Book Review of Blended by Sharon Draper

 1. Bibliography Draper, S. 2018. Blended. Atheneum/Caitly Dlouhy Books. ISBN: 9781442495012 

2. Plot Summary In this story we follow Isabella, who is torn between two lives. The one she lives with her dad who is black and the one she lives with her mom who is white. Through the challenges she faces between the divorce, school friends, racism at school, and parents’ new partners this story is full of insight for young adults going through the same struggles. Isabella loves piano and on her way to her recital she faces her most intense battle yet with. Isabella pushes through and becomes stronger and closer to her family than ever before. 

3. Critical Analysis Isabella is eleven years old and is an only child. That is until her parents get divorced and start seeing other people. Her mom starts dating a man named John-Mark who treats them both well and even helps Isabella with some life lessons. Her dad is dating a women named Anastasia, and she has a son named Darren. Isabella makes connections with each of her parents’ new partners and they both take care of her and treat her like their own child. Darren is a cool brother to her and treats her like the sister he never had. Darren and Isabella go through a terrible experience together and come out with a stronger bond than before. Isabella is mixed, half white from her mom and half black from her dad. You can see authentic cultural experiences in this story from the way Isabella talks about her hair and how it can never be tamed to the way she is treated by other people in the book. Isabella seems to have a crush on a Caucasian boy from her 6th grade class so there are cross cultures represented in this book. This story has a lot of emotional avenues that Isabells struggles with, from her parents’ constant arguing to being torn into two different people when she is with either of her parents. The setting of the book takes place in contemporary times with girls going to the mall to hang out and current cars being used. Isabella goes to two different places each week, to her mom’s house which is small but loved to her dad’s house with glamor and rich amenities. There are many cultural details in the story with accurate representation of black girls being followed in a store and then told to leave because they don’t fit in with the store’s characteristics. There is also a big element to the story with a black girl from school getting bullied and someone putting a noose in her locker as a prank. The book talks a lot about how feelings are different and how the girl didn’t feel safe after that incident. This story gave a lot of meaning and relevance to girls from all over that need guidance on how to work through their emotions. A lot of kids deal with divorce now and this book shows the life of one girl’s struggles and triumphs. 

4. Review Excerpt(s) Draper writes with grace, compassion, and respect for the intelligence and emotional lives of young readers.... This is Draper at her best, penning a current and ultimately uplifting story. -- School Library Journal, starred review

Isabella's genuine 11-year-old voice captures events rarely seen in middle-grade fiction but too often seen by actual middle graders. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review 

5. Connections *I would challenge my students to write about a time they felt torn between two places and how they overcame the situation. *Other books about blended families and divorce -It’s Not the End of the World by Judy Blume -The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead -Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee