Bump: A Contemporary Latino Wrestling Novel About Courage, Community, and Becoming a Hero for Kids

by Matt Wallace

A moving and triumphant middle grade contemporary debut from award-winning author Matt Wallace about a heroic young girl—who dreams of becoming a pro wrestler—learning to find courage and fight for what she loves. Perfect for fans of Kelly Yang, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds' Track series!

MJ knows what it means to hurt. Bruises from gymnastics heal, but big hurts—like her dad not being around anymore—don’t go away. Now her mom needs to work two jobs, and MJ doesn’t have friends at school to lean on.

There is only one thing MJ the world of professional wrestling. She especially idolizes the luchadores and the stories they tell in the ring. When MJ learns that her neighbor, Mr. Arellano, runs a wrestling school, she has a new mission in join the school, train hard, and become a wrestler.

But trouble lies ahead. After wrestling in a showcase event, MJ attracts the attention of Mr. Arellano’s enemy at the State Athletic Commission. There are threats to shut the school down, putting MJ’s new home—and the community that welcomed her—at risk. What can MJ do to save her new family?

* A Junior Library Guild Selection * Banks Street Best Children's Books of the Year *

Genres: Middle Grade, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Grief, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2021

Reviews

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If there is another middle grade novel about a girl who loves pro-wrestling, I haven't heard of it. That being said, if there is only one, this is a great one to do the job. I really enjoyed MJ's journey. For the girls out there who do love wrestling, I think they'll love this, and for the readers who don't (or who aren't girls!), I think will still really enjoy MJ as a character, and her story.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about growing up. How one girl, MJ, becomes a luchadore to overcome the grief of losing her father while likewise finding the meaning of friendship. Recommend.

[Jesse Bouchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, fun, mindless book to take your mind off of every day life and get submerged in to a fantasy land that feels familiar. A good quick read! Happy my wife suggested it to me!

[Jaimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh man, I really wanted to like this one more.

So I've been doing this thing where I read middle grade fiction when I need a break from some of my darker, stressful reads. Take that into account here I guess, I am not the target audience for this book and I get that. However I've loved professional wrestling since I could remember, I still love professional wrestling, and a book about a young luchadora sounded amazing!

It's not really that this book was bad exactly, it's just that there's some amazing middle grade fiction out there, and the bar is set very high. This one couldn't clear it.

The book is very immature. Our lead is 12, but acts like she's 16 and everyone treats her like she's the second coming. She receives no repercussions for her questionable at best actions and all of her problems are solved perfectly and without consequences.

Themes present in most MGF are only touched on at the surface level (bullying, racism, grief, acceptance, change) and are never fleshed out. Any conflicts brought on by these themes are quickly solved by...time?

The actual conflict of this book comes from a cartoon villain beuaracrat whose sole drive for most of the book is his hate of professional wrestling. He is defeated by our main girl at the very end, single handedly, in a showdown that is totally inappropriate for professional wrestling let alone a green 12 year old. She does everything she's told not to do and only survives because...main character? Again, she receives no consequences for taking matters into her own hands and disobeying literally every adult she says she respects.

Again, I know I'm not the target audience here, but this was just a weak showing all around. Our girl MJ had zero personality, making it unbelievable when older teens and adults would flock to her. I didn't buy her as a luchadora because she lacked any personality or style. Is love to see more books tackle interests like professional wrestling, but when the bar is set so high, they have to do better.

[Shersten · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone currently in wrestling training, this was super cool to read about a kiddo doing similar training to what I've been doing. It was a quick and cute read and I'd recommend it to anyone with interest in the wrestling world!

[Gabie (OwlEyesReviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fin look into a cultural aspect that Im not super familiar with :)

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

MJ is having a bad year. It’s her first year at middle school, which is difficult enough, but her dad not being around anymore is the worst. And she didn’t want to be on the gymnastics team this year, not since she was bullied and felt excluded, despite being one of the best gymnasts on the team. And since her dad left, MJ and her mother had to move out of their house, and now her mother has to work two jobs and take online classes.

MJ doesn’t have any friends, so she spends her lunch time watching wrestling videos of luchadores, Mexican wrestlers who wear masks and wrestle with an entertaining, energetic style. Without friends or afterschool activities, she just sits alone in her room after school flying her drone. It had been a gift from her father before he’d left. But when it crashes into a neighbor’s yard, MJ decides to go after it and discovers an old wrestling ring in her neighbor’s yard. It turns out her neighbor used to be a lucha wrestler, and now he owns a training school for wrestlers.

MJ wants to join her neighbor’s wrestling school more than anything, and after wearing her mother down, the two strike a deal. MJ has to keep her grades up, and if she gets seriously hurt then she’ll have to stop, but her mother agrees to let her wrestle. Since she’s only 12, it takes her some convincing to get her neighbor to let her in the school, but she wears him down too and gets ready to start training as a wrestler.

At first, she’s paired with an older girl to learn the basics of wrestling—how to interact with another wrestler in the ring and how to fall down without getting hurt. As the weeks of training go on, she learns more about what it takes to have a match. She builds her endurance and expands her in-ring skills. She even gets to try out some simple matches before a small audience in their weekly wrestling shows.

But when an investigator with the State Athletic Commission comes to do his inspection, MJ gets a bad feeling, like the inspector has a problem with her neighbor and is trying extra hard to shut down the wrestling school. This is the first thing in months that has made MJ happy, and she doesn’t want to lose that. But will she be able to help save the school that means so much to her?

Bump by former professional wrestler Matt Wallace is a heart-warming story of healing and self-discovery told in the world of lucha wrestling. Filled with lots of heart, some sadness, some courage, lots of bumps and bruises, and a respect for professional wresting, this novel for young girls will encourage and inspire them to follow their dreams no matter what. As MJ learns, it doesn’t matter how much you get knocked down. What matters is how often you get back up.

I loved Bump. It has a sweetness that can’t be denied. I admit I’m a later-in-life fan of professional wrestling. I didn’t pay much attention to it until I met my current boyfriend, who as been a lifelong fan. But I have come to respect the hard work and athleticism it takes to be a good wrestler and to admire the stories these athletes tell through their actions. MJ is a fantastic character, and her journey is one that I’m glad to have witnessed. She has a lot of heart and a lot of spunk, and I think she sets a wonderful example to readers of all ages who read about her experiences in and out of the ring. I only wish I could have read this when I was a kid. Her courage would have inspired me to be stronger against the bullies and mean girls I knew through the years.

Egalleys for Bump were provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Matt Wallace's Sin du Jour series, and I love wrestling, so this book was made for me (even if I'm an adult).

Bump is about finding yourself and working through grief by challenging your mind and your body to overcome difficulties. I've trained to wrestle, so it's hard to explain how difficult it is to learn to make your body do things you've spent your life learning not to do, like fall down on your face on purpose. Part of overcoming that conditioning also changes how you think about yourself, and readers see MJ become more confident and brave as she tests the limits of what her body can do.

The book is also about finding family and community. MJ's school mates and former teammates treat her like an outsider as a Latina and a wrestling fan, but through training at a lucha libre gym, she finds a family that accepts her as both.

Even if you don't like wrestling, Wallace takes the time to explain the lingo and the appeal to readers. One does not have to know anything about it to enjoy this story of a young lady finding herself, overcoming grief, and making new friends.

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I loved reading this book. It was about such a unique sport not found in juvenile literature, which I’m always looking for. The character of MJ was well developed and I like her and wanted to know what was going to happen to her. The book lost a star for a couple reasons. First, I didn’t think the relationship between MJ and her mom felt genuine. MJ was mature and seemed to be connect easily with other adults. I think she would have been closer to her mom. Without giving away anything, the status of her father felt awkward when I found out the truth. And I like when the main character is the hero of the story, but the way it happened in this book seemed unrealistic. I would have liked to see the involvement of some of the adults in the book - especially when the last line of the book talks about getting help from others. But this is going on my “recommend often” list.

[Cassie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have any of your students ever felt like they were participating in something for someone else's benefit? Like they didn't truly belong where they were? MJ was on the gymnastics team and the girls are nasty to her since she isn't participating anymore. Struggling at school, and with issues at home (father leaving), she is finding it harder and harder to fit in at school and find friends. THEN her attention is focused on this wrestling ring in her neighbor's yard. Luca Libre wrestling is something that MJ has watched for a very long time and soon learns that her neighbor runs a wrestling school called Victory Academy. (This soon reminds me so much of Miguel on Cobra Kai, if you have seen the show) MJ's mother is not excited about her desired endeavor, but eventually allows. MJ finds herself immersed in a sport that was everything she needed in that moment, and with a coach that pushes her and she loves it (even the constant bruises and sore muscles from "bumping" - falling onto the floor to avoid injury). MJ lands her first fight and a lot of worry comes in from all directions - even Mr. Corto who has been after the gym for quite some time trying to shut it down (SEE so many Cobra Kai connections your students could be making). MJ has to find strength and courage to battle her own demons while trying to keep the gym from getting shut down.

Themes for the classroom: family dynamics, sports (wrestling), grief, mystery, "mean girls", persistence, community, finding yourself

I will absolutely book talk Bump to my students and I know with my demographics I will have a lot of students who are interested. A lot of girls here participate in "boy" type sports. Also, a wide range of my students have knowledge of lucha libre wrestling and I know would love to read just to have something to talk about with their parents.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Maya Jocelyn (MJ) Medina finds acceptance and strength when she begins training at her neighbor Mr. Arellano's Victory Academy. She and her father shared a love for the luchadores and their performances, and MJ considers learning to wrestle as a possible way to heal from all the pain she's dealing with. After all, her father's unexpected death has changed everything for her family and she finds it hard to accept that he's gone for good. In fact, she hasn't even been able to bring herself to visit his grave. Then, too, she is no longer on the gymnastics team due to harassment from Madison, one of her teammates, and she needs a place to belong. MJ tends to be quiet and finds it hard to speak up, but as she trains and learns wrestling moves, she gains confidence and starts being able to stand up for herself. In fact, she saves the day when the book's villain tries so hard to bring down Mr. Arellano's business. While MJ experiences many bruises and hurts during her nascent wrestling career, in the end, it's all worth the effort. Although some parts of this story seem over the top and very unlikely, MJ as a character is someone to whom it's easy to relate and her experiences in coping with loss and grief will resonate with many middle graders. Especially meaningful is her realizations that when life knocks you down, you have to get up and keep going and that it makes it easier to get back up if someone has your back and is there to support you. The fact that it isn't clear where MJ's father is at first adds the story's relatability as do the vivid descriptions of luchadores matches.

[Jes Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

MJ understands pain. The pain of not having any friends, pain at losing a father, and always being seen as an outsider. Her life changes when a drone she's flying lands in her neighbor's backyard. A whole new world opens up to her when she discovers her neighbor is a retired pro-wrestler and a school coach. Wrestling was something she and her father both loved. Now all she has to do is convince her mother it is safe.

MJ finds a home in the gym. The other wrestlers take her "under their wings" and give her advice in and out of the ring. When one man's anger threatens to shut down the gym forever, MJ fights to save the gym she loves.

I love how strong MJ is. She understands the pain and her feelings, but she doesn't deny them. She tries different ways to solve her problems and doesn't rely on others to tell her what she should do or how she should feel. The adults in her life are respectful and keep her safe. Wallace takes the world of pro-wrestling and helps readers who may have preconceived notions and stereotyped beliefs understand the sport's positivity and art.

I devoured this book and can't wait to recommend it to readers. This is a perfect suggestion, not only for kids who love wrestling but also for readers who enjoyed Lupe Wong Won't Dance or the Comeback.

Thank you to the publisher Katherine Tegen books for an e-ARC of this book.

[Emily LaSalle]

Bump is about a girl named MJ (Maya Jocelyn). Her Dad used to call her MJ after a character in spider man. That was before her dad died. MJ’s favorite thing to do is watch wrestling. One day MJ was flying her drone from her window when it scraped against the wall that divides her yard to her neighbors yard. She climbs the wall to get her drone.She has never met any of her neighbors because when she had to move from her old house to the one she was renting she never payed much attention to the houses on the other side of her house. While she is in the person’s yard she sees a tarp over something big. She pulls it off and there in front of her is a real wrestling arena.
🤼
BUMP is funny, sad, and exciting. It is one of those books where if you start reading it you can not stop! I did not know a lot about wrestling before I read this book. It has some Spanish in it so I learned more words in Spanish too. MJ stands up to bullies who tease her for watching wrestling and she learns how to stand up for her friends. She finds bravery in her and helps keep the wrestling school open.

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

MJ is a luchadora-in-training at Victory Academy, a local wrestling school run by her neighbor who is a former pro-wrestler. (Wrestling like WWF, not the Olympics...an important distinction!). MJ learns how to "dance" (working with her opponent to run through several moves that look like sparring but are actually completely coordinated), how to "bump" (crash to the mats of the wrestling ring without getting hurt) and how to become a new member of this unique familia. MJ is craving a place to belong to, especially as she and her mother are still grieving the loss of MJ's father who was the one who introduced MJ to wrestling.

MJ is a great, strong yet vulnerable main character and you can't help but root for her on this new journey. As a reader with no particular affinity for pro wrestling, I found the story completely intriguing and actually gained a new appreciation for the sport.

Grades 5 and up.

[Karen McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read and perfect for 5th-7th grade. I love how the prologue drops you into the middle of the action and gets you hooked on the idea of wrestling training before the story backs up and tells the story of how MJ becomes the youngest luchadora training and performing for Victory Academy. From not fitting in with the means girls at middle school, to missing her father who taught her to love watching wrestling, to finding her "family" in the wrestling ring, this story has all the elements that appeal to middle grade. Add in the evil nemesis determined to shut the wrestling school down, which at some points I did have to suspend reality for, and you have exciting action with a superhero/ underdog-struggles-for-good feel. I bought this book for my class library. It has a fun twist and is sure to appeal to a lot of readers. #LitReviewCrew

[Shannon Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For MJ, her interest in wrestling has become her escape in a world where she feels she doesn’t belong. She’s picked on by the girls at school, and her mother doesn’t quite understand her. One day, she discovers that her neighbor, Mr. Arellano, runs a wrestling school. Students of this school learn all the tips and tricks it takes to become a real luchador. Reluctantly, Mr. Arellano agrees to let MJ become the youngest student at his school, and MJ begins a journey of finally finding her place. However, a disgruntled safety inspector, Mr. Corto, may just ruin MJ’s growing success - unless she has a say.
Matt Wallace has created an innovative novel that shows readers insight into the world of wrestling that may not be familiar to many. Better yet, our protagonist is a spunky girl who shows that wrestling, or other sports as such, aren’t just for boys anymore.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since her father has been gone, MJ has struggled at school and at home. When she and her mother move into a smaller house, she is thrilled to discover that their new neighbor runs a school for up and coming luchadores, including her favorite star, Corrina Que Rico. She convinces her mother and Mr. Arellano to sign her on as their youngest wrestler at the school, and there she finds friendship and understanding, though trouble is brewing as a local city enforcer threatens to shut the school down. This is a neat story, and I loved the way the Spanish language and wrestling details are woven right in.

[Serenity · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley*

I loved this book. I know very, very little about pro wrestling but I didn't feel lost when the author was describing wrestling training and shows. That said, a fan would probably appreciate it more.

MJ was a very likable narrator and I think kids will connect with her feelings of loneliness and anger (what kid hasn't felt that at some point?) as well as her determination to learn and grow.

Hand this to your fans of realistic fiction, and your fans of lucha libre.

[Didi Chanoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is lovely.

I don't read a lot of MG. I also don't read a lot outside sff. But I've been a wrestling fan for decades, and Matt Wallace is a favorite author of mine who happens to be a former wrestler. So of course I was going to read this one. And I'm glad I did. At times, it felt it spoke directly to me - to the younger me, as well as the current aging version. MJ is a terrific protagonist, smart and weird and good hearted and in pain. Her story is relatable, enjoyable, and something I think both kids and adults can enjoy.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting!! It was better than I expected. I liked how this book was about always getting back up no matter what. I think the character development could have been better, but is fine the way it is. One thing I want to know about the story is what happened (SPOILER AHEAD) after she took down Corto (or whatever his name is) and like what happened to the school, and her friends like Tika and Zina. (END OF SPOILER) Besides that I think everything was decent.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun middle grade novel set in Mecca, CA that focuses on a grieving girl who finds purpose and joy at a local wrestling school. It goes slightly off the rails towards the end with an unnecessary and improbable Scooby-Doo type ending,leading me wonder if the plan for this book changed midway through. Topics covered include community, finding yourself, racism, and grief processing. Trigger warnings for parental death.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly charming tale of becoming. You needn't know anything of wrestling, or even like wrestling, to enjoy this tale of finding your way in the world. MJ is instantly relateable and her journey is filled with moments of sadness as well as joy as she discovers her inner strength.
I've been a fan of Matt's writing for years, and highly recommend this for readers of all ages. It's a middle-grade tale, but one that resonates no matter what your age.

[Sandy Sopko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sports related, Maya walks away from bullies, leaving gymnastics to take up lucha wrestling, which she enjoyed watching with her dad before he "left." Maya gets pulled into a show when problems arise at her gym, and she finds a place to shine. With new confidence and hope, Maya is ready to "visit" her dad and face the reality of her father's death. Also has a mystery element, who is sabotaging the luchador school and why? I enjoyed learning about lucha, and Maya is a great main character.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content notes: bullying, parental death (past), injury, blood, reference to racism (specifically anti-Black and anti-Mexican), grief, casual ableism, fire

This was a pretty good book. I enjoyed MJ finding herself through wrestling and how she found family by joining Victory Academy. The ending was a little off and doesn’t feel wholly resolved, but the epilogue was very good and full of feelings. Overall a sweet, warm book of chosen family and dealing with grief.

[Jen Bojkov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice MG book about a girl whose lost her father. She and her mom have to figure out a new life. She pursues wrestling the the luchadore tradition after finding out that her neighbor has a gym and helps kids learn the routine. This is a connection for MJ with her father who lived to watch wrestling on TV and shared that passion with his daughter. *** it gets a little intense at the end- but everything turns out ok.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a real wrestling fan, but I was totally into it. It describes the amazing athleticism for what I always heard was a "fake sport." But it's done in a way that's friendly and understanding of my prior ignorance, not trying to push me into an argument.

Bonus - the author WAS a pro wrestler. It feels like I learned some insider knowledge.

The ending DID get a little far-fetched for an otherwise realistic plot. That frustrated me more than anything.

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It's about a girl who is underestimated by others. Through her hard work and persistence, she proves and makes everyone change their mindset. One thing that I did not understand was how the story changed really fast and it's hard for me to keep up with the tempo. Overall, this book has a good story and good characters.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to enjoy a MG book about wrestling but this was pretty fantastic. MJ really struck a chord with me. This is a great book for kids dealing with tough home issues like death of a parent and identity issues/bullying at school. Also, just a genuinely fun sports hero read.

[Calli Leventis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really neat premise, relatively interesting story. I do think this is a story that would benefit from an #ownvoices perspective. This is a white man telling the story of a Mexican American girl--and most of the other characters are people of color. In 2021, I think this should have at least been a co-author situation.

[Chelsea McAnulty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year old MJ loses her best friend, her father. This story is her coming to terms with his absence and her diving into what always brought them both joy, luchador wrestling. She overcomes her worries, deals with a bullying situation head on and solves a mystery. The mysterious antagonist wasn’t handled realistically but I had to remember this is middle grade. It was a fun story and I think any child who has recently lost a parent would find comfort reading this story.