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Falling Too Fast (Border Town #3)

by Malin Alegria (Goodreads Author)

4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 · rating details · 21 ratings · 6 reviews

In Dos Rios, Texas, things aren't always as they seem.
Alexis Garza has music in her blood. She's certain that one day, she'll be leaving the border town of Dos Rios, Texas behind for a glamorous life of singing stardom. Until then, however, she'll have to content herself with belting her heart out at voice classes, going to high school mariachi band practice, and helping...more

Paperback, 192 pages

Published September 1st 2012 by Scholastic Inc.

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Mar 17, 2013 Alison John rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-13-school-year

Border Town: Falling Too Fast
By Malin Alegria
Realistic Fiction
186 pages

Alexis is just an ordinary girls with big dreams. Alexis has a passion for music. She dreams to be a famous singer one day. Alexis is in the school's mariachi band and hopes she will be able to perform this year. Alexis meets the leader of their rival school's mariachi band. Alexis thinks he's super cute but she doesn't even know if he knows that she exists. Alexis will do whatever it takes to be noticed and heard.

This book w...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Erasmo Guerra rated it 3 of 5 stars

While the first two books in the series were quick page-turners, this one was just okay and I struggled to get to the end. Maybe I shouldn't have read too many of these books in a row, but by the time I got to this third installment in the YA series, I was burnt out on Alexis Garza and her bratty self-absorption. She's my least favorite character. She's like bubblegum being popped in your face. The story itself is a good primer on high school mariachi groups, but it never really captured my inte...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Liza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, young-adult-contemporary, latino-fiction, classroom-library

There were some disappointing factors to this book. It sort of reminded me of the Baby Sitters Club series way back in the 80s/90s that never stuck with one character and you learned the stories of several girls when all you really cared about was Claudia or Anne. (Sorry, little kid flashback here.) Instead of being treated to Fabiola's story we learn more about her silly younger sister Alexis. This to me was bad, because there were some issues from the last novel centering around Fabiola and Mi...more There were some disappointing factors to this book. It sort of reminded me of the Baby Sitters Club series way back in the 80s/90s that never stuck with one character and you learned the stories of several girls when all you really cared about was Claudia or Anne. (Sorry, little kid flashback here.) Instead of being treated to Fabiola's story we learn more about her silly younger sister Alexis. This to me was bad, because there were some issues from the last novel centering around Fabiola and Milo that needed to be resolved.

The story starts with the crazy girl, Alexis, at a brujería shop looking to buy something that will bring true love. There's a hint of foreshadowing and while some paranormal elements are brought into the short story they were never as obtrusive as in Quince Clash. You could easily dismiss them as Alexis' imagination running wild.

You just get the sense that Alexis doesn't have it together and it still very immature. Her big dream is to make it big as a musician, but she has nothing to really show for it. Yes, she does have some musical ability, but her school mariachi group before the seniors graduated last year, never gave her the opportunity to shine. You get the sense that Alexis just wants to be famous and music seems like the way to go.

Now the story begins after Alexis has a brief run in with a famous mariachi singer from another school; she falls hard for the boy. At the same time the mariachi group at her own school is a complete mess filled with misfits and of course her cousin Santiago who is now on the five year graduation plan.

The story stays light and fun as you see how the group helps Alexis win over the boy and the progress they makes as they evolve from being terrible to tolerable. Alegria also interweaves more of the social issues affecting that side of the border such as kids who are here illegally in the states, narco corridos, and prejudices faced by the people of the Valley.

I felt the end was rushed, because of a tragic event that occurred earlier in the story. The story line wasn't necessarily brushed away or cleaned up, but it was too raw of an event to focus simply on Alexis' pride in her accomplishments by the end of the book. I think the story could have been better if Alegria made the story just a little bit longer to flesh out the serious issues she drummed up.

Alexis has a cute little story, but with a rushed ending, a silly character who lacks the wits and intellect of her sister, and a story line that in no way continues the previous novel, it makes it difficult to fall in love with this story. You'll like the story as a stand alone, but all in all, Alexis probably shouldn't have been the star of this novel until Fabi's story line was finished.(less)

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Feb 10, 2013 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: friendship, high-school, washyarg, young-adult

Teen romance set on the Texas/Mexico border. Several teens connected to each other by blood or friendship. Pretty predictable for adults, but interesting themes that should appeal to teens. Easy to read and believable.

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May 19, 2013 Deena Samuel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a real page turner, but I felt it was a bit too short for me.

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Jan 02, 2013 Diana rated it 5 of 5 stars

cute

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About Malin Alegria

Malín Alegria was raised in San Francisco’s Mission District. She’s a graduate of UC Santa Barbara and received her MA in Education. She is a teacher, permaculture consultant, Aztec dancer, and performer. She’s preformed and wrote with Teatro Nopal & the WILL Collective. Malin’s is a member of SCBWI, TNAFA, and the ultra fabulous Nopalitas. “Estrella’s Quinceñera” was published by Simon &...more

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Falling Too Fast (Border Town #3)

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