Blended

By: Sharon M. Draper

Narrated by: Sharon M. Draper

Eleven-year-old Isabella’s blended family is more divided than ever in this thoughtful story about divorce and racial identity from the award-winning and New York Times best-selling author of Out of My Mind, Sharon M. Draper.

Eleven-year-old Isabella’s parents are divorced, so she has to switch lives every week: One week she’s Isabella with her dad, his girlfriend Anastasia, and her son, Darren, living in a fancy house where they are one of the only black families in the neighborhood. The next week she’s Izzy with her mom and her boyfriend, John-Mark, in a small, not-so-fancy house that she loves.

Because of this, Isabella has always felt pulled between two worlds. And now that her parents are divorced, it seems their fights are even worse, and they’re always about her. Isabella feels even more stuck in the middle, split and divided between them, than ever. And she’s is beginning to realize that being split between Mom and Dad is more than switching houses, switching nicknames, switching backpacks: It’s also about switching identities. Her dad is black, her mom is white, and strangers are always commenting: “You’re so exotic!” “You look so unusual.” “But what are you really?” She knows what they’re really saying: “You don’t look like your parents.” “You’re different.” “What race are you really?” And when her parents, who both get engaged at the same time, get in their biggest fight ever, Isabella doesn’t just feel divided, she feels ripped in two. What does it mean to be half white or half black? To belong to half mom and half dad? And if you’re only seen as half of this and half of that, how can you ever feel whole?

It seems like nothing can bring Isabella’s family together again - until the worst happens. Isabella and Darren are stopped by the police. A cell phone is mistaken for a gun. And shots are fired.

©2018 Sharon M. Draper (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

This book was amazing

It was great I love the twist near the ending overall it was a emotional roller coaster I wish there was a second book

So great! I was almost in tears at the end

One of the best books I’ve ever listened to I deeply recommend it so much 😊

Understand the kids perspective

I listened to this book to better understand a young person’s experience of divorce. The author captures the ups and downs of a young person.

So relating

So relating so great, I love it. It was perfect for my daughter It is one of the best books i've ever read and I love it

Adorable

Reading this was adorable and so enjoyable. it was nice to hear words and questions that I have had or said most of my life. The main character was just such a fun character to watch and learn with. Thank you for this book that I might one day read with a daughter, son, niece, nephew or cousin with.

Love it 😍

This is an awesome book and an amazing way to introduce racism to your children.

I loved how every character was interesting

Loved it, it was such of a good book with an amazing plot, conflict and resalution

Review from 10 y/o

I really liked this book. I feel like there should be a second book and that the author should give the main character a sibling on her mother's side.

Great

Excellent story. I love it and will share it with my friends and family. My granddaughter enjoyed the theme and the over story as well as the narration

Would love a part 2 to the book

Would love a part 2 to the book. It was really good and I got into it.