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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
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
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, divorcetireddisneywitch's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Hate crime
Minor: Blood
stacy_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
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Blended by Sharon M. Draper was a book I discovered on Bookstagram when a friend posted about it! It's about a mixed raced Black girl dealing with having to live in two worlds. My first thought was: where was this book when I was in middle school!? This middle grade book is great for any young kid dealing with divorces and/or dealing with what comes with being "half Black half White".
We follow 11 year old Isabella as she navigates her parents divorce and, frankly, poor co-parenting skills, along with struggling to figure out where she fits. With the white kids? Or the black kids? What happens when you're both? She quickly learns the world is going to judge her first by her skin color, and to that end she is black.
Although I absolutely loved this book (it had be crying early with just how painfully relatable it was for me), I have decided to dock half a star, because of a twist too near the end, that I felt was jarring and unnecessary. It just didn't seem like that was where the book was going, and it took me out of it a bit.
This was a deeply personal read for me. Despite my one issue, I encourage anyone to read this. I blew through this one day lol.
We follow 11 year old Isabella as she navigates her parents divorce and, frankly, poor co-parenting skills, along with struggling to figure out where she fits. With the white kids? Or the black kids? What happens when you're both? She quickly learns the world is going to judge her first by her skin color, and to that end she is black.
Although I absolutely loved this book (it had be crying early with just how painfully relatable it was for me), I have decided to dock half a star, because of a twist too near the end, that I felt was jarring and unnecessary. It just didn't seem like that was where the book was going, and it took me out of it a bit.
This was a deeply personal read for me. Despite my one issue, I encourage anyone to read this. I blew through this one day lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Racism
pinkberryoasis's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
stormywolf's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was another one that popped up as "if you liked The Hate U Give then try ______" back when the BLM movement was in full swing over the summer. I had a few opportunities to read it, but never really felt as compelled to as I had with other books of that subject matter. So it sat. But when I hit a bit of a reading rut and needed something quick to kick me out of it, I went ahead and picked it up again. I mean, it is Black History Month after all, so this was as good an excuse as any to finally cross it off my TBR list. Unfortunately, it seems my first inclination was correct—it wasn't nearly as compelling as I would have hoped.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this story felt like it had a lot to discuss but nothing to say. Like I said, it brought up a lot of interesting topics, many of which would be great to discuss in class either concerning race relations or child psychology, but it never seemed willing to state a stance on any of them. I've been feeling disappointed in Middle Grade books' noncommittal stance on political injustices for a while now, so maybe I'm just looking for something that isn't there? Regardless, if you're looking for an entry-point into social justice issues, Black Lives Matter, or racial tensions, but don't want anything involving death or protesting, then I suppose this is a good option. I'll give it this: it doesn't give any answers for free.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this story felt like it had a lot to discuss but nothing to say. Like I said, it brought up a lot of interesting topics, many of which would be great to discuss in class either concerning race relations or child psychology, but it never seemed willing to state a stance on any of them. I've been feeling disappointed in Middle Grade books' noncommittal stance on political injustices for a while now, so maybe I'm just looking for something that isn't there? Regardless, if you're looking for an entry-point into social justice issues, Black Lives Matter, or racial tensions, but don't want anything involving death or protesting, then I suppose this is a good option. I'll give it this: it doesn't give any answers for free.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, and Police brutality
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Medical content
A student finds a noose hung in their locker at school. Divorce is a main subject of this story, with the main character's parents having split custody of her. Their interactions are almost always yelling and police/legal action is threatened more than once.