Taking Sides by Gary Soto

a. Bibliographic data
Soto, Gary. 1991. TAKING SIDES. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 0152840761

b. Brief plot summary
Lincoln Mendoza has moved from the barrio to suburbia after his mother decides that their old neighborhood is unsafe. Lincoln, a star basketball player, is now playing for a predominantly white team and feels like as outsider because he is Mexican. He longs to be back at his old school with his carnal, Tony. With the help of some new friends, some from unlikely sources, Linc comes to terms with life in a new town.

c. Critical analysis
Taking Sides examines the cultural differences between two neighborhoods, the barrio where Lincoln feels at home, and the middle class, predominantly white community where he and his mother move. Author Gary Soto uses vivid descriptions to contrast the differences in both the people and places of each neighborhood. While the white characters in the story lack description, the reader is given a glimpses of Lincoln who is described as having a face that is “brown, like coffee laced with cream, and hair as black as a chunk of asphalt” (pp. 2).

Soto also uses many Spanish words and phrases throughout the novel that add cultural authenticity to Lincoln’s character. Many of the Spanish words used within Taking Sides surround mealtimes at the Mendoza house and offer the audience a taste of Mexican American dishes such as carne asada, chile verde, papas and frijoles.

The storyline is simple but stays true to the views and thoughts of a teenage boy who loves basketball. While there is no climax to the story, the reader stays entertained throughout this quick read.

d. Reviews/Awards
• From Publisher’s Weekly: “Once again, Soto ( Baseball in April ) masterfully conveys the Hispanic-American experience, and readers will respect Lincoln's values and good sportsmanship. Ultimately, the boy learns to adjust to a new situation and accept new challenges without compromising his individuality.”
• From SLJ: “Readers will easily understand the boy's dilemma. The conflicts of old vs. new and Hispanic vs. white culture are clearly delineated. So is the fact that the differences are not as great as they first appear. Lincoln is a typical adolescent: energetic, likable, moody at times, but adaptable… Because of its subject matter and its clear, straightforward prose, the book will be especially good for reluctant readers. A glossary of Spanish words appears at the end of the book.”
• From Kirkus Review: “Soto (Baseball in April, 1990) creates a believable, compelling picture of the stress that racial prejudice places on minority children. He respects the intelligence of his readers, sparing dramatics and allowing them to read between the lines of his quiet yet powerful scenes and bringing the racial issue closer to home for a mainstream readership: the Mendozas are now suburban and middle class and could be anyone's neighbors.”

e. Connections
• This book can help readers make a connection between a time when they were torn between two choices or when they felt like an outcast in a new setting.
• Using Taking Sides in a literature circle group could elicit interesting and though provoking discussions, especially among a group of culturally diverse students.
• Readers can enjoy some of these other works by Gary Soto:
o Baseball in April
o Too Many Tamales
o Chato’s Kitchen
o Neighborhood Odes
o Help Wanted
o The Skirt
o Marisol