Ernesto Cisneros, Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Efrén Divided, is back with a hilarious and heartfelt novel about two best friends who must rely on each other in unexpected ways. A great next pick for listeners who loved Ghost by Jason Reynolds or The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez.

Isaac and Marco already know sixth grade is going to change their lives. But it won’t change things at home - not without each other’s help.

This year, star basketball player Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac’s parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, straight-A Marco vows on finally winning his father’s approval by earning a spot on the school’s basketball team.

But will their friendship and support for each other be enough to keep the two boys from falling short?

Listening Length

5 hours and 11 minutes
Author

Ernesto Cisneros
Narrator

Timothy Andrés Pabon, see all
Audible release date

March 15, 2022
Language

English
Publisher

HarperAudio
ASIN

B09K4Q5MPV
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	5 hours and 11 minutes
Author	Ernesto Cisneros
Narrator	Timothy Andrés Pabon, Gary Tiedemann
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	March 15, 2022
Publisher	HarperAudio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B09K4Q5MPV
Best Sellers Rank	#211,489 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #917 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Boys' & Men's Issues (Books) #3,231 in Teen & Young Adult Friendship Fiction #11,386 in Audiobooks for Children

Customer reviews

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4 star		10%
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Top reviews from the United States

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Maura in VA

Marco and Isaac are likable, relatable kids I would love for my son to meet in real life

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2022

Verified Purchase

It has been a joy to introduce the character of Efrén Nava in Efrén Divided, the debut novel by Ernesto Cisneros, to my son and to my upper elementary students during the past year. I have never seen a book that is hugged so often by its readers. Teachers want a student like Efrén. Kids want a friend like Efrén. I am both astounded and delighted that Ernesto Cisneros has created two more characters in his second novel, Falling Short, who are similarly relatable, fascinating, and joyfully likeable. I can't wait to introduce Marco and Isaac to students in my elementary library!

One a gifted athlete who struggles academically due to what appears to be ADHD, the other a diminutive and clumsy boy who wins every possible academic prize, Isaac and Marco share a strong feeling of falling short of parental expectations or needs. Cisneros allows us to deeply feel each boy's emotional anguish, while retaining a sense of fun and delight throughout the novel with enough likeable, trustworthy characters and scenes of triumph to keep a reader smiling. Readers who might reject the prospect of a "friendship book" will be hooked because Falling Short also stands tall as an engaging basketball book

I connected deeply with Isaac's love for and sense of protectiveness toward his troubled and loving father. It is rare for an MG book to include a protagonist with a parent who fights substance abuse, and those characters with addictions are often drawn like cardboard caricatures of overtly abusive "bad guys," which checks the box for "problem many children have" but is not relatable for kids whose parent is loving but suffering and unreliable. Cisneros deftly sketches a realistically flawed parent that will be recognizable by so many children of alcoholics: one who is loving and has the best of intentions, but himself falls short, and copes with every negative emotion (including shame for falling short as a parent) with alcohol.

Readers young and old will cheer with joy for the fiercely loyal friendship between Isaac and Marco, especially for how they navigate the unfamiliar waters of middle school by turning even more deliberately toward the friendship which buoys them and sustains them through their deepest hurts. Isaac and Marco are models of masculinity, courage, and strength that I am delighted to offer to my own son as he develops his own identity and navigates difficult social and emotional challenges.

Falling Short is a must-buy for all elementary and middle school libraries and highly recommended for parents of readers in grades 3 and above.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Russ Thompson

Uplifting!

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2022

Verified Purchase

This is a wonderful story about friendship, family, teamwork, and overcoming obstacles. It has so much heart! It inspired me and made me smile.

Helpful

Nita Walker

Kid friendly text

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book was designed for middle school readers, with familiar struggles between children and parents.

Helpful

Lee

Loved this book

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2022

Great, great book about basketball, teamwork, determination and perseverance when Marco decides he wants to try out for basketball even though he’s short, and Isaac,his best friend, offers his help and tips on how to play. Marco’s dad isn’t around much and so Marco wants to make the team so his dad will come watch him play. The support each boy shows each other is heartwarming, Isaac needs to do better in school and Marco helps him. When friends say Muggsy, a short basketball player, made it Marco thinks he can too. He uses Muggsy’s mantra “always believe” to motivate himself. Isaac shows Marco how to guard and slap the ball loose telling him getting stops may be more important than scoring, Marco makes the team and his dad says he’s coming to watch them play. Something happens though. Can Marco handle it? As Isaac plays in the tournament, he realizes life is like a basketball and that “it all comes down to how much hustle you put in,”

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Lisa McDonald

loved this book

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2022

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros resonated with me in so many ways, especially the character of Marco--the anxiety and panic attacks that Marco feels when he is less than perfect, the feeling that academics is all he is good at and therefore MUST be perfect at, and his incredibly short stature and all that entails. Yet Marco sets his sights on making the basketball team to make his absentee sports obsessed father stop and take notice. Marco's best friend, Isaac, whose parents are constantly arguing, coaches and trains with Marco. However Isaac has problems of his own. He is struggling with academics, something Marco helps him with. Isaac is determined to change this year in hopes that it will bring his father home.

I loved this book because it shows an amazing friendship between two boys, where they both are fully invested in supporting each other. Off hand, I can't think of other middle grade books that show this positive male friendship so strongly.

One person found this helpful

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Laurie Morrison

Loved this moving and entertaining friendship story

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2022

So much to love about this book! FALLING SHORT is very different from Ernesto Cisneros’s first novel, EFRÉN DIVIDED, in many ways, but as I read it, I had the same feeling I remember having as I read EFRÉN: that this is the work of an author who truly understands and loves the kids he’s writing for.

There are two equally endearing point of view characters—athletic Isaac and cerebral Marco—and there’s so much basketball, humor, and heart in this moving and entertaining friendship story. There’s also a fun EFRÉN DIVIDED Easter Egg in a bathroom scene! So many many kids are going to adore this one!

Helpful

Amy E. Randolph

A Winner of a book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2022

Falling Short was a light-hearted read touching on some deep issues. Marco and Isaac could not be more opposite. Marco is in all GATE classes as he begins middle school. Isaac almost failed 5th grade. Isaac is a star on the basketball court. Marco needs to use the granny shot to make a free throw. Despite the differences they've been best friends since preschool.
Marco's dad has pretty much disappeared from his life. Isaac's father is dealing with some alcohol issues, causing him to be asked to leave the home.
This book is a wonderful example of friendship who have not yet discovered the angst of junior high. They kiss their moms goodbye. They're surprised to hear words that aren't said at home. They appreciate that they have a friend who accepts them unconditionally. And discover that sometimes family doesn't always look the same.
This book will be going in my classroom library quickly.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

So relatable

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2022

Fantastic tale of friendship, growing up, overcoming obstacles. This book will be relatable to so many young readers.

One person found this helpful

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