BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSTwelve-year-old Adela Ramírez has grown up with plenty of questions about her biological father but no answers. She lives in the small New Mexico town of Thorne with her mother and stepfather Alex, who runs a wrestling-themed diner. When Alex proposes to legally adopt her, Adela realizes she cannot make that decision without first knowing who her father is. Using a hidden Polaroid she finds in her mother's belongings, she tracks down a name in old school yearbooks at the local historical society: Manny "The Mountain" Bravo, from a famous wrestling family in the neighboring town of Esperanza. Determined to meet him before deciding about the adoption, Adela sets off on a journey to find the father she never knew.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Tumble
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Tumble. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book is the diner menu split into sections called The Undercard and The Main Event?
✓ Answer
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
The Four Sisters Diner leans into wrestling culture by naming the breakfast and lunch section The Undercard and the dinner section The Main Event. It shows how deeply Alex and the whole town love lucha libre.
- First half
In what book does a cousin lose a fake tooth attached to a retainer during a backyard wrestling match?
✓ Answer
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
Maggie's fake tooth on its pink retainer falls out while she chews a nail. Eva knocked out the real tooth earlier with an elbow gone wrong. The fake tooth becomes the pretext for a staged fight, vanishes during it, and turns into a recurring gag while she waits for a new flipper from the dentist.
- First half
In what book is a girl given the lead role of Marie in The Nutcracker against her wishes?
✓ Answer
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
Mrs. Gonzalez surprises everyone by casting tall, shy Adela as Marie. The drama teacher explains she wants to push past her own old assumptions about who Marie should be, hinting it might be her last year directing the show.
- Second half
In what book does a retired luchadora flex her bicep while her granddaughter tries on the old championship belt?
✓ Answer
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
Rosie tells Adela that men once banned women from wrestling in Mexico City because they feared strong women. She flexes for her granddaughter and lets her hold the belt against her waist, telling her it looks good.
- Second half
In what book is a masked luchador's secret identity revealed inside the ring after his opponent yanks off his mask?
✓ Answer
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
Guapo Garcia traps The Eagle in a sleeper hold and pulls his mask off, revealing Manny Bravo to the screaming crowd. The unmasking is the planned comeback of Manny the Mountain, and Adela watches the woman in the Bravos T-shirt cry tears of joy.
- Near the end
In what book does a girl invent a family pantheon for a school mythology project using an instant camera?
✓ Answer
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
Adela uses a little blue instant camera to photograph everyone in her life, then arranges them into a pantheon collage. The back has index cards with short family myths about powerful fathers, strong mothers, and chosen family.
