Barely Missing Everything

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Barely Missing Everything, by Matt Mendez, is the story of two Mexican American high school buddies and a single mother from El Paso, Texas, living in a low-income community where prejudice and racism abounds. The book sheds light on how brown lives struggle and what they must endure to survive. The telling of the story varies from an omniscient narrator to the three main characters themselves. Juan places his hopes on a basketball scholarship as his ticket to getting out of his situation. JD wants to become a filmmaker and documents his life any moment he can. Single mom Fabi, who had Juan when she was just 16, is caught in a situation she's not ready for. The novel takes the reader on a bumpy and often heart-wrenching ride, as readers see the consequences of choices the characters make, including situations they unwittingly put themselves in. Violence includes Fabi's boyfriend hitting her, a physical fight between two characters, a boy crashing his car into a tree, a boy beaten by police, and a character and someone killed by a police officer. Teens regularly drink beer and on one or two occasions smoke weed. One of Juan's adult family members is an alcoholic.There's frequent strong language in English and Spanish, including "motherf----r," "bitch," "a--hole," "cabrón," and "pendejo." Police officers make racist comments; after a character is shot, one says, "He's probably an illegal."
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
BARELY MISSING EVERYTHING chronicles the lives of two Mexican American high school buddies and a single mom in El Paso, Texas, who are trying their best to turn their lives around. Best friends JD and Juan both come from broken and impoverished homes in a poor neighborhood, where there's a palpable sense of lost hope for a bright future. Juan's mother, Fabi, is doing her best to provide for her son. Their family lives are everything but stable, and widespread racism and prejudice make it difficult for them to stay on the right path. Juan is a bright basketball player who has the potential to get an athletic scholarship to a good university. JD decides he wants to become a filmmaker. And Fabi gets in a difficult situation compounded by a series of unexpected circumstances.
Is It Any Good?
This is a compelling and eye-opening story about race, economic and social inequality, and preconceived ideas about a particular group of people. Author Matt Mendez sheds light on the struggles of brown people and what people in Latinx communities constantly endure but rarely talk about. Barely Missing Everything can be hard to read at times because of the strong language, violence, and raw depictions of what the boys go through because of who they are and where they come from.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the current economic and social differences shown in Barely Missing Everything. How is your life different from or similar to the main characters' lives?
Are kids of color in your school or community treated differently from white kids? What can you do to bring about acceptance and positive change?
Do you think all high school kids have the same hopes and fears, regardless of where they live or their socio-economic situation?
Book Details
- Author: Matt Mendez
- Illustrator: Dana Ledl
- Genre: Emotions
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
- Publication date: March 31, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 15 - 18
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: April 1, 2019
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love Latinx stories and stories of racism
Themes & Topics
Browse titles with similar subject matter.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate