Tumble

Addie’s mother, Lourdes, was raised by her grandmother after both her parents passed away when she was young. How might this experience have influenced her character? Does it play a part in her decision to keep Manny’s identity a secret from Addie? Why or why not?

How are Alex and Manny similar and yet different? Compare their characters with respect to their traits and the roles they play in Addie’s life.

Before Addie meets the Bravos for the first time, she pulls the card of Artemis from Cy’s tarot card deck, and Cy makes a series of predictions. How much of this foreshadowing comes true? Explain with specific references to the text.

Trace some of the repeating patterns across the different generations of the Bravos. Who conforms to family expectations? Who defies them, and what enables them to do so?

How is tradition important in the book? Identify the role tradition plays in regard to the characters, their choices, and their culture, and then explain the overall significance of tradition in the story.

How do friendship and belonging, especially in the pre-adolescent years, inform identity? Explore how they are presented in the book.

Examine the characters of Cy, Marlene, and Gus. What role do they each play in the story? How do they contribute to the themes in the book?

Wrestling, mythology, and theater are all different forms of storytelling. What other forms of creative output or storytelling are employed by the different characters? List and illustrate with examples.