Tumble by Celia C. Pérez

This was my first read of January, and if all of the books I read in 2023 are as fun and heartwarming as Tumble, it's going to be a great year of reading.

 

Adela "Addie" Ramírez's mother has always refused to speak of her father, so Addie has grown up with her stepfather, Alex, as the only father figure in her life. Addie loves Alex, but she always feels like there's something missing from her life. As if she only knows half of herself. 

When Alex asks Addie to let him adopt her, Addie realizes that she won't feel completely whole until she finds out who her biological father is. And she knows she won't get anywhere by asking her mom. So with the help of her best friend Cy, Addie tracks down first a picture of her father, and then his name and home. Her quest leads her to the Bravos of Esperanza, New Mexico: a famous family of retired luchadores. 

On the Bravos' ranch, Addie meets her grandparents, Rosie and Pancho, both former wrestlers; her twin cousins Eva and Maggie, aspiring luchadoras; her uncle Mateo, whose wrestling skills are only rivaled by his talent at the sewing machine; and Manny, Addie's biological father. After traveling for years, Manny is back in Esperanza at the chance to re-enter the world of wrestling and bring back his old fame. Addie wants Manny to be her father, but she can't help but wonder if he wants the same thing. It turns out family, old and new, is a lot more complicated than Addie realized.

Celia C. Pérez has been one of my favorite authors since I read Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers, and Tumble is my favorite book of hers yet! Set in New Mexico, this story of long-lost family and secrets is as colorful and warm as a desert sunset. I loved all of Addie's family members: Rosie is a strong mother and grandmother who never fails to be there for her family, Eva and Maggie are a unique spin on the identical twin trope, and Uncle Mateo does drag story time (what could be cooler?). The love between family members is what makes this book truly special, even though they make mistakes and aren't perfect. I also loved the setting; I've never been to New Mexico, but Celia's descriptions paint a beautiful desert landscape of tumbleweeds, bright skies, and picturesque mountains. Not only that, but learning about lucha libre culture was fascinating. Addie is a determined, independent protagonist, and all of the characters balance each other in a marvelous way. Five stars!