When Adela Ramirez’s stepfather, Alex, asks if he can formally adopt her, Addie needs to get some questions answered before she decides. Mexican American Addie wants to know the identity of her biological father, first and foremost. A little sleuthing among family photographs and old high-school yearbooks at the local historical society proves that her father is none other than famous local luchador Manny Bravo. Addie’s mother reluctantly arranges a meeting between Addie and her father and the entire colorful Bravo clan, all of who are steeped in lucha libre culture. Addie is warmly welcomed into the fold by her abuela, an outstanding wrestler in her day; her uncle, who quit wrestling in favor of making lucha libre masks; her twin cousins, who love wrestling and have their own lucha libre personas; and even her gruff abuelo, a past champion who dreams of his sons following in his footsteps. Manny himself is kind to Addie, but it’s clear he is unpracticed and perhaps ultimately uninterested in being a parent. Wrestling is his priority. When he misses Addie’s big performance as Marie in her school’s production of The Nutcracker, it’s the last straw for Addie. Disappointed as she is, though, Addie’s determination to ask questions, take risks, and learn more about her father has brought her clarity and a greater sense of what family is and can be.  (Ages 8-12)

From the award-winning author of The First Rule of Punk and Strange Birds, a dazzling novel about a young girl who collects the missing pieces of her origin story from the family of legendary luchadores she’s never met.

A 2023 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book

Twelve-year-old Adela “Addie” Ramírez has a big decision to make when her stepfather proposes adoption. Addie loves Alex, the only father figure she’s ever known, but with a new half brother due in a few months and a big school theater performance on her mind, everything suddenly feels like it’s moving too fast. She has a million questions, and the first is about the young man in the photo she found hidden away in her mother’s things.

Addie’s sleuthing takes her to a New Mexico ranch, and her world expands to include the legendary Bravos: Rosie and Pancho, her paternal grandparents and former professional wrestlers; Eva and Maggie, her older identical twin cousins who love to spar in and out of the ring; Uncle Mateo, whose lucha couture and advice are unmatched; and Manny, her biological father, who’s in the midst of a career comeback. As luchadores, the Bravos’s legacy is strong. But being part of a family is so much harder—it’s about showing up, taking off your mask, and working through challenges together.