This excellent and appealing story deals with cultural differences,moving,and basketball. An eight grader,Lincoln mendoza and his mother have just moved from barriot to sycamore,due to a robberie.Lincoln misses his old neighborhood and old dirty freinds.He also misses the fights that would occur in barriot.The reason i gave this book four stars was becuase it had good parts.My favorite part in this book was the part when he played against the other team because it was all his freinds. The arthur desribed this book so great.At his new school he is playing on there basketball team which happens to play against his old school franklin he is very nervous and why does his coach dislike him?????

Switching Teams

Do you know what it's like to switch teams? Well Lincoln Mendoza does. I am talking about the book, "Taking Sides," by Gary Soto. This is a great book. I think that anyone who likes books about sports should read this. It is all about basketball and how Lincoln switches school and joins a different basketball team. You should read, "Taking Sides."

Plus this book talks about real issues in life because these things really happen, people really have to switch schools and change basketball teams. My favorite part was when Lincoln went back to Franklin (his old school) to see his best friend Tony; it was great, two friends reuniting. An example of good suspense in this book is when someone breaks into Lincolns house when he is sitting home alone. You don't know what's going to happen and I won't tell you. There is no bad part in this book to me and I don't think you will find one. I say you should read this book.

In conclusion, this book is about sports, switching schools and adjusting to there. This is a fabulous book you should read this. Now don't just sit there, run to your nearest book store and get the book called, "Taking Sides."

By:M.W

The story deals with moving, cultural differences and basketball. The main charactar is Lincoln Mendoza or as what his friends say, Linc. He moves from the bario to a white suburb because a burgler
took a tv. He used to play basketball for his oldschool(Columbus) and now plays for his new school(Franklin)and they have to play each other. He is becomes stressed out because he is playing against his old school and some of his old friends. As the game nears he gets into an arguement with one of his friends. On the night of the game he plays and loses. He doesn't mind because he made up with his friend that he argued with. I liked this book because the characters speak their native language, Spanish. It kept the feeling of a Hispanic-American community authentic.

Taking side is about a boy named Lincoln who once lived in Barrio but moved to a nicer neighborhood called Sycamore becasue of a robbery in his house, which his stero and t.v. were stolen. He change schools from Franklin Jr. High to Columbus Jr. High. Lincoln was tall, not thin, black hair(like chunk of charcoal). In the story he has a nickname Linc. Lincoln was on the 1st string in basketball for his 8th grade team and good friends w/ James. His parents are split up and he is having a hard time finding friend because he just moved from a school that people don't really like. I would definately recommend this book to others who like to read a good book.

This novel is about Lincoln who goes to a new school. Lincoln likes to play basketball. He lives in a nice neighborhood called Sycamore. Lincoln and Tony are both friends.
I liked it when Lincoln and Tony were going to the barrio. I like that part when Lincoln's house got broken into. Lincoln was the basketball practice.
I did not like that part when Lincoln and Tony were arguing. I did not like that part when Tony left the Thrift shop. I also did not like that part when Lincoln hurt his knee.
YES! I would like other people to read a book because it's so much fun. There are Spanish words in the book. They like to read about the 2 boys playing basketball.