Tumble

Wrestling is a recurring motif throughout the book and is introduced in the very first scene. Specifically, the form of wrestling that appears is lucha libre, which is distinct from American professional wrestling or any other kind of mainstream wrestling, as it is specific to Mexican culture. Thus, wrestling grounds the book within a particular setting, which is important to the themes of Understanding Identity vis-à-vis Family and The Weight of Family Expectations and Legacy. Wrestling is also described to be a performance as much as sport, in that it requires skill, athleticism, and training, but the moves and storylines in matches are choreographed. Thus, wrestling functions as a form of storytelling, calling to the theme of Using Storytelling to Subvert Social Norms.

In keeping with this, lucha libre becomes a way for Addie’s character to grow in terms of identity, family, and social norms. She incorporates wrestling in the retelling of a classic story in her school production, blending two different forms of storytelling in an act of subversion; she participates in the Bravos’ legacy and grows closer to members of her family by learning movies from Mateo, Rosie, and the twins; and, when she enters the ring in an unscripted moment in the play, she discovers that she thoroughly enjoys being on stage, and that perhaps performance is truly in her blood after all.