Customer Reviews

Taking Sides

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Switching Teams

Do you know what it's like to switch teams? Well Lincoln Mendoza does. I am talking about the book, "Taking Sides," by Gary Soto. This is a great book. I think that anyone who likes books about sports should read this. It is all about basketball and how Lincoln switches school and joins a different basketball team. You should read, "Taking Sides."

Plus this book talks about real issues in life because these things really happen, people really have to switch schools and change basketball teams. My favorite part was when Lincoln went back to Franklin (his old school) to see his best friend Tony; it was great, two friends reuniting. An example of good suspense in this book is when someone breaks into Lincolns house when he is sitting home alone. You don't know what's going to happen and I won't tell you. There is no bad part in this book to me and I don't think you will find one. I say you should read this book.

In conclusion, this book is about sports, switching schools and adjusting to there. This is a fabulous book you should read this. Now don't just sit there, run to your nearest book store and get the book called, "Taking Sides."

By:M.W

Taking Sides, by Gary Soto, is surely one of the most fascinating books that I have ever read. In the book, Lincoln, the main character, had his life entirely switched. His family moves from the rough ghetto of San Francisco to the beautiful, upscale neighborhood of Sycamore. From this new life, Lincoln must adjust the beat of an entirely different drum, while making new friends and clashing in his lifelong passion: basketball. This book is charming, and definitely abnormal. It is very pleasing to read and unlike other books, it has a distinctive flow and tone to it. This book is also quite captivating. Anyone reading this book would not be able to put this one down. It is a real page-turner. These are only some of the reasons that this book is truly one of a kind. There are a few aspects of this book that one might dislike. First of all, the story is a little bit vague and imprecise. When I was reading this novel, I became a little bit lost. However, despite these slight flaws, this book was easily the most enjoyable book that I have read in months if not years.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was interesting. It showed how a kid dealt with a problem and what he went through. I would recomend this book to young adults that went through a hard time. The short stories that are also in the book were interesting. They also had a lot of descriptions.

Taking Sides is an incredibly sensitive book that touches on themes adolescents really care about: racial identity, overcoming prejudice, loyalty, and being true to oneself. Through his main character, Lincoln Mendoza, author Gary Soto has captured the challenges faced by a Chicano eighth-grader from San Francisco's Mission District barrio who has moved to an upper-middle-class suburb nearby. The transition is not smooth. How can he hold onto his old friends while making new ones? What's it like being the only dark-skinned player on the new school's basketball team? To which team should Lincoln be loyal--the old or the new?

Teachers and curriculum directors in the Boston Public Schools have been so impressed by the powerful themes in Taking Sides that they have selected it as one of six core novels for sixth graders as part of the Max Warburg Courage Curriculum. The other five novels are: Maniac Magee, Number the Stars, Bridge to Terabithia, So Far from the Bamboo Grove, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. As with Taking Sides, each novel addresses the theme of courage--different types of courage, what it takes to act courageously, and how even small acts of courage can have enormous consequences in everyday life.

I highly recommend Taking Sides as a book that will inspire adolescent readers to be true to themselves and overcome prejudice.

Taking Sides, by Gary Soto, is the story of a Hispanic 8th grader, Lincoln, who moves from a poor, beaten down part of California to a richer, suburban part of town. He leaves behind his old school, and many of his friends. A star basketball player, he joins the team at his new school. Unfortunately, his coach takes a strong disliking to him, and becomes extremely unfair. The team is scheduled to play against Lincoln's old high school, and he is not sure if he should play his best.
Another story that takes place simultaneously is about his girlfriend, Monica. Like him, she is Hispanic, and enjoys playing basketball. His relation with her is anything but steady, but in the end, all is well.

I was easily immersed in this easy-to-read, yet uneventful book. Gary Soto's writing style makes this an enjoyable book, but after I read this, I noticed that nothing unpredictable happened. Also, he often brings up a problem, and drops it before it is resolved. Basically, I have two complaints. Firstoff, it is far to predictable. Nothing unexpected happens, and you will find yourself knowing exactly what comes next. Secondly, there is no discernable climax. It ends on the same level that it started. Should you read it? If you have nothing else to read, this is a way to divert yourself. Expect to be amused while reading it, but do not think that this will be one of your favorites.

This novel is about a boy named Lincoln Mendoza who lived in a poor town called the barrio now living in a much nicer and beater town called Sycamore in San Francisco. The characters are Tony who is from his old school and James and Monica at his new school called Columbus Jr. High. The setting is in Sycamore of San Francisco.

During one part of the book I like it when Lincoln was playing basketball at his old school, Franklin Jr. High. He compares Franklin Jr. High to the Golden State Warriors and Columbus to the L.A. Lakers. Franklin, who mostly never beats Columbus, is not very good at basketball and the Columbus team is better and richer. I also liked it when James introduced Lincoln to Monica, who also played basketball for Franklin.

Some parts of the book were difficult to understand. It's a great way to learn Spanish, but you have to go to the back to know what the word means. There are some parts of the book that say what the word means after it has been said that's great. But that's for sentence and long words not for short words.

I would recommend this book to others because it's one of the ways of learning Spanish. There are other ways of learning Spanish too but this book uses the words that are most common. This book also describes the barrio too and how it looks. I would like to recommend this book this book to 5th grade and up because younger kids would want to know what some words mean.

Taking Sides, by Gary Soto, was a very interesting book about Hispanic culture, and about a boy, who is in his teen years, life. I would definitely recommend this book because it is very well put together and it has many descriptions. This boys name is Lincoln, who faces many difficult decisions in his life. Should he go out with the perfect girl? Should he play basketball? Should he tell his coach that even though when Coach was a kid and had difficulties with basketball doesn't mean he should bring it out on Lincoln? Should he get to know his moms boyfriend? Should he let his new life come between him and his friend? And should his new life come between him and his old life? Lincoln faces difficulties and real life teen situations. To find out more read Taking Sides.

I would recommend this book because it has exciting real life situations in it. Lincoln experienced a robbery in his own house. He never imagined that something like that would ever happen to him in his new neighborhood. In this book there are many mistakes and incidents in Lincolns life that you can learn form. Another reason why I would recommend this book is because the setting and the characters are really well described, not only by the author, but by the characters in the book as well. Lincoln describes his new neighborhood as a place where the sprinklers are always running, where only nice cars drive, and where there are only good people who never get into trouble. Lincoln also describes his mom's boyfriend as a man who drives a blue, small BMW and a man who is too good for Lincoln and his mother. Little does he know that his mom's boyfriend was brought up the same way that Lincoln was.

Some people might think that Taking Sides starts off as a slow read, but if one keeps on reading then it gets a lot more exciting. Another thing that people might think is that there are some Spanish words and sentences in the book. It is annoying to not know what the word is so the author put a glossary in the back of the book for one to look at. Now if one is Hispanic or has taken Spanish classes/lessons then it shouldn't be a huge problem. Even though there are some flaws in the book it is still a simple, short, good read. If the reader likes to read books that has a lot of meaning to them and a book that the reader can learn from then Taking Sides will be an enjoyable book.

Lincoln has a mind to chose between his new neighborhood and old neighborhood new school old school he also tries to find out where he truly belongs

The book I read is called Taking Sides, the author is Gary Soto. This book is AWESOME, I would recomend it to anyone that likes to read, and has an interest in basketball. I rated this book a four, not because I thought that it wasn't a good book, it was simply because I have read better books, but it is not a bad book. It relates to everyday situations, and it talks about things that go on in my life personally. This book gets your attention and keeps it throughout the whole thing. Please read it and tell others what you think too!

This novel is about Lincoln who goes to a new school. Lincoln likes to play basketball. He lives in a nice neighborhood called Sycamore. Lincoln and Tony are both friends.
I liked it when Lincoln and Tony were going to the barrio. I like that part when Lincoln's house got broken into. Lincoln was the basketball practice.
I did not like that part when Lincoln and Tony were arguing. I did not like that part when Tony left the Thrift shop. I also did not like that part when Lincoln hurt his knee.
YES! I would like other people to read a book because it's so much fun. There are Spanish words in the book. They like to read about the 2 boys playing basketball.