TAKING SIDES

Lincoln has mixed emotions when his mother moves him from a San Francisco barrio to a “better” neighborhood. Soto aptly captures Mexican-American life and culture while also making his characters universal. Narrator Robert Ramirez is at his outstanding best as he presents parents and kids of diverse cultures, a nasty basketball coach, and a teenager learning to live with change in a bewildering and fast-paced America. Selected phrases throughout the text verbalized in both Spanish and English provide excellent practice for language students. The Spanish makes this a natural for the audio format, and Ramirez more than does it justice. An enjoyable and worthwhile story for all ages, not just teens. S.G.B. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]