Taking Sides

Book Report

The book that I read is called Taking Sides. It is written by Gary Soto and published in 1991. It was about Lincoln Mendoza who is a basketball player. This book is a realistic fiction book. The setting and story is highly believable and could have occurred. The story is set in California in multiple places. The main setting is his a nice new neighborhood. Other settings include a basketball court and his old bad neighborhood.

Lincoln Mendoza is just an average basketball player. He goes to Franklin Junior High a primarily, African American school and lives in a "bad" neighborhood. Once their house gets broken into his mother has had enough of it. She and Lincoln knew as Linc move into a better neighborhood and Linc has enrolled into Columbus Junior High a primarily Caucasian school. He plays on the basketball team at Columbus and befriends many there. One of them is Monica. She is a special girl to him. When Linc and Monica go out to play basketball together Linc messes up his knee badly and he can't play in the game between Franklin and Columbus. When the game time does come ( Franklin vs. Columbus) he does end up playing despite his pain and Franklin ultimately wins. He stays with his Franklin friends and it is a happy ending for everyone.

I personally love the story. Because It was a relationship and reminded me and my son who is playing basketball as a player in Australia. Every word in the book was not confusing and simple. I really recommend this book to teenagers.