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missrosymaplemoth's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this and it was my first ever Playaway experience. I enjoyed listening.
This was a great book. I got some insight into biracial identity while also heavily relating to Isabella’s family dynamic and experience with divorced parents. I did think the pacing was odd at times and the end felt rushed, as well as several things I wish were talking about on a deeper level. I still enjoyed this book and it talked about a lot of issues I hadn’t before read at the middle grade level. I would recommend this book.
This was a great book. I got some insight into biracial identity while also heavily relating to Isabella’s family dynamic and experience with divorced parents. I did think the pacing was odd at times and the end felt rushed, as well as several things I wish were talking about on a deeper level. I still enjoyed this book and it talked about a lot of issues I hadn’t before read at the middle grade level. I would recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Hate crime
Minor: Medical content, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
sentunderscore's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
apierce26's review against another edition
4.0
Ok wow this book was good. The divorced parts were really relatable and it was very interesting to read of the experience of blended race. The ending of the book completely shocked me and I almost started crying. I do wish she could have gone to her piano recital but I see that the book needed a different ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Gun violence
clg2022's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, and Police brutality
gurnoor's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, and Violence
Minor: Medical content, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
tetedump's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Racism
midnightverde's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Blended is a bigger story than I thought it would be and I loved it for that reason. It can appeal to a wide audience as many children have divorced/divorcing/separated parents. The main character’s biracial (black and white) identity is also something that is featured and I appreciated that Isabella is fun, talented, and relatable while the author incorporates some real issues that biracial kids/adults have experienced. There was also significant problems that occurred due to the racism of other characters. As racism is a current real world problem I appreciated that this was included and I found the way it was handled appropriate for middle grades.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Gun violence
In my opinion the serious content was handled in an age appropriate way for middle grades readers.zombiezami's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked Isabella's voice in the book. As always, I think the author doesn't quite capture how teenagers talk, particularly in terms of slang, but I still liked the character's thought process. The plot felt a little disconnected, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Police brutality, Bullying, Gun violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit and Medical content
Minor: Classism, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, and Mass/school shootings
lynching, colorism, divorcestacy_27_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Hate crime
Minor: Blood
kaylani_simplyme's review against another edition
Wow!! I was really not expecting this book to hit me as hard as it did. My Eleven year old self has never connected to a book character more. I was going through the same thing as this character at this age and I totally felt seen by the book. I will say though that the cover of this book is very deceiving. I was not expecting this book to get as dark as it did. Trigger Warnings Below.
I don't think I have ever cried this month for a short little middle grade book. It was so real and raw but also wholesome and cute. There were so many wonderful things that I enjoyed about this story. The relationship between Isabella and her step brother Darren was so amazing to watch. I love the way that music and metaphor was added into this story. The talk about micro aggressions and racism as a whole was so refreshing but also quite powerful. It was an amazing experience all around.
I can say that were was a bit of trouble with the pacing of this book at around the 200 page mark but with I could definitely look past that after reading to the end. What a fantastic novel that I think every kid this age should pick up. There are so many thing to learn about in here.
Trigger Warnings:
Hate Crimes, Police Brutality, Gunshot wounds, Racism
I don't think I have ever cried this month for a short little middle grade book. It was so real and raw but also wholesome and cute. There were so many wonderful things that I enjoyed about this story. The relationship between Isabella and her step brother Darren was so amazing to watch. I love the way that music and metaphor was added into this story. The talk about micro aggressions and racism as a whole was so refreshing but also quite powerful. It was an amazing experience all around.
I can say that were was a bit of trouble with the pacing of this book at around the 200 page mark but with I could definitely look past that after reading to the end. What a fantastic novel that I think every kid this age should pick up. There are so many thing to learn about in here.
Trigger Warnings:
Hate Crimes, Police Brutality, Gunshot wounds, Racism
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Hate crime, Gun violence, and Police brutality