protagonist's growth. Some criticize the plot's predictability and feel character development could be deeper. Overall, it's praised for its realistic and engaging narrative.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Taking Sides?

Readers who enjoy Taking Sides by Gary Soto are typically middle school students facing cultural identity and fitting in challenges. Similar to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, they appreciate themes of identity, belonging, and adolescence within a multicultural context.

Recommended

Reading Age

10-14years

Book Details

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Children's Literature

Topics

Sports

Education

Themes

Identity: Race

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Relationships: Friendship