35 pages • 1 hour read
Gary SotoTaking Sides
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1991A 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
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
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 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.