Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros is a fiction novel set in a middle school. The novel explores the importance of friendship, teamwork and parenting. The central characters are the new sixth graders, Marco and Isaac. The two boys are determined to pursue their goals. Isaac is a talented basketball player. Marco is an excellent student who scores perfect marks in his studies.
Isaac works closely with his fellow basketball players to excel and encourages his fellow players to cooperate and help each other. However, Isaac suffers a setback because his mother does not want him to get involved in sports. After all, she wants him to concentrate on his studies to score better grades. Isaac's mother recently separated from her husband because he is an alcoholic. Isaac's mother tells Isaac that if he does not excel in education, he will end up like his father.
On the other hand, Marco is an excellent student, but his father thinks education is useless and encourages the boy to become an athlete or play basketball. The boys' parents put them in a conflict, but they are determined to pursue their dreams. Marco and Isaac strike a workable deal to help each other achieve their goals. For instance, Isaac agrees to help Marco become a successful player, and Marco helps Isaac in doing school assignments to improve his grades.
The novel ends with Marco participating in a basketball competition for the first time. Marco is the youngest and shortest player, but with the help of Isaac, he performs exceptionally well. When the school closes, Isaac scores good grades, and they make their parents happy while achieving personal goals.
