A review by queer_bookwyrm
Blended by Sharon M. Draper

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. 
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