Culture 3: Taking Sides

Bibliography: Soto, Gary. 1991. Taking Sides. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152046941

Plot Summary: After their house gets burglarized, Lincoln's mom makes the decision to move them to a better neighborhood. They move from the barrio to a rich, white neighborhood 10 miles away when he is in junior high. The one thing Lincoln has to hold on to is basketball, but Lincoln doesn't have anything in common with his new teammates other than basketball. His friends all play for his old school, Franklin Junior High. The first time his new school, Columbus, plays Franklin they won convincingly. But what will happen when they meet again at the end of the season when Lincoln feels loyalty to all of his freinds at Franklin?
Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers): Gary Soto has written a believable story about the struggles of being a teenager in a new school. Lincoln is a young man whose face is “brown, like coffee laced with cream” and hair is “black as a chunk of asphalt”. His mother decides to move from the barrio to a better neighborhood after their house in broken into and some of their property has been stolen. They move less than 10 miles away, but it is a whole new world to Lincoln.

Lincoln’s new school is made up mostly of white people who have money. At first he enjoys the peaceful, clean neighborhood, but a few months later he misses his old school and its “mural of brown, black, and yellow kids linking arms in friendship”. He especially missed his best friend Tony whom he’s known since the first grade. Throughout the story Lincoln is comparing his old life with his new one. Where does his loyalty lie when the two schools meet again in a basketball game? He wants his old school to win because he likes the people on the team better, but he also wants to play the best game he can.

Spanish words and phrases are used throughout the story giving it cultural authenticity. Soto translates most of the Spanish immediately which seems to take away from the story itself since that is not how it would be spoken naturally. Some examples include “Oye a este chavalo. Listen to the guy,” “Y que no se te olvide. And don’t you forget it” and “Qué grande te has puesto. How tall you’ve gotten”. Even words and phrases that can be inferred are translated which starts to become a nuisance.

The Hispanic culture is also evident by the food mentioned in the story and the importance of religion. Frijoles, papas, and tortillas are a staple at many meals. They also eat carne asada, enchiladas, and bologna sandwiches in a “twice-used paper bag” for lunch. Lincoln’s mother attends church every Sunday, and Monica (the girl he has a crush on) talks about her church and asks him which one he attends.

Overall this is a good story for junior readers. It is easy to relate to the characters and the struggles they face. There is also a glossary of Spanish words and phrases at the end of the story for those who want to learn and/or practice the Spanish language.

Review Excerpt(s):
From Publishers Weekly
This touchingly realistic story explores the divided loyalties of a Hispanic basketball player who has recently moved from a poor neighborhood to a more affluent one. Initially, eighth grader Lincoln feels like a traitor when he plays ball for the predominantly white school he now attends. To make matters worse, his new coach seems to hold a grudge against both Lincoln and his former school, Franklin Junior High. As a game against Franklin approaches, tension mounts and Lincoln experiences clashes with several people, including some teammates. But he manages to have fun on the night of the big game and eventually makes peace with his friends. 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 School Library Journal
This light but appealing story deals with cultural differences, moving, and basketball. Eighth-grader Lincoln Mendoza and his mother have just moved from a San Francisco barrio to a wealthy, predominantly white suburb. He misses his Hispanic friends, the noise, camaraderie, and even the dirt and fights in his old neighborhood. Having made first-string on the basketball team, he finds that the coach dislikes him for no good reason. Plot development hinges on an upcoming game between his new school and the old one. As the big day approaches, Lincoln cannot decide which team he wants to win. He's not sure where he truly belongs, but the game helps to clarify this for him. 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. Other characters are less finely drawn. The coach is the stereotypical obnoxious jock. Lincoln's divorced mother works hard and tries to be a good parent. Her boyfriend Roy is a minor player but he helps Lincoln to deal with his problems. 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. --Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro,

Connections:
Discussion Questions and Activities:
*Describe a time when you were the new student at school or how you treated a new student in your class. *Compare and contrast Lincoln's old life and his new life.
*Do you think it was fair Lincoln was benched at the beginning of the game against Colombus and Franklin? Why or why not?
*Create a welcome packet for students new to your school. What should they know about the school, neighborhood, etc.
*You will be partnered with a student from another school in our district. You will interview each other through email, Skype, and/or phone calls. What things do you have in common? What are your differences? What is their school like? How is it different from ours? How is it the same?

Other Books by Gary Soto:
Baseball in April and Other Stories ISBN 9780780704473
Too Many Tamales ISBN 9780399221460
Chato's Kitchen ISBN 9780399226588
Snapshots from the Wedding ISBN 9780613121170
A Summer Life ISBN 9780833574732