Falling Short is a YA novel published by Ernesto Cisneros in 2022. The book is targeted toward readers aged ten to thirteen attending late elementary to middle school grades. This readership directly reflects the experience of the characters. Isaac Castillo and Marco Honeyman are best friends who have just started sixth grade. The novel tells the story of these opposites who have established a close bond despite one being a brain and the other being a jock.
The story of their friendship is presented through alternating chapters that take the perspective of each of the boys. Throughout the narrative, the jock helps the brain become more athletic and the brain helps the jock in his struggle with the academic side of being a student-athlete. Meanwhile, both boys are also dealing with their particular domestic issues at home.
Falling Short is the author’s follow-up to his Pura Belpré Award–winning debut novel, Efren Divided. This sophomore effort was warmly received by most critics and cemented Cisneros as one of the most promising new writers of fiction for young adult readers. In addition to telling an uplifting story about the power of friendship. Falling Short also offers readers a diverse representation of middle school life. The story touches upon issues ranging from bullying to homophobia to alcoholism.
Fans of basketball history will be especially delighted at the way the story brings back into the public consciousness one of the most unexpected and inspirational players of all time. Muggsy Bogues, the five-foot-three NBA phenom, becomes an essential character in the novel by way of reference to the equally diminutive Marco in his seemingly hopeless effort to make the school’s basketball team. Although the original cover of the novel features a comic book-like illustration of Isaac and Mario, it is not a graphic novel, but a full-text story running just slightly more than three hundred pages.
